NEWS: Items from The Alleghanian, August 15, 1861, Cambria County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ _________________________________________ The Alleghanian, Ebensburg, Pa., Volume 2, Number 52, Thursday, August 15, 1861 To Our Patrons, Greeting - With the present number, Volume Second, of The Alleghanian expires. While we are duly thankful to our friends for the patronage which has been extended us, for the countenance and support that have greeted our efforts to instruct and please, we beg leave to set forth as follows - During the two years that have just expired a large array of sums varying in amounts from Two Dollars to Five Dollars have accumulated on our books. That these be liquidated immediately is indispensably necessary to our comfort and convenience and we hereby urgently invite our subscribers to come forward and liquidate forthwith. Those who have take the paper since the commencement will owe $4.00 and for one year, $2.00. We have also a considerable amount due us for Advertising and Job Work - this must be "settled" likewise, the sooner the better. Court convenes in a couple of weeks, when a splendid opportunity will be afforded our friends to call and take a receipt. Come one! Come all! And Pay the Printer. Letters from Our Volunteers Camp Tennelly, August 11, 1861 Within the past few weeks the Cambria Guards have dispensed with their Camp Wright pastimes and amusements and are beginning to play the soldier in dead earnest. We are now encamped about six miles from Washington, up the Potomac river on an open, elevated piece of ground. The location is quite a pleasant one. A small stream of water meanders by in close proximity furnishing us with the wherewithal to do our washing, etc. We are also blessed with excellent drinking water. It is extremely warm here but by no means unhealthy. The effect of the heat in this climate is altogether different from that on the mountain; for I find that the hotter the weather the healthier it is. The 11th regiment has had its turn on picket. We started out on Friday evening and returned to camp at 8 P. M. on Saturday. Co. A guarded about a mile and half of a road. None of the pickets were in any wise disturbed, and we returned without even a sight of a secesher. We are frequently aroused from our soft sandy beds by reports of advancing foes, and placed under arms for an hour or two, but they never amount to anything and we resign ourselves to our blankets again and dream of the fierce fighting we didn't do. There are eight regiments encamped here, almost within rifle shot of each other and all Pennsylvanians. This is a delightful climate to live in. Enough rain falls to keep up a good supply of water and fruit of all kinds is abundant. The company, as a general thing, enjoys good health. Provisions are plenty and of a good quality. I trust your readers will not cease to remember us and write to us because we have left the State. Direct all letters and other documents to Washington city, as heretofore, and they will be forwarded after the regiment. Signed - K Camp Tennelly, August 11, 1861 Gen. McCall commands all the Pennsylvania troops and I understand that it is his intention to concentrate the Reserves at this point, preparatory to moving into Virginia. On last Tuesday our company was paid off by the State and the balance of the regiment was paid the day following. Each private received $15.03. We will be paid off by Uncle Sam on the 22d inst. Our company and company K received the long expected and greatly wished for rifles on Wednesday. They are the Minie rifled musket, the best arm in the American service. The rest of the regiment will be furnished with the best improved Springfield musket. I think we will have a battle 'ere a great while, in which the Pennsylvanians expect to do their whole duty. Signed - E Local and Personal The Potato Crop This crop bids fair to be a highly valuable one in this section the present season. The tubers are of good size and quality and no signs of rot are yet apparent. Struck by Lightning During the heavy storm on Friday last, a majestic spruce tree in the western part of town was struck by lightning and knocked into smithereens. Beyond this no damage was done by the freak of the electric fluid. Dragoon Company Col. Freadman, who has been commissioned by the Secretary of War to raise a regiment of dragoons, has authorized Col. Wm. K. Piper, of this place, to enlist one hundred men to compose one company of said regiment. We understand that Col. P. is succeeding famously in recruiting and that he will soon have secured his full complement. Those wishing to enlist will report themselves at Ebensburg, at the Foster House in Johnstown, or at the Exchange Hotel in Hollidaysburg. Col. Freadman's regiment is now encamped near Philadelphia. Cambria County Regiment An effort is now being made to organize a regiment in this county, to be composed entirely of Cambria County men and commanded by Cambria county officers. Six companies that we know of are already being recruited for it. We think this idea is a good one and have not the least doubt of the ultimate success of the experiment. Col. J. M. Campbell of Johnstown (formerly Quartermaster of the 3d regiment) has been empowered to raise the regiment and will be Colonel; Capt. B. McDermitt will be Lieutenant Colonel; and Capt. John Linton, Major. Butter This popular article of diet, which has been exceedingly plenty all summer has suddenly grown very scarce in this neck o'timber. Perhaps the low price at which it is quoted in market, 10 cents per pound, accounts for the milk in the cocoa. Patriotic On Saturday afternoon last a large Star Spangled Banner was raised opposite the hotel of Joseph Cole, in Carrolltown, after which an impromptu meeting was organized and several patriotic speeches delivered. The occasion is said to have been an interesting one. Ecclesiastical We clip the following item from the PRESBYTERIAN BANNER - Rev. Benjamin L. Agnew, of Johnstown, Pa., has, we are informed, declined a call to the Alexander church, Philadelphia. Appointed Wm. M. Jones has been appointed Post Master for Carrolltown, this county. A merited compliment to a deserving man. Register's Notice Notice is hereby given that the following Accounts have been passed and filed in the Register's office in Ebensburg and will be presented to the Orphans' Court of Cambria county for confirmation and allowance on Wednesday, the 5th day of September next, to wit: The final account of Henry Buck, surviving executor of Adam Stoltz, deceased. The account of Moses Yoder, administrator of the estate of Samuel Ream, deceased. The first and final account of Soloman Benshoof, executor of Lewis Benshoof, deceased. The final account of Charles B. Ellis, executor of William H. Hamilton, deceased. The second partial account of Enos M. Mullin, executor of John Glass, deceased. The final account of John Dunmeyer, administrator of Susan Paul, deceased. The account of A. C. Mullin, trustee for the sale of the real estate of John Paul, deceased. E. F. Lytle, Register Register's Office, August 8, 1861 Battle of Bull Run Gen. McDowell's official report of the battle of Bull Run furnished the following full list of the killed and wounded: Officers killed: 19 Officers wounded: 64 Total 83 Non-com officers and privates Killed: 462 Wounded: 947 Total 1409 Total Killed Officers and Non-Com Officers and Privates: 592 Total Wounded Officers and Non-Com Officers and Privates: 1011 Total: 1492 The actual number of missing cannot yet be stated as every day soldiers heretofore reported as missing are making their appearance. The number is roughly estimated at 1,216. President Lincoln has appointed the last Thursday in September as a day of National Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer. Let it be observed. How They are Trained at West Point At West Point the cadets are daily trained to shoot at a target with the musket or rifle. They fire ten shots in squads of ten, at as many iron targets the size and form of a man. Each squad is arranged in lines so that each cadet fires at his own target, which has its number painted upon it. The shooting of each cadet and each squad is recorded so that the qualities of each marksman are well known to the instructor. While on a visit to this famous military school last summer, we paid close attention to the rifle shooting of the cadets. It was what may be called in general, loose firing; yet we could not fail to notice how some of the cadets appeared to be born marksmen, while others appeared to be naturally incapable of learning the art. One cadet, whom we watched, tried in vain to hit his target at a very moderate distance. Not believing the fault was in himself he complained it must be in the rifle. He was soon convinced of his error by the instructor taking up his rifle and planting a bullet right in the "bulls' eye." We made some inquires of the instructor respecting the qualities of the cadets in learning to shoot, when he told us that the youth of whom we have just referred to could not make a marksmen. Chapman, in his book called "The American Rifle," states that all men dodge in firing, some before and others just after the shot is fired. The latter class may learn to be marksmen, the former never. In learning to shoot with a rifle a person should endeavor to acquire a steady cool demeanor with a true quick eye and nimble finger. Practice and nothing but practice can make a good marksman. At the same time mere firing is not the only practice necessary.