NEWS:  The Alleghanian; 2 Apr 1863; Ebensburg, Cambria Cnty., PA

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_________________________________________ 

The Alleghanian
Ebensburg, Pa.
Thursday, 2 Apr 1863
Volume 4, Number 27


Promoted 

It gives us pleasure to learn that Sergt. Evan Davis of Co. D, 115th Penna. Vols. 
– the gentleman who had a few words to say through our columns last week 
concerning the fossilized old DEM. & SENT. - has been promoted to the First 
Lieutenancy of his company. Success!


Murder Will Out  

We clip the following paragraph from the Hollidaysburg WHIG:  In the fall of 
1858 a dead man was found lying across the railroad track early one morning in 
Altoona.  It was then supposed that some one had murdered him and placed him 
on the track for the purpose of having the locomotive run over him and had put 
him on the wrong track. On Tuesday last, Nicolas Erringer of Altoona, was 
arrested and lodged in jail on the charge of being the murderer.  He will likely be 
tried at our July Over and Terminer.


Rev. D. P. Mitchell 

Rev. D. P. Mitchell, the eloquent divine who for a number of years past had 
ministered unto the spiritual wants of the Methodist Episcopal congregation of 
Johnstown, a couple of weeks since, resigned that charge and has removed to 
Leavenworth city, Kansas.


Local and Personal

John Dean, Esq., of Hollidaysburg has been appointed Internal Revenue Tax 
assessor for this (17th) district, vice Thomas P. Campbell, Esq., removed.

G. Nelson Smith of Johnstown has been confirmed as Paymaster in the army 
with the rank of Major.


New Iron Company 

Messrs. Wood, Merrell & Co., of the Cambria Iron Company, Johnstown, have 
concluded an arrangement with Watson, Dennison & Co., of Hollidaysburg by 
which they have made a "joint stock company" of the Chimney Rock, Gaysport 
and Frankstown Furnaces, together with the ore lands and other real estate 
connected therewith under the incorporated title of "The Blair Iron Company."  
The new company is to be under the management of David Watson of 
Hollidaysburg.


Our Common Schools 

We are in receipt of a copy of the Annual Report of the State Superintendent of 
Common Schools for the year ending June 2, 1862, embodying an interesting 
review of the past history and present condition of the system, with reports of 
the County Superintendents and tabular statements of the various districts.  
From the county table we glean the following statistics relative to the state of the 
system in Cambria county:

Whole number of schools:                  156
Number yet required:                       12
Average number of months taught:          4.1
Number male teachers:                     100
Number female teachers:                    58
Average salary males per month:        $21.32
Average salary females per month:      $19.05
Number male scholars:                   3,802
Number female scholars:                 8,683
Number Learning German:                   116
Average number attending school:        4,831
Cost teaching each scholar per month:     .51
Tax levied for school purposes:    $16,421.18
Tax levied for building purposes:  $ 2,373.90
Total tax levied:                  $18,795.08
State appropriation:               $ 2,922.80
Received from collectors:          $14,378.96
Cost of instruction:               $13,660.98
Fuel and contingencies:            $ 2,343.26
Cost of school houses, &c.:         $ 1,944.49
Balance on hand:                   $ 1,361.12
Permanent debt:                    $ 2,984.00
Temporary debt:                    $    79.44



Methodist Episcopal

The following appointments of Pittsburg Conference for this district for 1863 
have been made public:

Blairsville District:  W. Lynch, Presiding Elder
Blairsville:   T. M'Cleary
Johnstown:     C. H. Jackson
Indiana:       R. Morrow
Greensburg and Pleasant Unity:  W. K. Brown
Kittanning:    Ezra Hingeiey
Dayton:        Albert Baker
Elderton:      M. J. Montgomery
Latrobe:       J. S. Wakefield
               H. Long
Mt. Pleasant:  R. Cunningham
West Newton:   W. W. Roup
Mechanicsburg:  J. C. High
                N. G. Miller
New Florence:   P. G. Edmonds
Burrell and Apollo:  Jos. Shane
Ligonier:       W. A. Stewart
Saltsburg and Hopewell:  S. T. Show
Marchand:       M. W. Dallas
Ebensburg:      J. S. Lemon
                J. Gray



Letter from Co. F, 133d Penna. Vols. 
St. Patrick's Day with the Soldiers
Camp Near Stoneman's Switch, Va.
March 18, 1863

Yesterday, the 17th, was the day set apart by the Roman Catholic Church as the 
festival day of St. Patrick and there were few saints in their calendar 
remembered more reverently or more joyously honored; there are, it would 
seem, few saints more truly worthy of reverent memory and joyous honor.  It 
cannot be said that St. Patrick was an Irishman, but he ought to have been one, 
no doubt. The man, Patrick, was born, according to good authority, near the site 
of Kilpatrick at the mouth of the Clyde in Scotland in the year 372.  The popular 
superstition or legend ascribes to St. Patrick the abolition of serpents in Ireland 
and of all venomous things, by means of his crosier or staff so that that Eden of 
banished patriots became and remains to the present day a paradise without a 
snake in the grass or under the roses. Whether this tradition be historically true 
or this fact vouched for by natural philosophy, I do not care to say, for I am not 
an Irishman and "have never been there;" but St. Patrick who let the true light 
in, made a hole (as an Irishman said of the window he was making into an old 
cellar) to let the dark out and things that love darkness rather than light because 
their deeds are evil," doubtless crawled after. Happy is Adam in the Emerald 
Garden of the Western Ocean – he can stay as long as he pleases if he only pay 
his rent, happy to Eve in Erin – for there the devil himself cannot crawl. Irish 
humor and Irish religion flow together and whether they meet in a tear of a 
smile, they are from the heart and genuine.  The reverence of Ireland is heart 
deep; its worship is from the fullness of the soul. Hypocrisy crept out under St. 
Patrick's wand with the creeping things; its words are now the ringing coins of 
truth.  A bright morning for St. Patrick and a full tide of festival – Religion and 
Love and Mirth together, without mask.  Patrick was a gentleman, for, 

  "Take him, all in all,
  We ne'er shall look upon his like again."

Yesterday was hailed with joy in the army, particularly by the Irish Brigade as it 
was the fixed intention of General Meagher who commands the Brigade, to 
celebrate "St Patrick's day in the morning," in the good old quaint way in which 
they used to do it in "the old dart."  The performances were to commence in the 
morning, but I was unable to attend until after dinner.  I arrived on the ground 
just as the last horse race was coming off.  It was a very fine sight and one 
which I had longed to see.  The race-course was two miles in extent, traversed 
with ditches and leaps, ten in number.  The riders were dressed in the old 
country style – green cap, red shirts, white corduroy knee breeches, white socks 
and red top boots.  I could not ascertain who the horses belonged to except one 
- the winner of the race – which was the property of Gen. Meagher.

The race over, the cavalcade of officers turned their horses' heads toward Gen. 
Meagher's headquarters. Major General Hooker headed the throng; by his side 
was Gen. Meagher, followed by Maj. Gen. Sigel, French, Couch, Hancock, and 
several others and a host of Brigadiers while an almost countless throng of 
officers of minor rank brought up the rear.  They passed on to a large open tent, 
where a bountiful repast had been prepared for them. I took a position where I 
could survey the whole mass.  I was surprised and astounded at seeing so many 
beardless boys in the group, with the "sardine boxes" on their shoulders, 
mingling with the gray–haired veterans, the heroes of a dozen battles; while 
their affected "ha's," and "yah's" showed them to be nothing but a set of 
conceited puppies, elevated to their present position through the influence of 
friends.  No sight has ever more fully convinced me that honor is not always 
given to whom it is due.

After they had partaken of the feast, Gen. Meagher came forward and read the 
programme of performance.  Before reading it, he entertained the crowd with 
some witty and humorous remarks, which his honest Irish heart prompted. I 
could scarcely believe that that good-natured gentleman was the invincible 
Meagher, the leader of that noble brigade which was never known to flinch 
before the most destructive fire, and whose impetuous charges the breasts of 
the enemy could never withstand.  The programme stated that there would be 
first a foot-race over a half mile course; next a race in bags – the runners to be 
tied up in bags, with nothing but their heads protruding; then a race to catch a 
"soaped pig" – the only difficulty in this case was to find the pig to soap; next 
the experiment of climbing a greased pole in hopes of securing a prize placed at 
the top; and finally a contest for the championship on the light fantastic toe.  
The General told the crowd that they need not for a moment imagine the day 
played out, nor the night, either! Judging from the variety of exercises, the 
extent of the platform and the number of ladies I saw near by, I should think 
they would have had a good old time of it. But the fate of the day was against 
them. The foot-race was just over and the crowd were gathering in anxious 
impatience of the race in bags, when Gen. Meagher rode up, sword in hand, 
crying out – "Fall in, boys! The Rebs are attacking our pickets and will be down 
on us in a few minutes!"  Then and there was shown the strict military discipline 
under which they had attained, for no sooner were these words uttered than 
they gave three cheers for Gen. Meagher, broke for their tents and soon 
emerged each with cartridge box in one hand and gun in the other.  Before I had 
time to leave the field, the companies were all formed and ready to take their 
place in line. They love Meagher like a father, and would fight for him until the 
death.

This morning news of the attack came to camp. Ten thousand of the enemy 
attempted to cross the river on our extreme right, but were repulsed by a portion 
of our troops.  We took one hundred prisoners. 

[Signed]  E. R. W.