NEWS:  Alleghanian; 12 Jan 1865; Ebensburg, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich
<millich84@hotmail.com>

Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/
_________________________________________ 

The Alleghanian
Ebensburg, Pa.
Thursday, 12 Jan 1865
Volume 6, Number 14


The Sheriffalty

During the last week of December court, Mr. Jas. Myers, the newly elected 
Sheriff of Cambria county, was duly "sworn in," vice Mr. John Buck, whose term 
of office had expired.  Candor compels us to say that Mr. Buck made an excellent 
Sheriff, and from the well known character and ability of Mr. Myers, we are sure 
the reins of office will descend to a most worthy successor.


Letter from Our Soldiers 
Letter from Co. C, 209th P. V.
Meade's Sta., Va.
Jan. 3, 1865

Well, the holidays have come and gone.  Previous to Christmas the weather was 
cold but the day itself was pleasant.  The sun shone bright, the air was mild and 
one could easily fancy that the rigors of winter were abated out of deference to 
that day on which, either correctly or incorrectly, is placed the birth of Him who 
died that we might live.  But the outgoing of the old and the incoming of the new 
year were different.  The last day of the expiring year was full of driving, howling, 
chilling wind, filled at times either with rain, snow or sleet.  As night came on 
apace, the fury of the storm rather than being diminished was increased.  There 
was no quiet, modest retirement of the old nor gentle advance of the new year as 
though the dying lingered awhile to welcome the newly born.  Nay, the one, as if 
loath to go and full of envy at its successor, seemed anxious to combat its 
entrance to life by all the fury of a winter storm.  Meanwhile the moon hid her 
face, the stars refused to behold the strife and all nature robed herself in the 
darkest darkness, till is seemed as if she had clad herself in the habiliments of 
mourning.  But as the soldier in his tent thanked his stars that he was not a 
soldier on picket and looked in the glowing fire before him, he could see, or at 
least he would think he could see, in its blazing, a brightness of hope that bade 
him rejoice in the raging storm without.  It was fancy - of course it was only fancy 
- but that fancy seemed to whisper in the tones of a prophesying angel that the 
fury the old year was spending in its dying agonies was only to show us the 
wrath, as foolish as it is mighty, of an expiring treason against Liberty.   

I have a word to say about letters, letter-writers and the mails.  There is an 
impression deep and strong that there is something wrong with the mails; but 
where or with whom it is not my province to say.  To be sure a soldier will growl 
and if he fails to growl at one thing, it is only because he has fixed his attention 
on something else; but when he exercises his growing prerogative at the mails, 
he does so with apparent good reason.  "Is there a large mail today?" is a 
common inquiry.  "None from Ebensburg," is a common answer.  Then there 
comes, "What's the matter with the mails?"  "There must be something wrong 
with the mail?"  Why don't we get our letters?" &c., &c.  Poor soldiers!  Who 
wonders that he growls?  Consider the case of a man who has a dutiful wife's 
assurance that she writes him twice or thrice a week while he gets not more than 
one letter out of three. But that's only one case. Poor soldier! Oughtn't he to 
growl?"  Ah, Mr. Delinquent Mailman, try come up to times hereafter.

But, seriously, what is a soldier's letter?  Or, if you prefer, what ought it to be?  
That boy wearing his country's uniform was as well reared as any.  He looks 
rough just now for he has rough work to do, but among the comfortable homes of 
New England or amid the hills of Pennsylvania, is a spot about which is 
enshrined all that human memory holds sacred, and that spot is that boy's home.  
When a letter sent thence reaches him, a new fire lights up the eye, a new vigor 
starts the blood to quicker action, the soul receives new life and joy fills the heart 
as the seal is broken. A solder's letter carries him back to the scenes of home 
and fireside. It carries the boy to the parental roof, and the father of that circle of 
which he is head.  It is read, not once, but over and over again and ere he lays 
down to rest, it is read still another time.  In the night when the mind revels in 
dreams, these dreams take shape in accordance with the influence potently tho' 
silently exerted by the letter from home.  Does it bring bodings of ill and does it 
wear dreariness of tone?  Or is it a sprightly, lively letter, full of news, but not of 
tattling?  The latter is what it ought to be. A plague upon all dull, prosy, gloomy, 
ill-foreboding, bemoaning letters when sent to a man wearing the Union blue!  Let 
a letter be full of little bits of news, the doings at and about home, bearing good 
will towards all men and recounting the labors of the provost marshals and their 
crippled soldiers with all skulkers from the service. Only such a letter is worthy to 
be sent to a Union soldier.  He knows his danger, knows his labor and privations 
and wishes not to have them morosely recounted, for he lives rejoicing in the 
hope of the final triumph of his country.

On the 15th ult., we were permanently brigaded and now form a part of the first 
brigade, third division, ninth army corps.  This brigade is formed of the 200th, 
208th and 209th regiments of one year troops and is commanded by Col. Diven, 
of the first named regiment.  The 205th, 207th and 211th regiments, also one 
year troops, form the second brigade under command of Col. Matthews of the 
205th. The two brigades form the third division commanded by Brig. Gen. 
Hartranft.

Letters for us, in order to avoid all mistakes, should be addressed to Co. C, 209th 
Pa. Vols., 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 9th Army Corps.

The health of the company continues excellent. The deaths in the regiments by 
sickness are only three, of whom one was buried on Saturday.

On Saturday 24th ult., we were glad to welcome the arrival amongst us of our 
Chaplain, Rev. J. S. Lemmon.  The following day, he commenced what beyond 
doubt will prove a career of usefulness by delivering a brief but appropriate 
discourse.

[Signed]  Gamma



Etchings 

Charles Albert Mills, son of Capt. David Mills, of Gallitzin, this county, who was 
captured by the rebels in the Shenandoah Valley some fourteen months ago and 
has been a prisoner ever since has been exchanged and arrived home. He is 
well but reports that he suffered beyond description in the rebel coal-holes.

Mr. James F. Campbell has retired from the editorial management of the 
Johnstown DEMOCRAT and is succeeded by Messrs. H. D. Woodruff & Son of 
Perry county.  Both the outgoing and incoming editors have our best wishes for 
their future success.

Quartermaster E. Frank Lytle, of the 209th P. V., was home here on brief leave of 
absence last week. His personal appearance left the impression on our mind that 
sogering agreed with him to a constitutional nicety.


E. & C. RR. Co. 

At an election of the stockholders, held on Monday last, the following named 
officers were elected by the Ebensburg and Cresson Railroad Company to serve 
during the ensuing year:  President:  A. A. Barker; Directors:  J. Moore, E. 
Roberts, H. Foster, James Myers, Jno. Williams, Thos. Griffiths, H. J. Lombart, 
Geo. J. Rodgers, Abel Lloyd, Richard Jones, Jr., Isaac Evans, Robert Davis. 



The Late Call for 300,000 Men – Drafting to Begin on the 15th of February 

Washington, Dec. 20, 1864
By the President of the United States – A Proclamation

Whereas by the act approved July 4, 1864, entitled "An act further to regulate 
and provide for the enrolling and calling out of the national forces and for other 
purposes," it is provided that the President of the United States may at his 
discretion at any time hereafter call for any number of men as volunteers for the 
respective terms of one, two or three years for military service, and that in case 
the quota or any part thereof of any town, township, ward of a city, precinct, or 
election district or of a county not so sub-divided shall not be filled within the 
space of fifty days after such call, then the President shall immediately order a 
draft for one year to fill such quotas or any part thereof which may be unfilled.

And whereas by the credits allowed in accordance with the act of Congress on 
the call for five hundred thousand men, made July 18, 1864. the number of men 
to be obtained under that call was reduced to 280,000 men;

And whereas, the operations of the enemy in certain States have rendered it 
impracticable to procure from them their full quotas of troops under the said call;

And whereas from the foregoing causes but 250,000 men have been put into the 
army, navy and marine corps under said call of July 18, 1864, leaving a 
deficiency on that call of 250,000; 

Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States of America, in 
order to supply the aforesaid deficiency, and to provide for casualties in the 
military and naval services of the United States do issue this my call for Three 
Hundred Thousand Volunteers, to serve one, two or three years.  The quotas of 
the States, districts and sub-districts, under this call will be assigned by the War 
Department through the bureau of the Provost Marshal General of the United 
States and in case the quota or any part thereof of any town, township, ward, of a 
city, precinct, or election district, or of a county not so sub-divided, shall not be 
filled before the 15th day of February, 1865, then a draft shall be made to fill such 
quota or any part thereof, under this call, which may be unfilled on the 15th day 
of February, 1865.

In testimony whereof, I have herewith set my hand and caused the seal of the 
[U.S.] United States to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington this 19th day of 
December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, and 
the Independence of the United States of America, the eighty-ninth.

[Signed]        Abraham Lincoln
                By the President:
                Wm. H. Seward, Secretary of State 



The Supplemental Draft 

Below we give a list of those drafted in Cambria county on Thursday, December 
22, 1864 to fill deficiencies under the call of July 18, 1864:

Millville Borough
George Holsman
Lawrence Kahoe
John James
John Hough
William Noland
Edward Quinn
Wm. P. Williams
Edward M'Bride
John Hughes
Emanuel James
Hugh Crossan
Frederick Norris
John M. Roberts
Benjamin Bennett
Thomas P. Potts
Robert Morris
John Haney
John Bannan
John Oates
William Miller
John Jones
John Atkinson
Michael Gleason
Thomas Taylor
Samuel Black
Archibald Noland
Peter M'Cann
John Pugh
Thomas Evans
Bernard M'Bride
Cornelius M'Ginley
Daniel Evans
Charles Trainer
William Lakin
Dennis M'Carty
Patrick Driskill
Christopher Meyer
David Roberts
John Looney
Isaac Berringer
Patrick Hogan
Evan Roberts
John Stork
John Berringer
Charles Whittle
James Darby
Joseph Karns
John Hardman
Jacob Stutzman
John Davis


Cambria City
Charles Kelly
George W. Atkins
Michael Lee
John Heider
George Speace
Dennis M'Veigh
Anthony Carroll
Michael Kritzer
George Altbarter
Laurence Baughamer
Robert Dougherty
Joseph Kling
John Brown
Henry M'Closkey
Joseph Brindle
Michael Raddin
Owen M'Caffrey
Andrew Foglo
John C. Marsh
Joseph Ruckey
John Benning
John Nicht
Simon Boyer
Charles Warner
Michael Gilbert
Gerre Blamel
Philip M'Call
Patrick Keelan
Lewis Tremel
Levi Wingard


Conemaugh Borough
Benj. Hinchman
Henry Miller
James C. Clark
Henry E. Hudson
John Smith
Caleb Jones
John Fritz
Michael Burns
John Fisher
Herman Klinemier
Christian Kreiger
Wm. C. Smith
Henry Hezelbine
William Ort
Jonathan Ferrier
Swiss Heber
John M'Ghee
Edward Brady
John O'Neill
Andrew Taylor
Ferdinand Vornick
Henry Belz
John Tynch
Robt. Gladfelter
George Belz
Charles Earnest
Pius J. Braddick
Oscar Greafe


Carroll Township
Leo. J. Parrish
William Gray
Peter A. Weakland
Jas. J. Kirkpatrick
David Wetzel
John Krumacher
Paul Short
George E. Melsel
John Swathow
William Richter
James Douglass
Joseph Fresh
Francis Kilpatrick
William Baker
John J. Detrick
John Weber
Leonard Mangold
James Hames
Samuel Smith
Peter Kane
Thomas Buck 
Andrew Miller


Taylor Township
James Wise
Peter Burkhart Jr.
John M'Comey
Richard Fox
John Colbert
Benj. Stutzman
John W. Miller
Thomas Strayer
Valentine Smith
George Knable
Andrew Reinbolt
Patrick Dinsmore
Samuel Stutzman
Patrick Mehan
John Teeter
Dominick M'Cue
John Utzler
Joseph S. Paul


Croyle Township
M. S. George
Isaac W. Pringle
Herman Paul
John Knepper
John Wintrode
John Brown
Christian B. Weaver
Airwine Peth
Wm. A. M'Gough
Joseph Weiss
Conrad Moyers
John Popp
John Schlosse
Thomas M'Gough


Summerhill Township
John M. Barnes
George W. Emigh
Michael Gates
Levi Plummer
Cornelius Sellers
Hugh Farren
Wm. O'Connell
Michael M'Dunn
Bernard Little
Henry G. Conrad


Yoder Township
John A. Pfarr
George T. Martin
D. H. Harshberger
Wm. H. Thomas
George Croyle
John E. Smith
Josiah Goughnour
Charles Hoffman
George Ream
John Belsner

Conemaugh Township
Hiram Ribblett
Valentine Ripple
Philip Stuart
Daniel Goughnour
George Hildebrand
Chas. Von Leunen
Jonathan Ream
John Shriver


White Township
William H. Gates
Absalom Gibboney
David Cree Jr.
James R. Vallance
Charles Brown
Abram Cornelius
John Matthews
Jacob Kunsman


Washington Township
Fred H. Miller
John Biglin
Vitus Pheester
James Hagans
Sylvester Smeeder
Patrick Dougherty


Munster Township
John S. M'Gaughey
Joseph Myers
Joseph O'Harra
William Garrett
Francis Itel
Matthew M'Cugh

Gallitzin Borough
Frederick Miller
Jacob Fassler
Edward Patterson
George Eckley
Albert Bender
James M'Cullough


Richland Township
Lewis B. Dunmyer
Elias Ream
Samuel Rose
Emanuel S. Paul
Wm. H. Morgan
James Mowery


Wilmore Borough
Rev. J. Hackett
John M'Colgan
J. J. Rorabaugh
William K. Carr


Blacklick Township
Samuel Brallier
Thomas Duncan
Isaac Makin
Thomas Mahan


Alleghany Township
John Walker
John Crook
John Fitzgibbons
John Kane


Chest Township
Martin Thomas
Martin Detrick