THE PILOT.
GREENCASTLE
Tuesday Morning, Sept. 8, 1863
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THADDEUS STEVENS ON TUE CON
SCRIPTION LAW.
The Lancaster Express publishes the follow•
ing opinion of lion. Thaddeus Stevens, in
regard to the effect of the payment of the $3OO
commutation by a drafted man, which sets forth
the law of this case in so clear a light that Ile
cannot see why there should be any conflict of
opinion on that point:
LANCASTER, Aug. 27, 1863
lion. Thaddeus Stevens:
DEAR Sin—Different decisions have been made
under the 13th section of the "Act for Enrolling and
Calling out the National Forces," as to the effect of
the payment of the $3OO commutationi , in the un
certainty so caused,, may I ask you for., yeuropinion
as to what the law of the case is?
What is the egect . of the payment of the $3OO l
commutation, and for what length of Limo does such
payment exempt the peisons paying?
Yours respectfully,
EMS ARD REILLY. •
LANCASTER, Aug. 27, 1863
NAR SIR—In answer to your inquiry, my opinion
it that the payment of the $3OO commutation and
the furnishing a substitute have precisely the same
effect.
,Either of, them frees the drafted man front
further draft for three years. He is in effect in ser
vice. either by,himself .or another. The payment
of $3OO makes the Government his agent to.procut e
a substitute. The Government has consented to act
ae such agent. The law says he may "on or before
the day fixed for his . appearance furnish an-accept
able substitute or pay such a sum not exceeding $3OO
for the procuration of such substitute, and there
upon the person furnishing the substitute; or periling
the money, shall be discharged from further liability
under that draft." No one doubts that the furnish
ing a substitute excuses for three years. To give a
different effect to the payment of the commutation
seems to me little less than a absurdity. It is a
very mischievous misconstruction, which if need be,
I have no . doubt, Congress will correct.
ED. REILLY, Esq
THE MOUNTAIN PARTY.
A . " gay and happy" party left this place on
last Thursday, for a visit to Parnell's Knob.
One of the party sends us the following :
" Having reached the foot of the mountain,
We determined to drive to the top. The ascent
Was difficult—the road being very rough. The
scenery, however, repaid us for all our trouble.
".'This is truly a romantic spot,' remarked
one of the ladies.
"'Yes, it is, indeed, lovely,' added another,
gazing around with a momentary attitude, as
vie' halted our horses upon the summit of the
Knob. Here we sat, viewing Nature in all its
grandeur, awaiting the arrival of others of the
little party, who, wearied and fatigued by the
long ride, had paused farther down the moun
tain. Soon, however, our party was completed,
and here we stood looking over the green moun
tain.; then turning around, viewing the beau
tiful Valley, and casting our eye to the blue
sky, we stood almost enwrapped in thought.—
Around a we gazed upon the rocks and cliffs.
There stood the majestic pine, growing, as it
seemed, out of a massive rock, sustaining a
deep body of its own, stretching aloft into the
air. Near it grew the beautiful hazel and
whortleberry; The venerable chestnut, bur.
thened with its plenteous fruits and foliage,
lowered its branches almost to the surface.—
The creeping vine, twining its course from
branch to branch, and froin tree to tree, had
long labored to reach . the highest pinnacle of a
neighboring oak, and now hung waving its
branches to the stirring of the gentlest breeze.
Our little party then moved farther up the
green, where the great Valley more clearly
unfolded her glittering fields and villages.—
Here one should; in vain; attempt to paint,
with instruments so feeble as words, the beauty
and grandeur which then loomed up before us.
Far down into the Valley, viands a lovely brook,
stealing its way in a sinuous direction. Far
ther on is seen a silvery cloud of smoke, as
cending high in blue ether, from some burning
woodland. Everything seems to be joyous
around us; in majestic flight sails the bird of
the mountain, " with an air, wild and free as
the spirit of liberty." One cannot but here
pause and ask himself—" who is he who can
measure the depth of beauty by the imperfect
medium of language ?" Evening had now
stolen upon us, and the sun was waning in the
far West, when the party, joyous and happy,
:began the descent of the Knob. Down we
ivent, winding our way by the mountain's side
breathing the pure air of the hills. " Wu,
.Sallie, Wo I" cried one of the advance, the
wheel of his buggy coming in contact with the
.end of a log which projected partially over the
marrow road, and away went the inmates, seat
ing themselves on tl e mountain's bank; the
top of the buggy at the same time, describing
the quadrant of a circle. After finding that
no one was hurt, and everything 0 K., except
the buggy, all once again started on their way
down the Knob. With careful and cau ious
descent, we o3n arrived at the hotel at the
base of the mountain, where our friend Mr.
THADDEUS STEVENS
THE PILOT :--Gl - tEENCASTLE, FRANKLIN CO., PA., SEPTEXIBER 8,1863.
Mullen, was preparing some viands for us, and
making arrangements fur our entertainment.—
In a short time, however, supper was ready,
and here all performed well their part. After
supper we repaired to the parlor; sang songs,
and were agreeably and merrily entertained
with instrumental music, et cetera.
" Clouds began to hover over the sky, mak
ing the night intensely dark, and the party,
after some consultation, concluded to remain
until daylight. Daylight came. The morning
was beautiful. Old Sol had already kindled
his flickering ray, and had long since, emerged
from the horizon, when the little party, elated
with gratitude to our friend Johnny, for his
generous and excellent entertainment, and
cheerfdl with the bright hopes of a pleasant
ride, left the mountain inn, and in a few hours
landed once more in the city of G'
All honor to'the noble landlord. SIGMA."
411.
THE NEWS.
Governor Pierpont, in an address to. the
people of Virginia, announces that he has es•
tablished
.the seat of government at Alexan•
dria. He says that if resistance to the civil
authority be attempted, and the
_posse .canti,
tatus prove insufficient, the aid of the military,
as a last resource, will be invoked to enforce
the laws. He is happy to be-able to say that
the President manifests the most lively desire
for the restoration of order in the State, and a
disposition,. to assist, by every means at his
command, to restore the civil Government and
produce harmony.
Headquarters Army of the Potomac, Aug.
29th, 1863.—The execution of the substitute
deserters, sentenced to the penalty of death,
in General Order No. 84,. took place to•day.
More than ordinary interest was exhibited in
this execution of military law, and it is esti
mated , that not less than twenty-five thousand
persons were present. The ground was well
selected,and every arrangement was so complete
that no accident. occurred to mar the solemnity
of the proceeding.
The position of the spectators was upon a
semi -circular elevation, partly surrounding the
place of execution. Two of the sentenced men
were Protestants, two Catholics, and the other
a Hebrew. The spiritual advisors of each were
present, adminstering the last consolation of
religion... The criminals were setting upon
their respective coffins with the yawning graves
in the rear.
The troops were drawn up in columns by di
visions. The orders for the immediate execu
tion was issued by General Griffin at three
o'clock P. at., and the officer for the guard,
Captain Crocker, 118th Pennsylvania, then
called the clergymen from:their ppiritual duties.
The rest is briefly told. At the order to fire,
thirty-six muskets were discharged, and instant
death, as announced by the surgeons in attend
ance, was the result.
• The bodies were then placed in their respec
tive,graves and the clergyman then performed
the religious rites over the deceased. The
spectele was an unusual one. The Catholic.
the Protestent and the Hebrew stood side by
side, each uttering prayers for the departed
souls. The names of the deceased were as fol
lows :
George Kuhn, John Felane, Charles Walters,
George Reiuse, Eli Lai. The clergymen who
attended these unfortunate men were Chaplain
of the 118th Peona, Rev. C. L. Egan, Saint
Dominck's Church, Washington, and Rabbi B.
S. Scold, of Baltimore.
Washington Aug. 31.—The Navy Depart
ment has.received information of: the capture
of the brig Atlantic, by the U. S. steamer.
Princess Royal, off the Rio Grande, Mexico.
From the statement of Acting Master Chase,
late in command of the gun-boat Antonica, it
appears that the Atlantic had cotton on board,
direct from. the Texas shore, and the Captain
of the brig told him he would swear to the fact,
and if a private interview could be granted, it
would be to the advantage of the United States.
The Captain's singular proceeding was, he
says, in consequence of a misunderstanding
between him and the parties chartering the
vessel. He states that he was taken into Key
West in the same. Atlantic while bound for
Texas, by a United States steam vessel as a
prize, and lay there thirty-six days; but he
was "smart enough to fool the authorities,"
notwithstanding he had, contraband of war on
board.
He escaped from there and afterwards sued
the United States and obtained judgment for
$lO,OOO. He then went off and delivered his
cargo all right, being sent to Brownsville, Tex
as via Matamorasr Mexico. The Captain of the
vessel further said, "If you don't look out n.
fool you again. I have been in such business
a long time, having run the blockade during the
Russian war, and if you are not sharp I'll get
to windward of you again!'
Mr. Haggart, of New York, now at Mate.
moral, can testify that the brig Atlantic pur
chased her cotton at Brownsville, Texas. The
Cayuga was in sight at the time of the capture.
The Atlantic has sent to New Orleans for
adjudication. She hails from Nassau. The
above facts are communicated by commander
Woolsey, of the princess Royal.
Fortress Monroe, Sept. 3.—The steamship
Spaulding arrived here to-day from Morris
Island, whence she sailed at noon on Monday.
Among her passengers are Commodore Davis
and Lieut. Harmony, of the Nahant, who were
sent South by the Medical Surveyor. Commo
dore Davis has been ordered to the Nabant.
The stormy weather during the two days
previous to the departure of the Spaulding,
had checked our naval operations, but all was
in readiness awaiting favorable weather.
On Wednesday night Admiral Dahigreen
went up to Sumpter with the Monitors Iron
sides, Nebraska and Octorara, but as the storm
increased he was compelled to return. At 3
o'clock Fort Moultrie discovered the movement
and fired on the Patapsco.
'On Monday when the Spaulding sailed the
Weehawken was shelling Fort Gregg.
The Rebels raised another gun on the ruins
of Sumter on Saturday.
On Sunday the Island batteries renewed the
bombarduient of Sumter, dismounting the guu:4
and damaging the front. The parapet is now
a useless ruin.
The Monitor Lehigh arrived on Sunday
afternoon in fine condition. She passed throu_h
a terrible storm, but behaved admirably.
The steamer Howe also arrived on Sunday.
Operations of General Gillmore were pro
eressiog with great vigor. His approaches
were so close to Fort Wagner that the combat
ants were throwing stones and hand grenades.
On Wednesday he drove the enemy from the
rifle pits, on the left advance line, a hundred
yards, and captured seventy-eight prisoners,
including two officers.
The Monitors were weathering the storm
well inside the bar, the anchors holding Ad.
mirably.
All in good spirits and confident of success.
0.---______
Letter from Harrisburg
CAMP COUCH,
August 30, 1863.
DEAR PILOT the olden time, when the
rebelliop was in its infancy, we occasionally
essayed a letter for you. For some time we
have been separated. We have not heard
from you, and you ; doubtless, have not heard
from us. Last week we were thrown into the
•
company of several of the Greencastle boys—
Messrs. Hawbecker, Burk, Davison,. Brewer,
and others. In conversation with them, the
days of " Auld Lang Sync," came fresh to
mind. We thought of the first company that.
first left th 3 place—of our boyish sports—of
the hopes and fears entertained at their depar
ture—of the day when we returned home un
scathed from the battle-field—many never to
return. With all these thoughts, as our corn
panious, we concluded to have a friendly chat
with you, kind editor, and patrons of THE
PILOT. In doing this, we will have to chroni
cle the proceedings of the soldier boys. from
old Greencastle. It is useless to say that they
are. a gay set of lads. You know them, the
people know them ; therefore we will.give you
a short account of what they have been doing.
The boys have not yet.been uniformed ; but
wi 11 be . to-morrow. They are quartered in a
tent on this camp; one tent which serves for
everything—commissary stores, cooking: and
eating apartments. From this you may have
some idea of how they live. • We, you know,
would be the last one to prefer any charge
against anyone coming from our old home.-.
But justice on the, part of some two or three
of the crowd demands it, and we do it.
John E. alias Major H , for some
cause or other, neglected to make out the re
quisition for the necessary rations, and when
the boys awoke this morning, they were forced
to the solemn truth that the larder was empty,
—that they were minus the staff of life.
En the absence of any commissioned officer the
Major detailed a special guard and started
them for rations. The guard returned. Brewer
with three chickens, Burk with a canteen of
milk, and the rear with a suffictent supply of
apples, and other fruit, to give us a variety for
a Sunday dinner. By vote of the majority
Burke was appointed cook. How was any one
to cook Chickens without flour and butter. And
here again was the tug of war George Shough
and myself, who were special visitors to the
camp, started to make another draw of the
needed articles. We did it, and did it. well.
The dinner was prepared; it. was ate, and as
an evidence that it was eat with a clear con
science, the boys are engaged in reading religi
ous papers, distributed by a kind Chapal in. We
must now close, as the boys are yet dissatisfied
with their dinner and are about to start on an
expedition for peaches, which I think will
satiate their - hunger.
If the boys stay here, we will write again.
ANTRIM BANGER.
s•
Grape, Canister and Sharpnell.
An officer of the Fourteenth Massachusetts
Regiment recently communicates the follow
ing interesting article to a Lawrence paper:
Grape consists of nine shot arranged in
three layers, which vary in size according to
the calibre of the gun; they are held to
gether by two plates of about 1-14 inch less
diameter than the calibre of the gun, two
rings, a bolt and a nut. The canvas bag ar
rangement is too old for this war; it is not so
simple or durable, and has not been used for
years. Canister for a gun contains 27 small
cast iron balls, arranged in four layers, the
top of 6, the remainder of 7 each; for a
howitzer it contains 48 small iron balls in four
layers of twelve each ; for the same calibre
you will see that the balls for canister is a
tin cylinder, closed at the bottom by a thick
cast iron plate or a wooden sabot, and at the
top by sheet iron plate with a handle attached;
the interstices between the balls are closely
packed with sawdust to prevent crowding when
the peice is fired. Shrapnell consists of a very
thin shell, which is filled with musket balls,
the interstices are then filled by pouring in
me4n sulpher; a hole is then bored through
the mass of Fulphur and bullets to receive the
bursting charge. Now to explain the difference
between a "shrapnell" or "spherical case" and
a "shell." The destructive farce of a shrap
nel! is what it receives from the charge in the
gun, the powder in the shrapnel! being only to
break the envelope and spread the balls, they
still move forward by force of the impulse they
received from the charge in the gen. A shell
is made very much thicker than the envelope
of a shrapnel!, and nearly filled with powder,
and will do great execution, if it explodes on
the ground, it having destructive qualities :in
itself, aside from the discharge of the gun A
shrapnell shell has only half' the charge of
powder that a shell proper has; thus a 24
pounder shrapnell contains 175 musket balls,
6 ounces of powder, and weighs 22 75 pounds.
A 24 pounder shell has 12 ounces of powder,
and weighs 19 75 pounds. A 6 pounder shiap
nell has 49 musket balls and 25 ounces of pow
der.
PASSING EVENTS, 4C•
Files of The Pilot—We have several files of
last year's PILOT, which we will sell cheap.
WE would be pleased if those of our subscribers
who are in arrears to us for Subscription, would call
and settle, as we need money badly.
IF you want job work done, neatly and cheaply
or if you *ant to subscribe for a good paper, come
at once to THE PILOT office..
SCHOOL BOOKS and the different Denominational
Hymn Books and Bibles, can be had at Mr. JAcon
HOSTETTERS.
Wood Measurer:—Mr. SoLomos DOMEi Wood
Measurer of the BoroJgh; will enter upon the duties
of his office this (Tuesday) morning.
New sign.—A very neat sign has been put up
by InwlN & RHODES, our enterprising Hardware
merchants.
THE Hagerstown Herald and Torch says, a Union
pole was raised in the public stymie,. on Monday of
last. Week, in place of the oae cut' down by Rebel
soldiers.
Let the People See.—Wm. Al•Caoat has
just opened, at his Chick and . Tevielry Store, on
South Carlisle street, a large and elegant a'ssort
ment of-Gold, Silver and Steel Spedtaeles.
A REMEDY for hard times, where people have
been thrown out. of business, and possesi'some-little
means or small incomes, is to make . themselves a
home. See advertisement in another column of the
Settlement of Vineland.
=1:::::
Ax article upon the Reformation of the Com
mon School System," which appeared in the columns
of this paper, has excited considerable attention
among our teachers and others connected with the
schools. The writer himself, a teacher of long ex
perience, has handled his subject ably.
Cavalry.—Capt. HOLLINGER, with about fifty
of his men, arrived here on Saturday. They are
engaged in coaecting horses and other property
left behind by the rebels. He is acting on authority
from Washington.
A squadron of the 22th Penna., encamped at
Tontas' woods on Sunday evening. it is reported
that other troops will follow.
=1
THE Editor of the Boonsboro' Odd Fellow, F. 11.
IftwiN, has been engaged for some time, in raising
a Cavalry company. He has succeeded very well.
His paper will be suspended for the present, on ac
count of his going off to " the wars." He has, as
an editor, done good service for the cause of his
country ; and as a soldier in the field, we are cer
tain he will acquit himself nobly.
Bogus.—Notes of various denominations and in
imitation of the Government greenbacks are in cir
culation. They purport to be on the Government
bank, which does not exist, are dated Washington,
District of Columbia, November 16th, 1862, and
signed J. WINSLOW, Cashier, and HARVEY PATTEN,
President. They are supposed to eminate from New
York.
THE necessity for shinplasters has long since
passed away. Time was when they were a conve
nience, but they now prove a nuisance. No person
should take them in change, for the Government
currency is plenty enough for business purposes.
Those who have them should send theta home to the
individuals and corporations who issued them, for
redemption. If this is not done, it will be a long
time before the community gets rid of shinplasters.
Stars and Stripes.—This is the title of a
weekly newspaper, just, started at. Auburn, Place
county, California, by Jonn C. BOGGS. Mr.'B.is a
native of this place, but has'for many years lived
in California, having gone there before the " gold
fever" originated.
The paper itself is of a respectable size, and pre
sents a neat and elegant appearance. We wish our
cotemporary on the other side of the continent,
abundant success. •
Soldier Dead.-1/ENRY Snam , Eß, son of :lir.
Jour .tinennEn, of Montgomery township, died in ;I,e
Army Hospital at Pottsville, Penna., of the 2',,11,
ultimo, of Typhoid Fever. The deceased was
private in Capt. R. J. BOYD'S Upton Cavalry cm ,
pauy, belonging to the 21st Pennsylvania. Hi s
body was brought home and interred in the Luthe
ran graveyard, on the ad inst. lqr. 8. was a young
man much liked by his comrades. He had been i ll
the service but a few weeks.
Singular.—Mr. JAS. D Scorr, of Bridgeport,
this county, owned for several years, a fine famil y
horse, which he prized very highly ; and last year,
when it was impressed by the Anderson Cavalry, h e
filled its place in the troop by another horse, whi t },
cost him considerable money In October, When
STUART'S raid took place, STUART'S thieves feet: the
fine family horse along. At the sale of Government
property at Chambersburg, on last Thursday, m e.
Scorr bought the same horse for $l2.
IIAcKmEN have had quite a harvest for some time,
since we have been without cars. The lowest price s
for hauling passengers seem high to those of ns, who
have been accustomed to traveling in the cars. Some
drivers, not of this place though, make rather ex.
tortionate charges Soon the railroad will be in run.
ning order, and instead of paying the modest cum of
from three to five dollars fora seat from Chambers.
burg to Hagerstown, one can then ride the same
distance for eighty cents.
Post Office.—The mail is yet, and has been
for some:weeks, carried bythe, Express Company._
The mail is closed at 8 o'clock, A. M for Chambers
burg and points northward, and 2, P. M., for fin
gerstown. Since the Ist of July, two cents are
charged on newspapers and on dropped letters. In
case the full postage is not prepaid, the full amount
will be charged at the office of delivery. Persons
should be careful that their letters do not overweigh,
and in all cases to have the necessary amount of
stamps on them.
Motherless Children.—The Proveat ?Jar
shal General has decided that one motherless child
under twelve years of age, dependent upon Ito
father's labor for support, exempts the father from
service under the enrollment act. It has also been
decided that when the father marries again, the
children are still motherless, as "a stepmother is not
believed to be a mother, in the sense of the enroll
ment act." These decisions are of great import
ance to the public, as the section of the act relating
thereto, has been the cause of considerable discus-
DEC!
Candidates.—The Union County Convention,
on the 18th ult., nominated the following ticket :
Assembly, T. J. Nita.; Prothonotary, K. S. TAYLOR:
Register and Recorder, HENRY STRICRLFR ; Clerk
of the Courts, W. G. MITCHELL; Treasurer, JANES
G. ELDER Commissioner, Ilitanv GOOD: Director
of the Pour, Jomt DOE.BLER ; Auditor, WILLIAM An-
Br.nso'N.
The Democratic County Convention met on the
Ist. inst., and made the following 'nominations:—
Assembly, J. hIeD. SHARPE; Prothonotary, JOH!:
R. ORR ; Register and Recorder. S. R. Alelizssos,
Clerk of the Courts, H. C. Plistiscizi : Trtsteurer,
JACOB C. Secrist ; Commissioner, JACOB BRI:WER ;
Director of the Poor, J. C. Tams; Auditor, Wu.
H. BLAIR.
From the Quarter Master.—For the bene
fit of farmers and others, we publish the followtag
notice gratis:—
NOTlCE.,—Persons are cautioned not to allow
Horses to be taken from them by parties represent
ing themselves as agents of, the Quarter Master's
Department, and searching for captured or stray
animals. No authority is given for snob purpose
from this date. AMBROSE THOMPSON,
Lt.-Col. Chief Quarter Master
Department Susquehanna.
Chanabersburg, Aug. 27, 1863.
From the date above, no one has any autbority.far
taking up horses. Maj. fl AWII EC KE R, and all others,
who really were agents, lave ceased. We under
stand there are still some persons going through the
country taking horses, supposed to have once been
in possession of the rebels, which, from the notice
Above, they have no longer authority to do. tioniti
of these appointed, but oftener self constituted
agents, have been in the practice of taking horses
not branded. It our opinion that this is all cos-
trary to their instructions, as it is to common seine
and justice, for, if the agent chooses to think that
any horse he sees has been captured from the rebels,
he could take it, and there would be no redress.
The authorities at Charabersburg have given plain
'notice, and let no one be now imposed on.
Stray Thoughts.—
Dear friends, did'st ever value time? its cost?
Did'st ever calculate its priceless worth?
Did'st ever meditate how great its loss—
If lost? Did'st ever think—naught else can pay
For loss of time, and not so rich in wealth?
Methinks sometimes, that women all are fools,
And men more so—as they more mind possess—
When they so little value set on time!
Myself I class with these; I, too, reject
The dictates of my better self, and like
A fool, I squander time! Dear friends, let's pause,
E'er yet we reach the end of time.—E'er yet
The short allotment of our days shall pass
Away ; and wLen, too late. we'll learn the worth
Of time, will shudder on the brink, and there
Look down,—on what? A fathomless abyss,
"A dread eternity! how surely ours!"
Let's not put off, postpone, procrastinate!
Procrastination is the thief of time!
Yes. after year it steals, till all are fled,
And to the mercies of a moment, leaves
The vast concerns of an. eternal scene.
To-day, to-day ; to-morrow may, not come;
" Youth is not rich in time ; it may be poor;
Part with it as with money, sparing; pay
No moment but in purchase of its worth;
And what its worth, ask death beds ; they can tell."
What plea have we for our neglect of time ?
For mirth and fitn, which we so much enjoy?
Dost benefit us now? wi'lt benefit us
Hence—in the eternal world? Dear friends,
Terrestial, joys are pains in the disguise
Of joys. Mark well this truth—for tier, laugh
A cry will sound, for ev'ry joy a pain!