A LECTURE
On the Crisis of the Nation,
I)I:LIVERED BY
JOHN G, MILES, ESQ.,
Before the Citizens of Huntingdon,
ON SATURDAY, OCT. 4, 1862.
An officer of a regiment of the ar
ny of the Union stationed in the east
ern part of Maryland related to the
writer the following filets: In one of
the seven days' battles fought on the
Peninsula in Virginia. a Union officer
Was taken prisoner after he had been
so severely wounded as to require
amputation of an injured limb. The
operation was performed by a surgeon
of the rebel army, who exhibited more
sympathy with the sufferings of his
wounded enemy than generally char
acterizes the class to which be belongs.
By the Samaritan acts of the one and
the patient suffering of the other, a
mutual confidence and personal friend
ship (enemies as they were in war)
grew up between them. After, by dai
ly intercourse, they had become con
siderably interested in the fate of each
other, they began to interchange opin
-ions upon the prospective issue of the
contest which had so strangely severed
the dearest ties of nature and brought
brother into conflict with brother. In
ode of the friendly conversations elici
ted by the circumstances in which they
were respectively placed, the profes
sional man said to his wounded patient,
" We will certainly beat you in this
contest." " Why do you think so,"
inquired the other, to which the sur
geon replied, " We are united ; we are
a unit, whilst you are divided and
growing daily more so." This illus
trates the effect of a party organiza
tion against the Administration of the
National Government, engaged as it is
in a herculean effort to put down the
most gigantic and groundless Rebellion
- which the history of the world has ev
er recorded. Whilst the rebels stand
shoulder to shoulder in their
work, and are encouraged to,
do so by our want of harmony
in feeling and action, we are
distracted in council and divided in
aim and ohjeet.—One party endeavor
fug to uphold the hands of the Govern
ment
in its death struggle with rebel
lion.; the other ignoring that rebellion,
and waging a war upon Abolitionism,
or upon an imaginary element which
in its very nature is antagonistic to the
"corner-stone" principle upon Which
the rebellion has assumed all organized
fiirm. I do not stop to prove or dis
cuss this proposition. It is, and will
be, taken as a postulate with all who
know anything about its origin, or the
history of its progress. That rebellion
is now upon us in all its most terrible
aspects. The grip of the giant is upon
the throat of' the government. and the
only issue should be, which party shall
prevail—the Govern mina or the Re
bellion : who is in favor of One and who
of the other? The Mall who 1-i 1101 in
favor of the former and of the achni n
istration wielding its power in this
struggle, is against it, and he who goes
off from its support on a side issue is
practically in flivor of its overthrow.
Ile who makes an effort to divide the
forces of the government or to weaken
the confidence of the community in
the wisdom and honesty of adm in
istration,bas made an effort to strength
en the arm of the rebellion and to par-
nlyze that of the instrument by which
it is to be stricken down, if stricken
down at all. Tell me not, when the
battle is raging, that the blows of the
government are not scientifically struck
in its defence ; that they are not " con
stitutionally" aimed by its friends;
that we must stop to dispute upon
these topics, whilst the enemy is in
flicting destruction and death upon
the vital interests of the human race.
We have not tine, nor is it the time,
to discuss these questions and become
divided upon them. We have enough
to do to fight the rebellion, and for the
sake of the country we love and the
preservation of its institutions, let us
not wrangle amongst ourselves in the
face of the enemy! Why should we
be divided in this great struggle for
our existence ? Will not dearly bought
experience ; will not, the love we bear
our children and hearth-stones teach
us to bear with one another and for
bear until the storm has passed over
us. Can we not; aro we not hound to
postpone the discussion of measures of
administrative policy, questions of
powers granted to or withheld from
the government under the constitution
and all collateral questions, whilst the
citadel of our liberties is in flames ?
Ought not every question to be subor
dinated to, and merged in, the one ab
sorbing question, by what means can
the rebellion. be most speedily and
'most effectually crushed ? What
would be said of ' firemen who saw
the flames bursting from every aper
ture in a building and yet stopped by
the way to discuss the character of a
by-law in reference to their engine
house,—whether its lock should be
broken when the custodian of the key
-could not he found, or a question of the
order of precedence at the rope ?
But again, why should we be divi
ded in this crisis of our fate as a na
tion ? This war (this insurrection,
more properly termed) was not of the
;making of the Government, nor of its
',northern friends. So far as the Gov
ernment is concerned, itis but a defen
sive struggle fbr the preservation of,
its own existence against a fearful at
tempt to overthrow it by treachery
and armed rebellion of the most dia
bolical kind; a defensive struggle for',
the life of the nation against the as
saults of internal and external foes.—
No war has been made upon the
rebels, nor upon anything that belongs
to them. The Government has only
assumed the same attitude of defence
against an aggressive attack, which
any individual has a right to assume
when assailed by another. It has
dealt no blows of an aggressive char
acter in striking for its life. The
probable fault has been that they have
been too mercifully directed; with too
tender a regard to the vulnerable
points in the harness ot its blood
thirsty antagonist.
What was the attitude of the par
ties in their relation to each. other
when the rebellion broke out? What
justification,exeuse or extenuation was
there for it? In reply to the first in
quiry I have to say in defining the at
titude of the rebels towards the Gov
ernment, that their own friends were
in its administration,and,from the 20th
of December, 1800, when South Caro
Mina passed her unconstitutional ordi
Dance of Secession, until the 12th of
April, 1861, when Fort Sumter was
bombarded, in part. prcwisly, by the
very gun-; John li. Floyd, "leeretary of
IWar, in faithies-ne ,s and teeaehery to
the governmeiff, had sent to the nulh.
although more 1,111111 a d; T. 0.1
four arsenals, two custom houses, a
branch mint, a first-class po,t-olii ie,
revenue cutters, a coast Eihrvey schoon
cr, a marine hospital with 216 invalids
in it, (ordered to remove,) an immense
amount of government moneys, arms,
ordnance, munitions of war and other
property had been seized by the rob
-018, and the government steamer the
Star of the West, carrying the U. S.
flag, had been repeatedly fired into and
compelled to de.iist from her mission of
supplying the little garrison of starv
ing men in Fort Snorter with provis
ions and other things needful for them
in their isolated condition, yet no arm
of even self defence was raised by the
Government against these aggressive
acts of force and violence, until Fort
Sumter bad been battered down, the
American flag struck and the gallant
Major Anderson and his little band of
famished men compelled to surrender.
Floyd in his treachery had officially
transferred the most of the effective
arias, ordnance and munitions of war
to the South, and was going on strip
ping the government of its means of
defence until arrested by an indignant j
meeting composed of men of all par- j
ties, held in Pittsburg on the 27th of I
December, 1860. Its treasury had j
been robbed of its money by this trai
tor, (now a general in the rebel ser
vice,) as well as its arsenals of its arms.
The finances of the government in the
hands of Mr. Bucleinan were at the
very lowest point of depression to have
:Dry working power left. Its army and I
navy had been scattered. Thas weak
ened by treachery and imbecility, blow
upon blow was struck by the conspir
ators in arms until. the unresisting gov
en:MOM, wail prostrate upon the earth
at the time or Abraham Lincoln's in
auguration (01 the 4th of .March, 1861.
To avoid the assa..ins steel the duly
elected Preshlent of the United States
had to make his way to Washington
secretly and in disguise. On the I:3th
of rerweary preeef ling, that prince of d
traitors now also commanding a rebel
army) John C. Breekinrillge, as Vice,
President, in the Schatz of the United
States had reluctantly declared the
regularity of his election according to
add forms and requirements of the
Constitution. Thus, the chief of the
living conspirators who had determined
that at the end of his offieial term as
'Vice President, the government should
be overthrown, was, in the Providence
of God made the instrument in pro
claiming to the world the right, by
the suffrages of a free people, of the
man whom he least "detigkted to honor"
to rule as a chief magistrate of this
nation Thr four year from the 4th
of March, 1861. The traitor has not
yet received Munan's reward, but if
the American people do their duty, the
time is coming when Iranian's doom
will !neat him. This, then, was the
attitude of the govermnent in its Fula- I
Lion to the :It the time _1 fira-. 1
' I
ham Lincoln took the oath to faithful-1
ly execute the office of President of
the United States. Numerous forts,
arsenals, small arms, ordnance, muni
tions of war, revenue and other vessels,
a branch mint and the money in it,
and property of all descriptions to an
immense amount belonging to the gov
ernment, on land and on sea, had been
seized by the rebels in arms. By the
single treason of Twiggs, property to
the amount of $1,209 500 had been
seized and appropriated to their in
The Government itself was prostrate
upon the earth, its :111113 hound :IS Were
those of' Samson of old, with the cords
which wide spread treason had pre-
pared.. A rebel government had been I
organized and Jefferson Davis inaugu
rated as its first provisional president, I
on the 18th February, 1561.
This was the condition of things
when Sumter was bombarded on die.
12th April amid the "shouts" of the
Philistine hosts at Charleston. This
crowning act of audacity being done,
"the spirit of the Lord came mightily
upon " this people. Seventy-five thou
sand men at the cry of the prostrate
giant, sprung to iris relief. The cords
that were upon his arms became as
'flax that was burnt with fire, and his
bands loosed from off his hands," and
he rose to his feet, the traitors still
around him, with his own armor upon
their 'iodic's, and his weapons of de
fence in their Imnds, stolen from him
in Ids sleep by his own body guard.—
They continue to press upon him in
battle array. At the point of the bay
onet and at the mouth of cannon, they
hold on to the property they have sto
len, and when he rises in his strength
to repel the assaults they have made
upon him, and continue to make, they
call it "coercion," "snhingation," a
" war of aggression" upon their rights.
As well might the midnight robber cry
" coercion," " subjugation," "aggres
.sim," when the power of violated law
is vindicating itself upon his guilty
person. The action of the Govern
ment is but defensive against aggres
sive force. It has only repelled force
by force as an assailed individual has
a right to do in the ordinary case of
antagonists being upon equal ground,
and in no sense can it be pat upon the
ground of an aggressive or attacking
party. It has assumed its positions of
defence in Grouse of its repelling force
just as necessity seemed to require, or
Ijudgment might direct. It has ad
no object in the application of that
force, other than the disarming of the
aggressive power in conflict with it.—
It has marched its armies in self-de
fence over no soil too "sacra" for the
feet of its soldier's to tread. It has in
vaded no one's right in so doing.—
' The nets of the rebels are positive.—
Those of the Government are negative.
But, here the parties are not on equal
ground. It is the aggravated ease of
the subject assailing the isovereign. The
child assaulting its parent. The reb
els, the children of the Government,
have raised their ruthless hands
against their fostering parent. They,
have " waged" a "war" upon that pa
rent, and all be has done has been to
defend himself against the parricidal
blows of his unnatural child, at the
same time feeling as did the anguished
king of Israel in regard to his son Ab
salom, vilion he cried in the agony of
his heart "0 my son Absalom I My
son, my son Absalom ! Would. God I
had died for thee, 0 Absalom, my son,
my sou! How parallel is the feeling
welling up in Mr. Lincoln's heart at
• , the time of' the delivery of his itiaugu-
ral address, when turning to the South
ern Absaloms, he said "I am loth to
close; we aro not enemies ; but friends;
we must not be enemies; though pas
sion may have strained, it must, not
break our bonds ol'affection. The mys
tic cords of memory, stretchiii:2: front
0-, et'y battle-field and patriot grave to
every living heart and hearth-stone all
over this broad land, will yet swell the
chorus of the Union, when again touch
ed, as surely they will be, by the better
angels of our nature." Why do Union
men,. members of Congress, and even
the President himself, give color to the
southern idea of the conflict between
the rebels and the Ciovernment, by
speaking of it, writing about it, and
" resolving" upon it as a war waged for
the Union with specific objects. No
war has been waged for the Union.—
The Government has only defended
itself' against a murderous attack made
upon it. It seems to the Congress al
lowed itself to be led away in its de
sire to satisfy southern feeling, from
the true character of the conflict, when
it adopted a resolution embodying
amongstother things, this proposition
(now put at the head of every Val
landigham Democratic paper,) viz :
That this war is not frayed on their
part, (that is on the part of Congress)
tit any spirit of oppression, or
. for any
purpose of coniurst or subjugation 01'
purpose of overthrowing or interfer
ing with the rights or established in-'
stitolions of those states, but to defend
and maintain the supremacy- of the
Constitution, and to preserve the Uni
on with all the dignity, equality and
rights of the several states unimpair
ed; and that as soon as these oljeets
aPeampliqw , l the w.tr ought to era n:3."—
Here is a pos;tice quality ascribed to
the acts of the Government which
cannot properly Lepredicated them,
and gives color (mere color it is ad mi t
tech) to the rebel idea of " eocreion,"
"subjugation,""agyiession." The reso
lution is not objectionable so far asi, it
negatives these rebel suggestions, but
it is wrong in characterizing the acts
of the Government as positive acts of
war. It is A, P, G law that an in-i
(111 - kin:it is not guilty of a buttery who
strike; Ids assailant in self-de:ence,
although the act unqualified by the
net of the assailing party would be
positive ac•t of battery punishable by
the law. .Again: The force used and
the manner of its use will he ritudi tied
by the degree and character of the
force used by the assailant. The law
of nature, as troll as munk•ipal law al
lows all the force to be used which is
necessary to protect the party assail
ed from bodily harm, or to protect 11113
He, (Well to the destruction of the life
of the aggressor. In the conflict, if
the assailed strikes his antagonist in
the eye and destroys it, or strikes any
other vulnerable part of his body and
inflicts great bodily harm, or causes
death, lie is not guilty of a battery,
mayhem or murder, or even manslaugh
ter, if the force and violence used by
Ile assailant were of such a character
as to make the defending three reason
ably necessary for the protection of
the assailed. In such a ease no posi
tive wrong has been committed ; no
guilt lots been contracted, although
great personal injury may have been
done to the aggressive party. If the
analogy be good as between the
government andthe rebels as it is believ
ed to be, then the former will be per
fectly justified in inflicting whatever
blows upon the rebels which may he
supposed to be reasonably necessary
to put down the rebellion in the most
effectual way, even to the striking
them in the most vulnerable part, the
imAitation ofslavery. As in the case of
the individual, Wan eye be lost, it i;
not chargeable, to the account of the
defending party, but to that of hint
who has wrongfully brought on the
conflict. So in the case of the rebels,
if they are struck in the most vulnera
ble part--if a bow be drawn at a ven
ture, and king Rebellion be smitten
" between the joints of his harness" in his
cherished institution of slavery, lie
may charge the loss of it to himself I
afid not to the Government whose life
he has attempted to destroy. He has
been dealt tenderly with too long.—
lie claims that his negroes are proper
ty in the same sense that a northern
man claims that his horse is property.
If a traitor's horse be forfeited as the
consequence of his crime of treason
against the Government to which he
owes his allegiance, why shall the reb
el's negro be excepted from the opera
tion of the same law? And if his ha
man chattel on his " plantation " con
tribute to his strength to wage his
war upon the Govern' tent, why shall
not that strength be t iken away by
his negro bei. - g sot free, if the Govern
ment have power to do it? Let the
rebel be weakened in all his power to in
flict intended evil upon his government,
and nil:lt be accomplished bydeprivi ng
him of his slave whilst he is in arms
against that Government, that loss is
the consequence of his own act. Let
Lis rebellion cease and his arms he
laid down and then let him invoke
the power of the law that enables him
to hold his human chattel. Then the
Government will not step between
him and his chattel. The interference
with his slave whilst he is maintain
ing an attitude of armed rebellion
against his sovereign, can be done on
ly under the war power - vested in the
Goternment, which enables it to deal
with the property of its enemies as
may best promote its own interests.—
I have thus far endeavored to prove
that the Government has made no war
I upon the rebels, but that they have
mado a wicked aggressive war upon
it and the Union, of which it is the em
bodiment—that all the acts of the
Government have been but defensive
blows struck, in parrying the blows of
of its assailants, and they having been
stripped of every justification or ex
cuse the their acts on the ground of
parallel acts on the part of the Gov
ernment, we will next proceed to re
ply to the
&eon , / inquir y
. .
What other justification, excuse or
extenuation was there for the rebel
lion ?
In the prosecution of that inquiry,
it will be demonstrated (by the truth
of history and by southern Democratic
testimony,) as conclusively as it is pos
sible to demonstrate any proposition
that is not self-evident, that it is but
the consummation of a design to
break up the Union and establish a
Southern Confederacy conceived many
years ago, even as early as ISI2, as dis
closed by gr. Calhoun to Commodore
Stewart, systematically and persever
ingly acted upon whenever circum-
Etances were at all propitious, by the
!school of politicians who have been the
1 leaders in it .—That the tariff was first
1 laid hold of as a cause fora dissolution
of the Union and the nullification ord
nance of' South Carolina of 1.833, was
pa4.:ied lot die accomplishment or the
purpww, hat the project, having been
defeated by tile compromise tariff of
1833 and by the firmness of General
Jackson, the President of the United
I States, by concerted arrangement im
mediate resort was had by the Confed
crates in the purpose to an agitation of
questions connected with the institu
tion of slavery as a means of exciting
southern feeling, when there was no
feeling in the North on the subject—
that the slavery excitement in the
South was the premeditated work of
Mr. Calhoun and his friends, with a
view to their sinister purpose in refer
ence to the Union, and was not, trace
able to Northern action other than as
provoked by thorn for the purpose or
reflex influence upon the South, It
will be shown that apprehended clan
ger to the institution of slavery was
not the ground of the desire to de
stroy the Government, but was feign
ed and USOd as a mere instrument flir
producing goneral discontent and un
animity of opposition to a continu
ance of the Southern States in the Uni
on—that 111 r. Calhoun admitted in the
arrangement of die plan of operations
that it was a mistake, to have made 'the
issue between the North and the
South on the tariff, because
the sugar interests of Louisiana
would always prevent her from uni
ting with the other Southern States
upon that question; that the slavery
question was the true one on which to
rally; that instead of desiring to allay
excitement on that question, his pur
pose was to increase it, and said that
the issue must, and should be foreed
upon the North. This was the polar
star of his senatorial life. These pro
positions established, it will be seen
licc.v utterly groundless is the charge
that the rebellion is the creature or an
abolition war upon the South, and how
fatal a mistake it will be for the friends
or the Union to allow themselves to be
drawn away from the support of the
government upon this side issue.—
\Vleit if' mistakes have been made in
conducting the defences of the govern
ment. Yuman wisdom could not have
prevented mistakes in the management
of affairs covering so vast arytelil of op
erations. They should not constitute
any ground for a withdrawal, by the
people, from the support of the:admin
istration. Every consideration of pa
triotism. of hope. and of fear in refer
ence to the preservation Of the Gov
eminent, ought to admonish us to stand
together in this crisis of the fate attic
nation. A divided vote will be worth
to the rebels, and will be so estimated
by them, more than another Lull Pan
victory. Let them not be so strength
ened.
The domon. , :tration of the prnpoA
tionF, herein slated in referonee to the
manner in which the rehellion
originatc.l and conducted to it , 3 pros,ent
fearful proportions, will he Te•ierved
for a second lecture.
Our Army Correspondence.
LouvoN Ilmurrs, VA., I
October Ist, 1862.
Enrroa.—Once more it has become
the lot of the 28th Regiment P. V. to
ascend these bights. In the middle
of last March, this regiment, under
the leadership of that great patriot
and champion of human rights, Gen.
John W. Geary, was the first of the
Union army to cross the Upper Poto
mac and plant the starry folds of our
country's emblem on the ragged pin
nacle of London Heights. So again
on the 20th September, the 28th. was
first to cro , s the river and hold these
heights, which has been the grounds
where treachery has been the means
of a shameful surrender of thousands
of brave men and much valuable Gov
ernment property. lint it is not here
in place to openly criticise military
movements, 1. express what I hear
all the citizens of Harper's Ferry, and
what paroled soldiers that remained
here when we arrived, say, and that is,
there was a suflicient three hero to
hold back Jackson "Until MillfOlTC
ments could art ive, which, at furthest,
would not have been delayed longer
than 2-1 hours after the time of the
surrender. I heard a person say, who
was a Chaplin of one of the regiments
surrendered, that he heard Col. Miles
say, just before his death, that he,
(Col. Miles) had greatly wronged his
country, and no one doubts if, when
they behold the strong natural posi
tion made still stronger by fortifica
tions, and with an ample force of men
to resist a much larger army than
Jacion's.
Company "0" (Broad Top Law
rence llifies,) has passed through con
tinued hardships fur the last three 1
months. The regiment being ordered
to
,join Bank's Corps de' armie ' about
tbe last of June, was put into Pope's
army, and reducing all baggage to the
lowest figure possible, our march
was rapid and fatiguing. The compa
ny wagons seldom came up with us at
night, leaving us frequently without
our blankets or rations. On arriving
at Culpepper, we tutderstood that the
rebels were close on us, and next morn
ing xvemarched forth to meet them,
but, by command of General Banks,
the 2Sth was ordered off to the right
to take and hold Telegraph Hill, which
was highly important for signaling.—
Passing along scarcely a mile to the
right of where we heard the battle in
its fury, continued onward until we
had partially gained the rear of the
rebels, yet divided by a thick woods.
On arriving, we met with but a slight
resistance, and held the bill until next
day, when we were ordered hack to
Culpepper. Although not actively en
gaged in the battle of Slaughter's
Mountain, the 2Sth acted a stragotic
part. Soon after the fight, when Gen.
Pope was forced to fall back on acct.
of the cunning machinations of the reb
el chiefs, (mil' wagons were sent on to
wards Alexandria, great want ensued,
we could not get rations, and at ono
time we marched for two days and
nights without sleep or food, over mis•
erable roads, and following the mean
dering turns of the Rappahannock, we
on one side and the enemy on the oth
er, cannonading was a daily practice,
and supporting our batteries seemed
the only rest we enjoyed, as we then
had the privilege of lying down, Fi
nally, after traversing all the by-roads
in London, Paquire.r, Warren, and
(hdpoper counties, as it, seemed to us,
we loft, Cull Run, our Regiment la the
~.:..:i:.r.:,_.:c:...::<,..:~.5::~...:.5•~:r~~..r~a~e_
rear of the corps, as it had been
I through the whole retreat, and as if
I by a masterly manouvre. we marched
28 miles, with our whole baggage
trains saved, and landed, safely, but
half dead, under the welcome guns of
the Forts acar Alexandria. During
our retreat we were much annoyed by
the rebels trying to shell our trains,
but they did little harm. After teach
ing Arlington Heights, we expected,
and indeed were promised a good rest;
but were sadly disappointed. Not
even one day's rest I We entered M
aryland, and, under a new impulse of
driving the invading rebel hordes back
from the sacred firesides of our fathers,
we again fired up all the patriotism
left in our worn-out frames, and on
ward we trudged. We reached Fred
erick, Md., on the 14th, and on the
15th marched some 18 miles, and biv
ouaced near the battle-field of South
Mountain, where Burnside had so
completely routed the enemy that
same day. On the lGth, stiiifoiiowing
up the retiring rebeN, we crossed the
bridge over the Antietam creek, and
at a late hour in the evening, lay on I
our arms till day light, well knowing
that the morrow would be a day prom
inent in the history of our country, if
the rebels made a stand on that side
of the Potomac. I forgot to state that
while at Arlington Heights our corps
received reinfbrcements of several new
Pennsylvania regiments, all of which
were placed io the Ist Division under
General Williarm4. The Pith of Sept.
dawned, and with it commenced one
of the most terrific battles of the rebel
lion. I shall not attempt to give a
general idea of that battle, or .how it
progressed, as that has been done by
many long since, but will only confine
myself to the Ist Brigade, 2d Division
of Banks' army corps, commanded by
Gen. Mansfield. This Brigade, compos
ed of' the 28th P. V., 7th, - 20th, and
Wall Ohio regiments, went into the
fight at 6 a. in., aid remained in till 1
p. m. The 28th being in front, charg
ed on the rebels, who were in a strip
of woods, and were fbreeing back a
regiment, of our troops, and at the
same time pouring a galling fire upon
us, but in a very short time we cleared
the woods of rebels, when they fell
back into a conifield. Our fire soon
became too hot for them, when they
broke and scattered in all directions.
We Cillowed up the fleeing foe with
wild cheers—through the cornfield, and
the 28th captured live stand of colors;
in one instance wringing a flag out of
a rebel's liana, and knocking him
down with a ramrod that the victor
was about loading his gun
Through the " cornfield," which has
been the theme of many correspon
dents of the gi cat battle of Antietam,
—that " cornfield " was the most des
perately contested spot of the battle
field; the corn utterly trampled into
shreds, while the dead lay in piles over
it. Onward went the 28th, past the
cornfield and through a plowed field,
which gradually rose to a hill, on the
brow of which we halted. The Ohio
boys were on our left. Soon we could
see a fresh column of rebels coining on
us. They got within good rifle range,
when we gave them a volley from our
Enfields and they staggered back be
hind the hill out of sight. Ammuni
tion was served us, for we had shot 40
rounds away. The brigade advanced
so as to overlook a hollow and woods.
Along the edge of this woods the reb
els had torn down a fence and made a
breastwork of 400 yards in length,
where they lay behind in heavy force.
At length they made a charge on us.
Our boys were ordered to lay down,
concealed by the hill, and when the
rebels came within SO yards, the order
to fire was given. A terrible volley
was poured into them, and they went
pcil mell back into the woods, where
they again rallied. Reinforcements
came to them,
and again they attemp
ted a charge, butt with still worse suc
cess. Coming up on our left, which
they evidently- tried to turn, we lot
them get close, and then repeated an
other volley into them, while at the
same time a battery of ours on the left
gave them grape and canister. They
wheeled back in the greatest disorder,
and not stopping in the woods, they
continned their flight far beyond.—
We now charged on into the woods,
and held them, taking a number of
prisoners. We were fighting Jack
son's troops, who had just arrived,
flushed by theiri late success at Har
per's Ferry. We had now driven the
rebels 2 miles, capturing 2 guns of a
battery, 5 stand of colors, and 40 or 50
prisoners. Again our ammunition was
expended, and again we filled our box
es.
The rebels evidently laid great
value on this position, which we had
so dearly wrung from them, and they
directed fresh columns on us. We
were now in a precarious'situation--
Sumner was at it in full force on our
left, but not within supporting dist
ance, and there was a gap which was
not filled up between us. Tho balance
of our corps was on our right, but be
ing less fortunate, had met — with severe
loss and retired from the action. We
asked reinforcements but they did not
come, and filially our ammunition
again ran short. Our Lieut. Colonel
Tyndale, who was severely but not fa
tally wounded in the neck, said at this
moment: "If they give nsammunition
we'l fight the whole South." Tho Col.
acted with the greatest bravery and
coolness. All these seven hours our
boys had scarcely ceased a minute
from firing at the rebels, who took ad
vantage, as well as we, of shelter from
the bullets. TIM rebels now came in
three columns, on our right and left
flanks, and in our front. One of these
columns we could easily repulse, but
a new regiment, which was from New
Jersey, I believe, that had come to re
inforce us on the right, after firing one
volley on the advancing rebels, gave
way in confusion on receiving. one in
return, thus leaving us exposed to the
enemy, and liable to be surrounded.—
The order had been given 20 minutes
before this to fall back on the hill, but
until this time all had refused to do so.
It now became a necessity; and with
the same coolness that characterized
our little brigade during the day, it
fell back, much worn out, and was re
lieved by fresh troop; that had just
reached the battle ground. Thus, for
7 hours, did that little brigade of one
thousand men battle against five times
its number, and reluctantly left' the
field, from want of reinforcements and
ammunition. The loss of the 28th re
°intent P. V., is as follows: Killed,
-12; wounded, 210; missing, 16; total,
268. They took into action 630 men.
Company " 0"
. lost 3 killed and 12
wounded, and had 47 in action. I
have written too lengthy already, and
must close, and give you more again.
- Yours, in haste,
Pr.us.
Li 'EI iAVE I) All' 1.
A< e r ol 1 I •,t tO 11.4 :''tcarDOWN 11AM, with
li•iig tail .111 , 1 fin,, 013 I Oda of head. A reasounblo
1011,14.1 u ill lie gt, ell fat nn` M1 . 0[1.1101011 of tilo
or,al I flan, WM. hillegElt,
Oct. i , :fita. Taylut'a Faun, !war lEttltingdou.
A UDITOR'S N0T1013,-
. -
Tho undersigned Auditor appointed to di3tribilte among
the belts the balance in the lazruld of Jacob Weaver and
Jacob S. Derkattesier, Exccnnno of John W. Ilerstresser,
deed., mill attend to hid duties tit the Iligbder's 011iee In
tho borough of Ilualsogdon, on MONDAY, the 3,1 day or
Norronsert next, at 1 o'clock, D. :D" . 11 1.11 all persons
inter,,ted ate term ired to present their claitus before hint,
or 1)0 debarred from coming In for a shale of the final.
DAN11.11,11 • 011D.IJil111111 , ,
Auditor.
=I
ItS remaining in the
lit, Pa. l'insons calling v~ill
IST OF LETTI
vo , t °me, at C,alaitc
state they ate ads ortt,cd.
DR as,'lLbm•tn
31)
Crat, ford, :Non act
C airtt,r, Davi 1
Cade, D. 0,14
DAN w, J.thn
Oaloin, Frelerir lc
101,11,111, John
Oct, 7, 18:12.
tin• rig, Susan, Mrs.
Junes, Da, ul (Foreign.)
Lim Thuma3
MeCu°, Jun e, 2
Mail alt.. John
Mereattlt, nu
Nun ii, Robert
ItK6 fit ESSCR for P. M.
OEM
OICEITANS' COURT SALE.
[Cilate. of Thrum.linot3on, ,kc'd 1
By s irtne of an order of the 01 pirate,' Cow tot Hunting.
dun count.l*, null be exposed to public sale. on the piemi
too, at the house Of Stalely, at 10 o'clock, A. 31..
On Saturday, the Ist of Novernber,3.B62
the following ilcscribcd fume and tracts of load, to nit:
One tract at laud, situate in e,t tom nship, in sold
connty, on which said llhant Wil lia mson lived at the
time am-1,1.th, niljoining lands of Clem, ge and David
11 Clout on the north, .1 Ittaliam -twin°, on the east, Ja
cob `Sitters on the south. and Solon]. limner on the
west. controlling DO netes and nd parries and allowance,
mole or le, In, of ding to (Iron OtUchrd to Inquisition.
liar lug thon-on a hit no brick hmtw, hart.Eaw-null, awl
buildingq. know n no the ••3lan act."
, .
• .
..I.l.lo—Oire other fat o. zoljoirrirp; the oao above de.
• on ilsal on the ',oath, Jonathan Wilson ell the calf., Adarn
high toot oil the north, and David Wilson on One west,
contarnin,, ill acres net allonance. Incas or less, necol.l
- to draft attnelnrql fe 1/1 , j111,i1011. 111111 filed an the Or
phans' Coot tof-lid I onnty, 1,111,11114 the " 1/011 . 15 rt act,"
having thereon a good brick liouse, flame barn and neece
eon y mtlhuildmb
Also—Ono tract or wo,lian 1, in Jackson township, con
taining about font. hundred plllelmied at tax stale.
Thllllll OF .9.1/.1.1.---Orie-thild of the pineliasr looney.
in ho ;sand tan csanfinmatzont of nolo. and the tesidue to 111
equal annnal paynientq, ;tit intere - t, to be ,ocured by
the bcud3 and inortgag, or tho
ItnlN C. WATSON,
Tru,t,e.
let S
FOR SALE.
•
VALUAI3LC COAL AND TD 113:111 LAND
Tl, ~111.-ertla.r nou cfr . , 1, for wile the intereot of flee.
IL;toiner, 1/0111 1 ; Ito. 000 1110111 th'llfolnitlll,lllaLm
tie
100-
mopetty Immediately udj man.; tie town of
Came county, knoun 0101m,C8 M,11.3." The
trw;• arc compi,,,tl of file coutignotti tracts, containing
in all 1027 and 2k , n ,rc or I,i. A .111-
cala p, ton of Iho lan l is 010110t11 to make quite a good
MI In, and the nuna hider is tinthoted with pine, hemlock.
otk, a-h. he. The IA111111111;1 arc compo,cd of a large ma
t•l-p", 1141,111111, Nlll/1 circular 1 1 .1%15 for lathing, siding
and rro , ,, cutting attath,d; a huge double duelling houxc
and ~.1- 0 1o11)0111, 100111141/111, 1010011 11005 1 , and all neces=a
outhuddingi, The Tyi ono k Clra field Railroad, nor.
ahnoit to Plullp.,bnrg, tnn•ercx 1110 101014 for
about 13,rr, mile,„ and pattt.n through ti' Wald 501 d of the
balk todl.-
1, vgr quail titheof logs can be obtained from the lands
aliwe, and floated to the mill. Ilituminoni coal is fined
4 1 / 1 111F1,1111V on the illllllLainte line of the
ltatlron 1. .1 gold title will Lc m Ldo, :try! If itle desired,
Jac.b F. St - tiller. the minor of the other undivided half,
.11 mot convoy his i,1101,1. It out pi es hooch)' hold
at pi halo e.il the Noporty out I/0 t1,1 , 03ed to public
.11t, "11110 TYRONE Cli 17 HOTEL,
On Tuesday, the 25th of November, 1662,
at 2 Weloclt, I'. M.
1 or 11111ilor 11:11 I iculars, and boron of tato. apply to the
ibor at Huntingdon, or Gootgo 11. St. Inter at
bang, ..SAMUIII. T. 111t015 . 1 , 4
t. 7, ISG2. 'ft aitaa.
FALL AND WINTER,
FASHIOXS
ROBT. KING 9 •
MERCHANT TAILOR,
/1/71 Sl , one door wcBl of Carnion's Store,
giS A MP A , ; , , ortllfFne UP
GENTL MIEN'S DREss GOODS.
His ,t,on t molt consists of
CLOTHS,
CAM:HE:RES, and
PLAIN AND PANCY VBSTINOS,
the neat bt and best that could be found In the city, all of
wide], he mil take plealuru in exhibiting, and making
up to culler. - .lt a ill colt 11001111 g to call and examine his
gum's. Call soon.
Huntingdon, Oct. 7,
PIIANS'. COURT SALE.
tae of an order of tho OlTlan's Coact of
counts u 111 oiler at public ,ale mt tho promwei
at Jl.tpletou, Ihnitingtlon count), Oil
Saturday, the 25th October, 1562,
nt 10 o'clock, A.. 11, the ii,kle.,t lionignincher
demea,d, in the follanlng real e,t•tto, 011.:
The nudi Idea half of a lot ofptouml militate in the vil
htge of Mapleton. hooting filly feet on the Penn.,
eel, mxtending back in depth 000 linni , red and eighty
feet, hoot; Lot No. 3 in the plan of bald t illage, bounded
on tha north by Ow Juniata titer, month I.) the Penna.
Radio ul, on the wi,,t by lot of John Copenha,er, and en
tile 0.1,1 by lot No. 1. hating thelcon 3 h, ,o Stol led 11 nine
Pll-.0. M .110103,3 amid.' and other ooprovelomts
theleon.
AI,SO-11c undo half of JAM n P.rec awl 122 porch
ol land situate in Union tow °slop, lltnrtiugdon county,
composed of the Whole of a tract of land sum o!„ ea in ale
11.t11e of Samuel Walker, and parts of 6111103, ill Milli,
of Robert ;smith, Oanwa Sh•o art, John Stew , . h Jame' ,
Walker. and Hugh McAllister, as (la ...crib,' an the deed
for the 0110 e from John Bre, st, and J 02,0
Konigtaacher, and Jeremiah Bauman, ram deal in Ilan
tmgdoe comaty in Rook 0, No. 2, page. 20S, &c., laming
then eon three 0110 storied log thyt Mug housta, a log sta
ble, small bump. a sate mill and other huprovenlonta-.-
'1 is .tho a goad youn4 orchatil, and about forty acres
ale dos ed MO In Cultivation; the balance limber /and.
TOIIMJ OP SA 60—One-third f porch., money on
continuation of sale; the balance In Iwo equal annual
p 0 moats a ith in [west, to be secured by bonds and !nook - -
gaga of Laurchater. ADAM IiONIUNI ACli ER,
W. CARPENTER,
eu tor; of Joseph lionitrrnacher, deed.
A tteJt : Ir. Iri/MNI,zOE)/tr. Clet k O. C.
Al4 , 9—At th, stm3 time and place tine ithilersigrital,
slurs trio; pan ta..r of the late rum of lionigntael,
et & Bauman ndl SCti the following real estate belont r ttne,
to the sand l.•ite lino.
A lot of giound situate In the afolokaid Tillage of Ma
pleton, adpoling 1.11111 of Auden.n and the nj10,I!
de=cu Ord let, COW ":.,; of an acre v.llll a (too Bklllo.
0/1111i do oiling 1i0n5..., a n d plank kitchen attached, them,
en. Tenn, ,undo known on dot' of
PtiSM*MI
September 30, ISG'2,
CIIIOICE FOlt
The old " 3113 ANS FAII31" in Canoe valley, linnt
ingdon county, In., one nod i half milei not th (rem
Bpi IICT Creek Station. of I'. C. It. IL. It 1)4.1 about 100
:tel., in cult ore and 40 notes timber.
Una eceliciit timber; dm belt of m odor; gond build
ing.; variety of fruit ;Berl prodwth a Boil, in finecondi
ti el ; thrifty, itttelhgent n.ei!,hboLhood, rind good homo
matt et. •
oWorr being rodent ahroaa. turn Roll on terms
inniqually ca.y, it 50 ed. Pay 82,000 before lot
of April text, and on the balance have as many years
lam , as yore adO ; 59 Mat trttpt will lash, MC pelplicute.
A >ale chance for yoring beginaerd to obtain one o/ Cie
best prins in the rottitly.
Or pay the grog, part in good stooks or bond,.
For pal ticni i, a apply to John Omens, Eiq., Birming
ham. (fun ti ogilon co., Pa., Attornoy-iu-fact for the owner.
;Sept. 15th, t in.
F.INCY FURS, FANCY FURS.
I
it.Z MIN 1 , 21111:111.A,
718 ARCH Street,
below Eig , llll, south side,
M..: %, 4 - 1 / 4, Importe ' vim.knELPlll4-
r& Manufacture
4 : i1e,...t, er of and Dealer in all kind.
of FANCY FUIIS, for La
dies' and Children's wear.
4' / 'P i VV . I desire to soy to say
il i l l i i '' ''V" f th:Vi s r:o r t i l i n t i l lt i g i t i l n ie l s d
.1,,...,.._ , i , ',,,,. . 0 that l or lia t o i . l e o no ic !gt s t t sco?; , e /i
~, 2 - I , ,fipriM n -_most beautiful assnament
l t,
E_,,± 'F i.. ii, , o. 1_,,0f all kinds rind qualities
•=.---_,---..-,:._ 4.,,,k=" =-- r'.s- , - - tot FANCY
F Ul
tS,fr Lo
____ ! _c dice' and ~i , ,M I, S
Wear,
ilint 1)i; uurn dining
this Fall :Ina Winter.
.
My Pars is ere purchased in I•lnrope. pro, lona to the rise
in Meiling Erehange, and the New Duty imposed on all
Furs, tmpot 0,1 since the flint of August.
I would also htate, that ns long no our stock loots. T o ill
niTor it at pliers propos t innate to siliat tlio goods cost mu;
hot, it will be impossible for MO 10 Itnpnt t mild Manufnco
taro any more Puts, nod sell them at the some pskcs.
or•ing to the unsettled state of the affairs of the CmintrY.
Remember the name, number and sheet : John
Fareirn, (New Fur Store.) iIS Arch Street, Fhiladclphia.
Sept. 15, 1562.-510.
PBOTOGR APR ALBUMS
AND
SMALL PORTRAITS
ET=I
FOR SALE
AT LEWIS' 1100 K AND S rATIoNEny sTottn
r you want Carpets and Oil Cloths, call
k at n. P G WIN'S Nshete 3ou find the turbo co
soltnient in town.
PATRIOTS !
TO THE lIESCIJEM.
Men Wanted to fill up one_of Ott,
best Regiments in the Field.
rimE undersigned, in accordance
,veh perm al Orders, tread Quarters of the Army, and;
under tho directien of Capt. IL I. Dodge, General &perils,
tendent Itecraftlng Beryls," for the State of 'Penns - Asa,
eta, has opened n Ref:run : leg ODice at MAKICLESIWRII,
lltxntingdon county, Vu.
I am authorizedenlist, men for Any rennallvatilo,
Regiment now In the field that is not already.fnil.
Subslstfinen and pay to commence from cAtii ISt 12111111t7
moot.
Sergt. JOHN McLAUGHLIN;
53d Regiment, P. V.
On Recruiting Service.
Egypt. '2O, ISO'
RECRUITS WANTED
FOR PENNSYLVANIA REGIME TS
NOW IN THE FIELD
THE undersigned, in accordance with
Clenmal Orders. Heal Quarters of tho Army, and un
,ter the direction of Capt. It. T. Dodge, General Superin
tendent of Recruiting Service for the St..te of L'entniylla
nia, has opened it Ilecridting Office in the building for
molly occupied 114 IfembQuarters of Camp Crosman, oh
posite the Ext.lninge Hotel, Railhead sheet, Huntingdon
Penna.
I ROI authorized to enlist men fur any Pennoylvenia,
Regiment now in the fold that Is not already full.
Submi.dence and pay to commence from date of enlist
ment. C'apt. Shall 111:NNER,
110th Regiment, P. V.
Ilunting,don, Sep.l6, 1562. On Recruiting ,Buries.
FRUIT TREES, SMALL FRUITS,
GRAPE VINES, &C., &d.
AT THE
FARMERS' NURSERIES,
NEAR HUNTINGDON, PA.
We Invite farmers and all who nm}• be in went eg
Tacos MO] PlA:trd to tOtaillinC our stock of
THRIPTI:V t iELL GROWN TREES,
At greatly reamed vices to suit the times,
consisting of
APPLES—A fine stock of the niait approved varieties
for gsseral cultivation—good size and thrifty 'growth
Price 10 eta. each.
141.1.118—elloico kinds, Standar(' 50 cts., Dwarf 40 eta
each.
CIIER It IES—A fine assot talent, 40 eta, each.
PN.lolll:S—Onr stock of peaches is tine, comprising a
collection of choice varieties of superior excellence, turn-
I , hing a bncemion of ripo fruit limn the let of August
to the lot of October. Price ten et, each ;$8 per 100
PLUINS—A list of the moot desirable and popular kimlo.
Pt ico, grafted on plum stac k s, 50 cts.; on peach stocks, 20
eta, cacti.
APRICOTS-50 cb. each; NEcTanrns—a) cants
each.
SELECT CRAPES.
QRAPF. VINES of the bast oarieties, sold nt the vers
leseest rates, varying in price from 15 cents to $1 each.
Any of the new and lure unfree, native or fOretp, If not
on hand, still be ordmed and furnished nt the very low
est rates.
CURRANTS, GOOSEBERRIES, STRAWBEREIES, Sc. 6.
Early m du, aro enrnrs tly
Psi:l:ages of trees will be deil‘cred in fluntingil‘m frep
of expense to the Purchaser, and duly forwarded by the
i.iiis owl to any place he may designate.
Any inquiries by letter respecting Stock, prices, &c.
will s mile prompt attention. . _ • •
The mincer:A ere located 5 milel IS. E. flout Hunting
don, on the road leading from Huntingdon to Crovnover,
Mil. and one mile 5.2. from thin Warm Spring.
Atlaresa JESSE, GOTISIJOII,
Sept 17-inn. Poe 1, Huntingdon, Pa.
BANK NOTICE
TN pursuance of the 25th Section, First
Article Of the amended Constitution of the State of
Pennsylvania, and the Mist Section of the Act of the Gen
oa] Assembly, passed the first day of .1000, 1839, the un
dersigned citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby gins notice that they intend to make application
to the Legislature of said State, at its next session. com
mencing the first Tuesday of Jauntily, 1863, for the char
ter of a Bank, to be located in the borough of Huntingdon,
in the county of Huntingdon, and State aforesaid, to be
called the "13110 AD 'roc BANK - ;" the capital stock there
of to be One Hundred Thousand Dollars, and the specific
oltject for uhich the proposed corporation is to bo char
tered b, to transact the usual and legitimate business Of A
Bank of issue, discount, deposit and exchange. -
J. GEORGE MILES,
WILLIAM LEWIS.
ALEXANDER PORT,
DAVID 'MATH,
JOHN .T. LAWRENCE,
R. D. WIGTON, _
ROOT. lIABE POWELL,
JAMES 3IIGUIRE,
DAYID DUNN,
IL M. CON
Jttn, 8, UGfI-Gut.
10IIN R. lIIINTEIt t
GEORGE: EBY,
A. It. B'Cliss'Al t,
INGHAM:
BANK NOTICE
NTOTICE is hereby given that the tin , :
VY dersigned cilDens and residents of Penns).lvanli
lucre associated themselves together in partnership, and
prepared a Certificate for the purposo of establishing a
Bank of discount, deposit and circulation or issue, untie,
and In pursuance of the provisions of nn Act of the Gen:
seal Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
approved the 31st day of May, A. D. 1861, entitled al
"Supplement lo an Act to establish a system of Free Bankj
Ng in Pennsylvania, and to secure the public against loss'
from Insolvent Banks, approved March 31st, 1860," and
any other law or laws of said Commonwealth applicable
to rind bearing on the subject. The said proposed Dank
to be called "11111 HUNTINGDON COUNTY BANK," to
be located in the Borough of Huntingdon, in the County
of Huntingdon, and State of Pennsylvania, with a capital,
stock of ono inonlrett and sixty thousand dollars, Iq
shares of fifty dolls, a etch, with the right and privilege
et increasing the ham° to any amount not execution' three
hundred thousand dollars.
WILLIAM P. ORIIISON, I JAMES M. BELL,
JOHN SCOTT, JAMES GWIN, •
WILLIAM DOItRIS, Tr. , THOMAS FISHER,
GEORGE W. GARRETTSON.
July 22, 1862-6 m.
Triomphe de Gand Strawberry.
Our otuck of Plants of 11111 unrivalled Strawberry, Is un
equalled anywhere.
GRAPE VINES.
We have 75,000 Grape Vines for Salo,.
Of superior quelity, of the
DELAWARE,
HARTFORD PROLIFIC,
CONCORD,,
DIANA,
ELSINGEURG, CUYAHOGA,
CREVELING.
And also other new and valuable kinds. As we have ev
ery facility for keeping up our supply. we offer great in
duccineoth to Fall purchasers. Send for our. Cucular.
J. N.NON,
St24-2m 80x.155, Pittsburgh, Pa.
FOURTH ST. CARPET STORE;
No. 9.7, above Chestnut Street, Phdada,
I solicit an examination of the prices and qnslity of to)
large and well selected
STOCX OF CARPETING%
All of the newest styles and mannf ‘ letnred of the best ma
Serials. ItRUSSIITA, 3-pIy—INCIMIN and YEUET/AN
CARPF TINCIL 4 , DRIJGGETS, FLOOR. OM OLOTI.IS in or•-
ery is ixttls.
RAG, LIST AND COTTAGE CARPETING'S.
Together ilia! n Jorge stock. of
WIND OW SHADES,
or the newest and handsomest pattern, which mill l
sold low. .7. T. DELACROIX,
Sept. 3,1802-3 m. 47 South Fourth Street.
AUDITOR'S NOTICE.-
The tinilemigned Auditor appointed by the Or
phans' Court of Huntingdon county, to distribute the bal
ance in the bands of Simeon 33"riglit,Ilen., Administrator
of Abraham Shaw, deed, will attend to the duties of his
appointment at Into °nice in the borough of Huntingdon,
on Saturday, the 25th of October next, at 10 o'clock, In.
31., In hen all persona interested will present thin' elating,
or be debarred flout coining, in Air a sham of the sumo.
3.11. 0. CORBINi•
Auditor,
Eept. 24, 1862-14
WAR FOR THE UNION
NEW ORLEANS, Sr. LOUIS, WIEMSTIIS,NORSOLK,N.,
' TAKEN.—ASIII3I" SLAIN, AND TIIE BACK
BONE OP " SECESII" BROKEN
But whilo you rejoice at the 50CC.099 ,of oar gallant
troops ' and the prospect of tho speedy downfall of the
Bohol Array, do not forgot to call at tila store bf
WALLICE & CLEMENT,
before purchaaing elsewhere, and see our new slack
goods, consisting of
My GOOlll , ,
Groceries,
hoots and Shoes,
Queensware,
ockeryn are,
Tobacco Segars,
lining.
Shoulders,
Fish,
' Flour,
Salt,
oral a general rissor Went of notions, all of which are of
forest on icor•onable terms for cash or produce.
Huntingdon, Jnly 1, 1862.
PAPER ! PAPER!! PAPER !!!
Tracing Paper,
' Impression Paper,
Drau lug Paper,
poeil Paper,
Tim° Paper,
Silk Paper for Flowers,
P...rferoted Panes,
pistol 'Board,
•
slat Cap Paper,
Fool,cap Paper.
Letter Vapor,
Cormacrrial Noir, raper,
Ladled' thit Edged Letter and Note Popot,
Ladles' Plain and Fancy Note Paper,
White and Colored Card Paper, in Packe and Sheett
for sale at LEWIS' Book, Stationery end *sic Morn
fl