puoaa £riknr.
ALTOONA, PA.
TBUESDA.Y, JUNE 12. 1862.
People’s Union County Convention
of lllair .Coiiity.
Thepeople of B|air county in favor of sustain
tog the patent National and State Administra
tion, to their patriotic efforts to maintain the in
tegrity of the Union and to crash oat this unholy
rebellion,.by every power of the Government, are
requested to select two Delegates from each Ward,
Borough, or Township in the county, to meet in
County Convention, at Hollidaysburg, on Tues
day,T7th day of June, A. D. 1862, at 11 o'clock
A.M. of said day, to nominate candidates for
comity officers, appoint Congressional and Sena
torial;Conferees, as well as select delegates to the
Harrisburg Convention, and take such other steps
as itiay be deemed advisable for the honor and wel
fare of dor State and country.
The Delegates meeting to be held the Saturday
previous,' in the Boroughs between the hours of
7 and & o’clock ;P. M., and in the Township be
tween the hours of 5 and 7 o’clock P. M.
CRAWFORD IRWIN, Chairman.
Jacob Bdklkt, Sec’y.
TjThat made Jackson Betreat
A letter from Harper’s Ferry states that Stone
wall Jackson hod seven brigades of infantry with
him after his junction with Ewell, and sat down
before Harper’* Ferry with an effective force of
twecty-two thousand men. There were twenty-,
throe regiments of infantry, fifty-two pieces of ar
tillery, and twenty-five hundred cavalry., under
Ashby. He had made all his dispositions for an
attack by flank and in front of our slender forces,
when a courier arrived from Winchester with the
alarming intelligence that McDowell and Fremont low wnte at o’clock.) There goes a very heavy
were converging upon his rear. In two hoots his ort- *-* n aBt Friday I seen about 300 prison
whole column was in retreat. The day previous brought in, mostly North Carolinians, among
be hnti thrown two regiments across the Sbenan- 'b em was one major, and several captains and
dooh, and had himself visited Loudon Heights and fonfonnnhfj nil haggard and worn out with fatigue
taken a deliberate survey of- our position and the hunger, borne of them expressed themselves
defensive preparation made against his apprehended I s heartily sick of the w*ar, saying that many only
attack. It was the “fire in the rear,” and-not the aa opportunity to lay- down their arms and
formidable obstacles in front, that caused him to '^ arn *h e Union. Yesterday we again brought
withdraw so precipitately. . several prisoners, among whom was a young
Had twenty-four hours more elapsed before tatenant, graduate from West Point, anti aid to
Fremont and McDowell appeared in the valley, ien ‘ Joseph Johnston. He is rather a handsome
Jackson would have been in possession of Harper’s quite gay and talkative, seemingly at per-
Feny and Maryland Heights. He knew our tet tase in-Camp. Were he clothed in the light
strength and weakness, and that there laepants and dark blue jacket or dress coat of
ficieut force to defend the position against the triple ! he federal army, instead of the grey Unsy wolsey
attack by which he expected to carry it. The reb- secesh, this young officer would present quite
els have taken less out of the vallev than they a appearance, for he seems every inch a ■
brought into it. The necessary rapidity of their so^r - To-day, I learn, as a partial desalt of the
retreat compelled them to disencumber themselves i that we have taken two Brigadier Generals,
of everything that would embarrass their progress. an<^ other officers and privates. One of
At Cbarlestown they left all property untouched, theenerals is severely wounded, and the other
Hospital and commissary stores, &c., such as they °bstately refuses to give his name. The other
consumed during their short stay, were untouched, Pliers were anxious to meet acquaintances;
and several officers have found their private prop- ma^oJ whom did. The major who was brought
erty, consisting of trnnks and valises, filled with ‘ n °®rtday, stepped up to our medical director,
clothing, undisturbed. It is believed that the same ' an daking him by the hand, gave him a right
will be found true at Winchester, and that all the * leai T shake, enpressing great joy at seeing him,
Government property taken by them, as well as Bnt * once more in bis native land of freedom.
Oil onr rick and wonnded, with the addition several of the soldiers express a desire to
their own, will be found'there and Strausburg.—‘-* 0 * o ' ,ur ra b* ts > 08 soon as they became recruited
It was a useless and costly raid to Jackson, bi a K a ' n - It : was indeed a sorry sight to see those
winch nothing was gained to his own cause, am P°° r bellows, many with worn out shoes, grey mili
the prestige of .success lost as rapidly as it wa panttv citizens’ coat and straw hat, looking
gained. like anything else than soldiers. They have been
A Kxw CxHP oplsstbcction. —The Secretar a year, and only received two or three months’ pay.
of War has just issued an order directing that One of them remarked that he would now make
camp of instruction for 60,000 men, cavalry, art the Jeff. Davis government a present of his back
day and infantry, in due proportions, be immec pay, as he thought they -needed it more than he
atelyTormed near Annapolis,Md. Major Gena will. They were'all sent off to Fortress Monroe
Wool, U. 8. A., will command the camp, in adc he next morning.
th® his dntiea as Department Commander.' - I learn that the 62d were engaged in the fight
Theground will be selected, and the troops, whi at Hanover, but am unable to say anything in par
wiU be assembled as rapidly as possible under < ■ icular of them. Of one thing lam satisfied, that
den from the War Department, will be placed they sustained the honor of the old Keystone State,
positipn as they arrive. Brigadier General S. making themselves the pride and envy of the thou-
Graham is assigned to duty as Chief of Cavalry sands already enrolled to follow their example.
the camp. Brevet Brigadier General Han And I know, or rather feel an inward answer, that
Bfown, as Chief of Artillery, according to his b company M were not lacking in either courage or
A Chief of the Infantry arm will hereaf ability. I ;had ever expected to participate with
be designated. The Chief of Ordnance, the p company Min her iniatory fight, and strike blow
Master Generals, Commissary General, J with blow in unison with several choice friends, of
General and Paymaster General, will three months experience, but fate has ordered oth
nate an experienced regular officer as th u \' 1 ctwise. If I cannot join them in the great strng
their respective Departments at the catmp, \ gle, I dare record their deeds of valor, and rest as
officmswiU be subject to the orders ,’of Gen }% sirred, gentlemen, I shall make truthful record so
ahd nnder bis supervision, and will*'wither! deby far as my ability extends. I have predicted a hero
establish a hospital and depot of/ all thcsippli fw our company, and shall follow him to the end.
nectaryfor the health and efficiency of the trooj I promised-to write you when we get imp Bich
** poinlß whew issues may he conveniently mad mond, and my next letter will be from that city
‘ The great battle has yet to come off, and. with it
the keys that will unlock the gates of that city.—
That will be just at the proper time if a fight at all
is necessary, and if so, I expect to see many brave
laid low ere it is over. Yours, BLAIN. -
The Failure of the Warren Bank.—T
notes of the Warren Bank, known as the Noi
Western Bank, are now wholly redeemed bymon
dealers. Spme of the tacts in reference to t
fafliue ape detailed by a newspaper published
that locality. On the 26th instant, the not
were received with distrust in New York, and
dispatch was sent to Warren, instm
offices to take care of the deposit*;
and tallbplders. On Tuesday morning, when t|
institution opened indoors, a panic stricken crot
went in to get their money redeemed. Specie, aj
other notes werepaid out to these visitors till no.
itmds gave out. The President, mea
while, had left for blew York, and immediate
after, the institution closed its doors, and a noti
was posted on them stating that they would not I
re-«pened HntU .the return of the aforesaid Pres
dent, Bpn. B. Brown. The newspaper fror that willlxs S-' )le to compete with any of the naval
which the above diets are taken, anxiously inqniretP owerB of worU .
Cuakusbtok. —Through rebel
and,fs information that a fleet of gun
wbenitwai amreat Warren. oats has appeared before that erty, and are now
■oving up to attack it. Also that several thous
td men had landed on James’, John's and Bat
ty. Islands. A despatch from Charleston says
6t th» Federal* were defeated in a skirmish, on
Jams’lsland, and forced to retire. We don't
I pedit tie report, however, since it is known that
he rebeh gain all the battles, according to their
accounts. Chaiieston may be now in possession
of the Federal army, and the stats and stripes i
Taring ovet that hot-bed of secession to-day. j
♦
The Chicago Tribune Bays there are thon
sands of soWieri! hi the West who were sent home
side, tmt aie now tfall, who do not intend to re
turn totMr regiments tmtfl the war is over, when
theywQl report to drew their pay.
fiepresentativeg have laid on
the fWn.hy-a lagge minority, Senator Snmmr’l
hflltoaSownetfroes to cany the mails * the
United States. Sensible legislation.
Our Army Correspondence
Hzu> Quunu, Abmt of tbz Potomac, )
In the field near Richmond, Jane Ist, 1802. >
MksBßB.. McCeum & Desk;— Gentlemen —l
again resume a seat for the purpose of giving yon
a certain portion of my own personal observation in
the “tented field.” I presume yon are aware that
we are at present within sight of the great Capitol
of the sham Confederacy. Yes, gentlemen, here
we are, and have been fot the last four days, knock
ing, at the gate, slightly; however, bat with a de
termination not to be rebuked or overcome by
Jeff. Davis’ chivalric (?) hordes. Onr march from
Yorktown was performed under the most nnfevor
. able auspices—the roads, almost the entire distance
to this place, being miserably cut up by trains, as
well as many and various obstructions placed in
them for the purpose of retarding our march. But
the iron nerves and determined vigor of our troops
overcome them all, encamping only long enough
to enable Onr men to reconstruct the roads in some
places, and in others make new ones over which
our artillery tnd wagons might be more safely and
speedily trarsported. All things considered, 1
think the narch from Yorktown is a pretty fair
specimen of vhat our army can and will do in or
der to carryout the grand design of suppressing
the rebellion At Williamsburg the rebels mode
a feeble effort at resistance, but arrayed against our
troops they ippeared as chaff before the wind. We
drove them rapidly before us—on and on—into
their very capital, where, joined by large forces in
waiting, they determined to again resist us. How
low they will remain in this present menacing atti
tude, wll be left to their own judgment and dis
cretion for when the proper time arrives our army
will again march forth, and woe betide the foe who
oppose them.
Diring the last few days we have had several
skirrdshes, pretty extensive ones, too, and, as usual,
theyresnlt in our favor. These are only forerun
ners of what is sure to he the final result; and
were the instigators of this foul scheme not ac
tuated by selfish and impure motives, they coaid
perceive the hopelessness of their cause in the fre
quent and brilliant triumphs of our arms. On
last Thursday, the first serious firing commenced,
tnd each day it increases in extent, while to-day
it was kept up, at intervals, until after dark, (I
in the rebel service about nine months, and some
Progress of Ocb Iron-Clad Fleet.—Three
■ large and splendid impregnable war steamers, on
the plan of Ericsson’s Monitor, are nearing com
pletion in New York. The builder is Thomas F.
Rowland. These vessels will be finished on the
stocks, and they are to be launched about the first
of August. Three other boats of the same kind
are building at Boston, Massachusetts, two at
Chester, Pennsylvania, and one at Wilmington,
Delaware, making nine in all. In addition to
these the Government is building rseveral other
iron-clad vessels ot the strongest character, so that
we shall soon be-in possession of an iron-clad fleet
Severe Fight at Harrisonburg.
Waseokotos, Jnne 9.—The following despatch
was received at the War pepcirtment to-day, by
telegraph from Front Royal:
Husqdakrxs or thz Mocstuv Dmsimn, \
Army in the Field, llatrisonbnrg, Jnne 7. f
Hon. E. M. Stanton, Sfcrttary of War:
The army reached this place at two o’clock yes
terday, driving out the enemy’s rear from the
town.
Severe skirmishing continued from that time
until dark, the enemy’s rear being closely pursued
bv our advance.
’ The Ist New Jersey Cavalry, after driving the
enemy through the village, fell into an ambuscade
in the woods, to the south-east of the town,' : a
which Colonel Wyndham, of that regiment, was
captured, and considerable loss sustained.
Colonel Cbeseret, with his brigade, subsequently
engaged the enemy in the timber, driving him from
his position and taking his camp.
At about eight o’clock a battalion of Colonel
Kane’s Pennsylvania Begiment entered the woods,
under the direction of Brigadier General Bayard,
and maintained, for half an hour, a rigorous at
tack, (in which both sides suffered severely,)
driving the enemy before them.
The enemy attempted to shell our troops, but a
few shots from one of our batteries soon silenced
his guns. After dark the enemy continued lus
retreat. Full particulars will be' forwarded by
mad
J. C. FREMONT, Maj. Gen.
Headquarters, Harrisonburg, June 7.
The advance guard of General Fremont reached
Harrisonburg this afternoon at 2 o'clock.
There was no fighting during the march.
Jackson camped here last night and left this
morning.
A body of cavalry, sent on a reconnoissance
four miles beyond the town, came on a large rebel
force of cavalry and infantry strongly posted in the
woods. Colonel Wyncham, who had poshed the
reconnoissance three miles, further than ordered,
rashly led forward the Ist New Jersey cavalry,
and was driven back by a force of rebel infantry
w’ho were in ambush. Col. Wyndhara is a pris
oner. Captain Shellmire and Captain Haines were
either killed, or severely wounded and taken pris
oners. Captain Charles is missing. All the offi
cers acted bravely and vainly endeavored to rallv
their men. Captain Janeway gallantly attempted
a flanking movement which covered the retreat of
the first battalion. He is unhurt. His regiment
lost 34 killed, grounded and missing.
General Bayard, with the Budktail, or Kane ri
fles, and Ist Pennsylvania cavalry, and Cheseret’s
Brigade, consisting of the 16th and Bth Virginia,
were ordered forward to support our forces. Ches
eret drove a body of the enemy from their position,
arid captured their camp and some stores, without
loss. The Kane rifles, numbering 125 men, found
themselves opposed and flanked in the woods by
four regiments of infantry and cavalry, and before
they could be withdrawn, suffered sevreely. Lieut.
Col. Kane was seriously wounded and taken prison
er. Captain Taylor was also wounded and captured.
Capt. W. F. Blanchard was wounded severely.—
Lieut. J. J. S. Wayn was probably killed. After
the most gallant fighting, the rifles were driven
back with a loss of fifty-five killed, wounded, and
missing.
LATEST.
Washington, June 10.—The following was re
ceived at the War Department this morning.
Headquarters, Army in the Field,)
Harrisonburg, June 7—9 p.m.)
Hon. E. M. Staunton, Secretary of War;
The attack upon the enemy : s rear of yesterday
precipitated his retreat. ‘
Their loss in killed and wounded was verv se
vere, and many of both were left on the field.—
Their retreat is by an almost impassable road
along which many wagons were left in the woods,
and wagon loads of blankets, clothing, and, other
equipments are piled up in all directions.
During the evening, many of the rebels were
killed by shells from a battery of General Stahl’s
brigade. ; •
Gen. Ashby who covered the retreat with his
whole cavaln- force and three regiments of infantry,
and who exhibited admirable skill and audacity,
was among the killed.
Gen, MUroy made a reconnoisance to-day about
seven miles on the Port Republic road and found
a portion of the enemy’s force encamped in the
timber.
[Signed]
J. C. FREMONT,
Major General Commanding.
The Betreat of Beauregard.
Louisville, June 9.
The following despatch has been received from
Gen. Halleck’s headquarters:
' The United States forces now occupy Baldwin,
Guntown, Jackson and Bolivar.
The railroad repairs are progressing rapidlv.
The enemy passed Guntown last night, retreat
ing southward from Baldwin. It is estimated that
there have been twenty thousand deserters from
the rebel army since it left Corinth. These deser
ters are mostly from the Tennessee, Kentucky and
Arkansas regiments. All the regiments from
those States passed down closely guarded on both
sides by Mississippi and Alabama troops.
It is believed by coimtry people that Beauregard
can’t enter Columbus' with half of the troops he
brought away from Corinth. The whole country
east and North of Baldwin is full of armed sol
diers returning from Tennessee and Kentucky.
General Pope: telegraphs from the advance that
the prisoners who first desired to be exchanged
now want to take the oath .
The enemy drove and carried off everything for
miles around. The wealthiest families are now
destitute and starving, and the • women and chil
dren are crying for bread, the males, their protech
ors, having been forced into the army.
The enemy is represented to be greatly suffering
for food.
Killed and Wounded.—The number of killed
and wounded is not so great as mam- imagined.
According to a statement in the New York Herald,
the whole number on the Union side, with the ex
ception of the loss sustained in the late engage
ment near Richmond, is as follows:
Killed. Wounded.
Bull Run 481 1,012
Davis Creek, Mo 228 711
Lexington, Mo ; 39 ~ 120
Ball’s Bluff 223 '■ 266
Belmont 84 288
Mill Spring 39 207
Fort Hemy 17 31
Roanoke Island 60 222
Fort Donelson 446 1,735
Fort Craig 62 140
Pea Ridge 203 972
Attack of the Merrimac.... 201 108
Newborn 91 466
Winchester 182 > 540
Pittsburg Landing 1,785 7,882
Ybrktown 36 ’ 120
Fts.‘ Jackson and St. Phillip 30 119
Williamsburg '456 1,411
West Point 44 100
McDowell.,, x 37 225 '
Near Corinth .- 21 149
Banks’retreat, estimated... 100 300
Hanower Court House 58 296
Skirmishes. 690 1,740
Total.
At the battle of Waterloo alohe, the losses on
the side of the victors, in killed and wounded, was
nearly four thousand more than the entire Union
loss thus far in the present war.
Tub Work of Our Army.— Since General
Hallcck took command at Pittsbqrg Landing, our
army has built, incredible as the stray may sound,
hiore than fifty miles of entrenchments, and full
two hundred miles of wagon roads! Four par
allels, each more than twelve miles in length, three
or four rods wide, corduroyed mid bridged—lead
ing from the landing to each corps d'armee —all
the works of our men, many of whom never before
handled a spade or an axe in all their lives.
The Fall of Memphis—A Desperate
Naval Engagement.
A special dispatch to the St. Louis
dated Fort Pillow the i>th, 11 A. M., gays: The
rebels really evacuated this fort on Tuesday night,
leaving one mortar and two guns to answer ns.—
On Wednesday the work of destruction was com
pleted. The barracks, hospital buildings, horse
sheds, forage barns, and three large commissary
houses, full stores, were burned. Over a dozen
heavy guns were left, part of them spiked; the bal
ance were bursted and the carriages burnt. A re
connois ance made to Fulton, two miles below, does
not revet J the enemy there. Combustibles are still
burring at several points, and it is feared that
mines are underneath. The fortifications are un
usually strong; several heavy guns were casematcd
by heavy wood-work thrown over them, in the
form of covers, on the river bank: all of which
were destroyed. No small ahns or camp equipage
remain. Late refugees from Memphis say that
Dr. Fowlkes, of the Aca/oncAe, will be one of the
first to hoist the Federal flag on the approach of
the Federal flotilla. They say that he has preached
secession doctrine under protest for several months,
and has been twice imprisoned for his fearless de
nunciations of the Confederate authorities.
A dispatch from Cairo, dated yesterday, says:
The regular packet Platte Valley, the first boat
through from Memphis, arrived this morning.—
Our forces are in possession of Memphis. The
flotilla, five gunboats and eight rams, left Fort
Wright at two o’clock on Thursday morning, and
finding no obstructions at Fort Randolph the flo
tilla passed on, and at eight o’clock on. Thursday
evening the gunboats anchored two miles above
Memphis, the rams remaining a short distance
above. A reconnoisance was made and the ene
my’s fleet, consisting of the following vessels: Gen.
Van Dorn, flag ship, Geu. Bragg, Gen. Lovell,
Jeff Thompson, Beauregard, Sumter and Little
Rebel, were discovered near Memphis.
During the night the rebel fleet moved down the
river, and at daylight were out of sight, but, in
half an hour afterwards, were seen coming up,
formed in line of battle. Our gunboats had in the
meantime, weighed anchor, and, followed by sev
eral rams, moved slowly toward the rebel fleet,
when a shot from the Little Rebel, from a rifled
gun, at a long range, fell within a short distance
of the gunboat Cairo, which was in advance.—
The Cairo replied with a broadside, and soon the
engagement became general at long range.- The
rams had in the meantime advanced, and the rebel
ram Beauregard being some distance in advance,
was signalled out by the Federal rams Monarch
and Queen of the West, each striving first to strike
the rebel craft. The Monarch succeeded in strik
ing her amidships, almost cutting her in two.
causing her fo fill and sink immediately, in the
channel directly opposite the city.
At this juncture the Little Rebel made a dash
at the Monarch, which by this time was in the
midst of the rebel fleet, ‘but by a skillful move
ment of the pilot of the latter, she dropped out of
the way, and the blow intended for her struck the
rebel boat General Price, taking away her wheel,
and making it necessary to run ashore, where she
sent shot which, unfortunately for the rebels, struck
the boat General Lovell, rendering hetymmanage
ble. Immediately after she was run down by the
Queen of the West. A broadside from the Benton
took effect on the sides of the Jeff. Thompson ;
she was run ashore, and soon after was in flames,
and burned to the water’s edge. Four rebel 1 boats
having been disabled, the remainder of their fleet
retreated down the river, pursued by our boats,
firing as they advanced, resulting in ' the capture
of the Sumter, Bragg and Little Rebel, which had
been abandoned by most of their crews. Captain
Montgomery, flag officer, and his men succeeded
in making their escape in the woods on the Ar
kansas shore.
The Federal ram Lancaster, struck by the
Beauregard early in the engagement, was slightly
disabled. Colonel Ellet, in command of the Fed
eral rams, was struck in the .breast by a splinter,
and stunned temporarily, but soon recovered, and
continued on deck throughout the action. This is
the only casualty on our side. Our rams were
manned by sharpshooters, mostly from Illinois, who
did good execution, picking oft' the enemy's gun
ners at even- opportunity. The rebel loss in killed,
wounded and prisoners is heavy, but not yet: fully
ascertained. Our tugs are busily engaged” picking
up the crews of their disabled boats.
Why Fremont Didn’t Bag Jackson. —The
Wheeling Intelligencer has the folio Ring in rela
tion to Fremont’s failure to get in Jackson’s rear,
as was intended when he was ordered in pursuit:
“ We notice that some of the Washington des
patches ask why Gen Fremont did not take a
more direct road across from Franklin, and throw
himself in Jackson’s rear, and completely cut oft
his retreat. It is very easy to asksuch a question.
The glib people who propose it do not know, per
haps, that for four days previous to his march Gen.
Fremont’s troops had' had scarcely a bite of bread j
that they were subsisting on fresh meat, without
even salt. To have moved further south in a line
that would have taken him directly opposite to
Harrisonburgh, would simply have been to lead
his troops out in the wilderness to starve to death.
As it was, he cpuld, with the greatest difficulty,
subsist his troops at Franklin, and was compelled
to come round by Petersburg!) and meet his sup
plies. Jackson taring a General and not a letter
writer for the New York newspapers, knew this
before he commenced his pursuit of Banks.”
O” The New York Times has the following in
regard to a little baby on exhibition at Barham’s
Baby Show, at the American Museum, New York.
The child is seven months old, and its mother lives
in Cincinnati;
“This little baby is, we presume, the least of all
little things. Its mother is not large, but that has
nothing to do with it. The baby is little per se;
its head is so small that one is tempted to believe
it to be a doll; its features axe scarcely visible: its
frame is absolutely the ne plus ultra of attenuation,
and its arms and legs are easily encircled by an
ordinary sized finger,ring. We saw it in the nur
sery, just before it was taken on the stage for ex
hibition in the Lecture-room, but, in spite of per
sistent efforts on the part of the attendant, we
could not be induced to touch it even, for fear we
might break it.”
Thu True Doctrine.—Parson Brownlow, in
accepting an invitation to lecture before the New
York Union Association, says:
Southern man as I am, if the South, in her
madness and folly, will force the issue upon the
country, of Slavery- and no Union, or a Union and
no slavery, /am for the Union , though every other
institution in the country perish ! i am for sustain
ing this Union, if it shall require “coercion” or
“.subjugation,” or what is worse, the annihilation
oj the rebel population of the land ?
Defeat and Ketreat of the French —A
coirespondent writing from Key West on'the 30th
of May, says“ The United States frigate Poto
mac has just arrived from Vera Cruz, Mexico
bringing the important imformation of the complete
discomfiture of the French forces, on the line of the
Mexican route to the city, and their repulse and
hasty retreat to Vera Cruz. No particulars have
been received of the engagements—a heavy gale
of wind continuing all day, preventing communi
cation mtli the frigate here. Enough is known
however, to assure you that the French eagles have
been obliged to fold their wings, and the entire
army have countermarched, and are now directing
their course towards the sea-coast, retreating rap
force” 1 ereat oss * >e *' ure 11 victorious and superior
5,991 20,369
«3r A new French infernal machine is described
as capable of destroying six iron plated steamers
at a (glance ol more than three thousand yards.
Xhe Bntish Admiralty, it is said, are already ac
quainted with the secret of the Invention,
NAVAL ENGAGEMENT BEFORE MEMPHIS.
WHOLE REHEL ELEET SUNK OB CARTCRED.
Conversations with Bebel Officers.
The Hattie of Bail Run ami the Transition of
Manassas — The Rebel Tone at Yorktotrn.
A-correspondent of the New York Evening Art,
at Yorktown fell in, among the rebel ofliccre cap- ■
hired in the pursuit, with Capt. G. W. Conner, of;j
Natches, Miss., (Jeff. Davis Legion of Cavalry) in
whom he recognised an old classmate at Yale,' and {
whose hospitality he hod enjoyed in subsequent |
years. In the conversation wliich ensued is the
following interesting exposition of certain hitherto
unexplained circumstances connected with the bat- .
tie of Bull Run or Manassas, and the siege of
Yorktown: •
Question —’‘Why was the official report of the
battle of Manassas so long withheld from the pub
lic by the generals ?”
Answer—“ Principally because■ Gens. Johnston
and Beauregard did not consider it expedient to
disclose the strength of our force at that battle.—
Your official and newspaper reports had greatly
exaggerated the strength of our army at that bat
tle. It was not the policy of bimgommanders to
disclose the true strength of our fofifc, ns our army
ofthePotomac was designed as an army of men
ace merely, and not of attack. : The design of onr
President was not to attack Washington, but to
so continually threaten it that yon would be obliged
to hold a large array in the vicinity to protect the
city, thus obliging you to withdraw your troops
from other (joints of attack at the South and West
or preventing you from reinforcing those points.—
Again, the battle was so dearly won that the offi
cial report of it at an early day would have given
your troops more encouragement than ours."
Q —“ Why did Mr. Davis reject the policy of
Gen. Beauregard in regard to the attempt to take
posession of Washington ?”
A—“ Because we could not have held the capi
tol, so long as you had possession of the Potomac.
It was the* policy of Gen. Beauregard and others
of our leaders, to capture that city and liberate
Maryland.”
Q —“ What regiment of our army fought the
most gallantly at Manassas ?”
A—“ The Fourteenth of Brooklyn and Griffin’s
and Picket's batteries fought by far the most gal
lantly. This is the opinion of all our officers.”—
Q —“ What errors do your officers think wo
committed at this battle that caused us,to lose the
dav ’’
A—“lf you had fought the battle Thursday or
Friday, you would have won it. The delay at
Blackburn’s Ford was filial to you. You made a
great military error in allowing Johnston to rein
force Beauregard. You fought the battle by regi
ments, while we fought it by brigades and divi
sions. There were many times lad'ore one o’clock
in the afternoon of that day in which you might
have won the battle if you had vigorously attacked
our centre, since the centre of our line ofbattle had
become very weak by reason of the continual rein
forcements General Johnston was obliged to send
to the left, which was so fiercely pressed by your
right. It was a severely contested battle on your
side. Your soldiers fought gallantly but they were
not commanded.”
Q —“ Why did you not follow up our retreat?”
A—“ We had no idea of the completeness of
our victory at the time, and besides we were in no
condition to follow up the retreat ?
WHY MANASSAS WAS EVACUATED.
Q —“ Why did you evacuate Manasas?’
A—“ Because General McClellan had so strongly
fortified the city of Washington that fifty thousand
of his well disciplined troops could as well have
held the position as two hundred thousand. Our
generals knew that he 'designed as early as February
to send a targe part of hisjorce by water to some
point near Richmond, to take that city. It'was the
desire of our commanders, during all the winter
mouths, that McClellan should attack Manassas,
but as he avoided to do, so, it became necessary for
us to secretly withdraw our forces, so that we
could concentrate them at once in the vicinity of
Richmond, inasmuch as your army, by water
could reach that city much sooner than ours could
fall back by land. Our evacuatian is considered
by our officers as the most masterly movement in
the history of warfare.”
Q —What was the number of your troops at
Centreville and Manassas during the winter ?”
A Ido not feel at liberty to state the number.
However, it was greatly' exaggerated bv vour news
paper reports.
THE REBEL FORCE AT YORKTOWX.
Q “ W hat was the number of your troops at
Yorktown and Gloucester when onr armv first
made its appearance?”
A—“ Not far from ten thousand.”
Q—“ Why did you not evacuate at once?”
A—“ Because it was necessary to gain time for
the concentration of troops from all quarters, about
Richmond. We were strongly reinforced at York
town during the time you were pushing forward
the siege, supposing it was the policy of General
McClellan to land a sufficient force in the rear of
Gloucester to take that place, and then, if possi
ble, to cross the York river and cut off our retreat
It was tire expectation that this might be accom
plished, with the aid of ypur gunboats, that deter
mmed the council of war to decide on the evacua
tion of Yorktown and Gloucester.
Q—“ Does not the frequent retreat of your
troops, tend to discourage and demoralize them ?”
t * le least. They have the utmost
confidence in General Jo. Johnston. He has got
them out of so many worse scrapes that thev now
believe that whatever he does—no matter what—
is purely strategical. Our force retreated from
Yorktown in good, order. Historv will so record
it. Our small loss in the retreat against so many
adverse circumjgfcces is conclusive as to this
That division ofTbur army which pushed forward
on land seriously threatened our rear guard but
ffie delay in getting, up your troops bv water to
>v est Jromt allowed our army to escape'”
,edV„;S“ ' VOUr f ° rce at * e —
A “Of course lam not at liberty to state the
number of our troops; but the strength of our
army in Virginia to-day is much larger than at
any other time during the war. Every inch of
ground after your army reaches the vicinity of
Richmond wiU be contested by at least an canal
force to your own.” .
A Curious Machine.—Among the other curi
ous instruments, exhibited in the Philosophical In
strument Department, in the London Great Exhi
bition, is a machine, exhibited by Mr. Peters for
microscopic writing. With this machine of Mr.
dfanV' I 8 Bt r t J lat J the words “ Mathew Mar
*l a “k of England,” can be written in the
two and half miUionth of an inch in length; and
it is actually said that calculations made on this
data show, that the whole Bible can be written
Tlfn LT IT* m ! he Space of a s 'luare inch.—
The words to be written microscopically are writ
ten in pened, m ordinary characters, on a sheet of
paper at the bottom of the instrument, But the
pencil with which this is done communicates by a
senes of levers and gimbals with another minute
pencil and table at the top, by means of which the
ordinary- writing of the pencil and the microscopic
wnting both move in unison, though the motion of
the latter is so graduated that a stroke of a quar
rer of an inch at the bottom is only a stroke of a
millionth of an inch at the top, the shape and
character of both marks being nevertheless pre
cisely alike in outline. As a matter of course the
microscopic writing at the top Is only visible under
powerful raagmners, and the object of the machine
is to mark bank notes with certain minute signa
tures tor the prevention of forgery. 8
Swahms of •• Contrabands.”— The Chambers
burg Junes says: During the hist few davs the
roads leading from the Virginia line to this'place
have been black with “contrabands,” making their
way North. Numbers of them, t™,
through o„ U,c railroad. They are of all l am*
colors and sizes—from the gray-haired slave, who
has passed his days of usefulness to his master to
the infant m arms—from the ebom-hued to the
!lufl| 0l ' Ve brown and are of various degrees of
oSm !f’l in, " V i 0 them quick and knowing,
d K ’ la Y an . d stu P id - So, » e of them hare
passed through,, but many are still quartered
among the negroes of the town, some ofthehoa
ses being crowded almost to suffocation.
Embalming.
Embalment of tJwbwre Bain, and the sict
have died iuthe service of their country, has iJJ,
been a source of great consolation to sorr™- ’
j relatives* and is extensively practiced. Those , p
I are engaged in the pursuit grade their charge, lu
; cording to the rank of the deceased. varvimr
$l5 to $lOO. The lardy of a private soMi,?." 1 '
i embalmed for $l5, and sent home in a hanilsi *
i coffin for $l5 more. The process is simply
make an incision in any one of the arteries ’«
to inject therein a liquid invented by a Dt's
: qnct, of Paris, which is a secret to the’ operators "
A body dying through sickness, is thus p*.
pared in three hours, but _ when wounds have hZ"
I received, a much longer time is required, actonlm"
1 to the: quantity and nature of the injuries "?
! gun-shot wound protracts erabalment to ci»h
• hours, and cases occur where the process lasts f'
| two days. An ordinary mode of conducting th'
; operation has been to inject arsenic in the vein!*
! as is done to preserve corpses for dissection b
i this is only temporary in its effects, and moreover'
1 renders' a’ corpse poisonous. It thoroughly pr ,.'
j vades the surface of the skin, which, if kissed
i relatives, creates illness, and often death. Toud/
i ing a corpse thus prepared, with a cht or abtaiiJ
finger, ; would engender a serious sore and great
pain, perhaps terminating fatally.
I The embalming fluid of Sucquet exercises a re
markable effect, indurating the flesh, rendering j',
exceedingly hard and of marble whiteness. E vetl
discolored bodies lose, under its influence, their
purple tinge, and become of a light yellow. On
ing to recent invention, opportunities of testing ij
powers of preservation have not extended lor a
long period, but many bodies are in existence in
} this country which wore embalmed by this process
j in 1852 and snbseqnent years, which have not in
I the slighest degree altered, and promise to remain
in the same condition indefinitely.
In connection with this subject it might be inter
eating to leant the mode of embalmem of the far
famed Egyptian mummies, which are handed down
to us, after'an interment of several thousands of
years, dried and perfectly black. The process wa,
very simple, although it occupied a very long time
the brain and intestines were first extracted—the
first through the nostrils, and the second by an in
cision In the side. The body was then shaved and
washed, and the stomach filled with perfumes and
spices. The whole person was then covered with
natron (native carbonate of soda) for seventy day.
It was then washed, steeped in a balsam, en
wrapped in many thicknesses of Uneu, and wa,
finally ready for the sarcophagus.
How Andrew Johnson treats Eebels,
i The Nashville Union publishes the following
“Our Rebel citizens will find the following order
in blank, issued to the Provost-Marshal by Gover
nor Johnson, full of highly usefnl information
It has been executed, already, and will be from
time to time as the public good demands it. Gen
tlemen who persist in uttering libellous sentiments
may prepare for a speedy trip South; they cannot
remain'here. They can no more be tolerated than
scorpions, adders and tarantulas in an orderly cm
mnnity which has any regard for its own safety—
: “State op Tennessee, Executive Dep«t
ment, Nashville, June 3, 1862.—C01. Stanley
Matthews, Provost Marshal:—Dear Sir Mr. L
is hereby remanded to your custody, there to re
main until arrangements can be made for his trans
lation South, in connection with such others us
nitay bercady and are required to he sent beyond
the national lines, there to be left with the distinct
understanding that if he re-crosses and conies
again within said lines during the existing rebellion,
he shall be considered as a spy and dealt with ac
cordingly. Very respectfully,
“ANDREW JOHNSON,
, "Military Governor.
"P. S. If Mr. , before he is remanded to
ppson, determines to take the oath of allegiance
and give bond in the sum of $lOOO for his faithful
observance,* he will lie released on so doing.
“ANDREW JOHNSON.”
Repentant Rebels.—' The Paducah correspon
dent of the Chicago Journal writes that over 000
deserters from the rebel army lately at Corinth,
have arrived at Paducah during the past few weeks.'
reported themselves at the Provost Mashal s office
and voluntarily taken the oath of allegiance.—
They came straggling in, worn, wean-and de
jected; and declare themselves sick of Jeff. Davis'
Confederacy. Many also reach Fort Henry, Co
lumbus, Hickman, and other points. One'of the
number, named Winston, who kept-hitnself con
ceded near Paducah, sent in a very penitent letter
before he ventured to show himself. He said he
had been ten months in the rebel army, having
been deluded by Secessionists as to the character
of the war, and went to fight for “Southern
rights.” He was in the army long enough to de
stroy his constitution, and had reached home on
furlough without money, clothes or health, and
was willing and anxious to get back under the old
Stars and Stripes.
There are fifty ships under the English flag
lying pff New Orleans and Mobile to buy cotton at
any price when these ports are opened.'
ONWARD! EVER ONWARD!
STEP BY STEP!
The undersigned desires to
inform his old customers and the public generally
1,1 i 8 B P r i n B gone into the Dry Good business,
and bos just received a large and entirely new stock of
, Dress Groods ,
For the Ladies, embracing all tbelatest, preUiestaodmost
fashionable patterns.
And among which may be found every quality of good*,
the names of which it would be too tedious to enumerate.
; In the line of pnre, fresh and cheap
GROCERIES & PROVISIONS
*7 U J “knock under*’ to any of my competitor#. Iu
a n?P a^ m€n t 1 feel sure that I can render satisfaction.
All kinds of country produce taken in exchange for
goods, and the highest market price allowed.
Store, on the corner of Annie and Helen streets. East
~ THOMAS HESLOP.
Altoona, May 22,1862.
U S. ARMY.—WANTED IMME
FOR THE TWELFTH REGIMENT
k '..“'l - ANTRY ’ REGULAR SERVICE, a few more able
i?> d,ed men, between the ages of eighteen and thirty-flit
fro,l?, * l3 to •** per month, accarding to the
rank of the soldier. Each man will be furnished with
equipments, ample clothing and subsistence. Quarter',
fuel, and,medical attendance free of charge. The pay "I
each soldier commences as soon as he is enlisted.
By an get lately passed, the term of enlistment has been
changed from five to THKEE YEARS, and every soMitr
iwho serves that time is entitled to
$lOO BOUNTY
‘be Government. Attention is drawn to the fed
mat the Government boa wisely commenced to promote
to alf" from ,he rank3 ' Advancement is, therefore, open
lor farther information apply at the Recruiting Office,
on Virginia street opposite Lowtber’s Store, Altoona.
Lieut. J. 8. CAMPBELL,
12th Infantry, o. S, A. Recruiting Officer.
NOTICE. — Whereas, Letters Testa
mentaiy to tbo Estate of ROMAN’ RIEBE.NACK.
into of ‘he Borough of Altoona, dec’d, hare been granted
to the sdbscrlbers, ail persons indebted to said estate are
requested to make immediate payment, and those having
claims or demands against the estate of the said decedent
wiii make known the same, withont delay, to
ADAM ODENWALDER.
JOSEPHINE BIEBENACE,
Executors of Roman Rlebensck, dec’d.
Altoo.va, Pa„ May 1,1862.
/"IAUTION.—'WHEREAS Mi T WIFE
V HANNAK t. SUELLENBEROER (formerly Den
nan L. Bibba) baa left my lied and board withont any-jo* l
canae or provocation, thia U to warn all peraona not to
barber or trust her on my account aa I am determined to
pay nodtbta of her contracting, after thia date, nnlf»
compelled by law.
May 20,1662-3 t»
J. Gr. ADLUM,
Notary Public,
ALTOONA, BLAIR CO., PA.
at «1 time* l» found at »h« rtoroof J. B. Hilem*®
Octobarl, 1867.
ED. SUELLENBEBOEB.
Jtoon» iritoutt.
PRINTED on
jcaropbeirs $650 “Country Press."
,OOAi ITEMS.
tHB UNION FOREVER.
The tut* Zvm—l^9*
nlood that flowwl “ Le!dn « ,o ' , • * nd erimsooed W 6
Cb die southern, gulf, and by the lake* o
*** tardne that »w»U above Pacittc’s golden sand.
r»hrobs to heart* that love and grieve by dark Atl
...t, •trend
Cao*os.-»«‘ * ho wUI dirL ' ! , ,
Then wbo«wlll dare to sunder t ,
•Then who will dare t
Itoecho It In thunder.
where Columbia langhe te greet the smiting w.
sighs beside the patriot hero’s grave;
w *‘* . the streaming everglades to Boron’s lordly too.
from«“uV.pa.tthri.U thro’ a W-dradhloot
thon who trill dare? Ac*
SSU- child, who find, v froitfi
lgke. are sparkling bright, where looel
river* roam I
Than ****
en ilrew hi. .word M Soutl
/wid«ro« the
i i„i upou tn» p«ch»Mi« ■*• nlUl
PW> Of »*•" lhr»nWta’« ert
lined
Then who will dare f *c.
L c ,„ the South «eil out her share In Banker's how
[height? . ...
L n th e Korth gtn up her bones of Yorktnwns closlo
[fight? .
I ye di»Wo with eqhand ahcritsge of grroa T
Lnd in twain the starry Sag that o’er them prowll
staves i
Then who will due t *c.
f Ht Public Schools.—After a session of nin
inths, the public schools of our borough came t
4ose on Friday last. It is the opinion of th
kectore that the teachers and scholars have al
knitted themselves nobly, daring that time, am
it the parents, and citizens generally, have cans
{congratulate themselves on securing the service
[such faithful and efficient teachers; and, whih
the children have done well, some have evci
jranced beyond the most sanguine expectation
their friends. If others have not progressed ii
fir studies as rapidly as it was desired the
Duld, perhaps the fault lies at home; the bo
ty have played truant occasionally, or he nm
vc been permitted to remain at home day afte
y on the most trivial pretexts. .If such is th
ie, and the boy’s classmates have outstrippe
n in learning, it is no fault of the teachers.-
■t so far as we arc informed, such cases hav
en exceedingly rave ; and they generally an
icre the parents do their duty and where teacher
derstapd the knack of winning the affections an
nfidence of the pupil. With such schools as w
re, ignorance in the rising generation would"b
post inexcusable. Since tbe close of the fre
tools, Mr. Elder and Miss McCrum have opcOe
subscription school in the East Ward Schw
eras, where instructions will be given in all tb
inches usually taught in common schools. Th
igh School, Prof. Miller, principal, will have
ration after this week.
Aid fob the Soldiers.—We arc pleased to n*
e that our citizens are at last getting tbeir eyi
en in regard to their duty to the sick an
umded soldiers now in the different militar
ppitals. This is a more in the right directior
p all should take an actire part in helpiu
pig such a praise-worthy enterprise. A nntii
r of articles bare, already been forwarded to tfa
kre sufferers, and more are being collected fc
p same purpose. We hope to see the “ mountai
p” give a good account of hetsslf in this mattei
pnost every family could spare something for a
pie a cause; and we have no donbt that th
kriotic young men of our town, who hare no
I been called upon to make any sacrifice for the!
bntry, but who have been permitted to remaii
pome and enjoy all its pleasures, would cheer
py contribute of their means to purchase article
pessary for the well-being of those, who, in tbt
fence of our beloved country, have met will
■fortune. Especially do we think the young
kits would “ shell out," if waited upou by i
femittee qf smiling, bright-eyed, bewitching
pug ladies, such as Altoona can boast of. W<
■ely throw out this hint—let the prime mover
■he noble undertaking act in the matter as the;
bk proper. Persons wishing to cohtribot
■thing, bandages, lint, et cetem can obtain a!
Pessary information by calling on Mrs. Rosen
|g, East Ward.
ui; Menagerie.—By reference to an adve;
ment in another column, it will be .ten thi
u Amburgh’s Menagerie, the only real and ex
lively “ animal show" in the United States, wi
libit in this place on Friday, the 20th day <
le - We see this grand institution very bight
ken of by the press everywhere. It is said tot
| largest collection of animals in the world, an
gentlemanly agent, who visited our sanctu
mother day, assures us that there is no circus, <
frumg of that kind, connected with the Mena]
Therefore, we intend to go ourselves, ai
[advise eyeiybody else, and all their friends,
[and take their families along, as they mi
- r again hare an opportunity of witnessii
an , 'ntereeting and instructive exhibition
'ONfEDEHATE SCBtP.—Tllis kind Of inane# |
| m g its way up North in considerable quantitie
f°ugh it is considerably below par. ! A ten do
p°te can be bought at Fettinger’s Oak Hall ft
f and for 25 cents he will sell yon spec
Pa of all the Confederate notes that are to I
S iMhis part of the country. Speaking of tl
r *~U reminds us that Eet. has just return.
Lj * e where he has been spending const
P}' time; in selecting the finest stock ofFourt
i I toys, nations, Ac., that bas er
tals'Tmwi* ■ t ,° Altoona - A » the leading «n
• an d daily papers in abundance. Fart.
L h RaiTEB -— l Geis & Co. have just receiv.
[ naif a dozen pieces of all wort, ingrain a
carpets, together with a large stock of fen
for the ladies. They ate detennin
t Pnpwuth the times, and. be able toaopj
ll ,he L r cnrtome « in any particnli
‘ '“a examme thdrnew stock.
bi UQvasT.