The Draft in Cambria County The following telegram has been received by Capt. A. M. Lloyd, Provost Marshal of the 17th District, Penna., and has been forwarded us for publication: Harrisburg, June 15, 1864 Capt. A. M. Lloyd – The Provost Marshal General directs that each sub-district make up its actual deficiency under the present draft, not reduced by distribution of surplus. Make supplementary draft accordingly. [Signed] J. V. Bomford, A. A. P. M. In obedience to the above order, Pro. Mar. Lloyd gives notice as follows: The following numbers will be drafted at Hollidaysburg on Wednesday, 6th July, from each of the following sub-districts, that being their actual deficiency on the present quota: Allegheny and Gallitzin 61 Carroll 43 Carrolltown 4 Susquehanna 25 Chest 24 Clearfield 14 Chest Springs 2 White 43 Washington & Summerhill 33 Munster 11 Croyle 7 Summerhill 14 Wilmore 4 Richland 33 Taylor 34 Conemaugh Twp. 26 Yoder 22 Johnstown 12 Cambria Boro 44 Millville 4 Cambria Twp. 3 Blacklick 7 Jackson 18 Ebensburg 2 From the above numbers will be deducted credits for all that went into the service, furnished substitutes or paid commutation of the draft held on June 1, 1864. [Signed] A. M. Lloyd, Capt. & Pro. Mar., 17th District, Pa. Hollidaysburg, June 16 The Situation The Washington STAR of a late date has trustworthy and highly interesting information from the front, bearing principally upon the existing state of military affairs. The gist of it is as follows: “General Grant’s army occupies a position or positions in Piney woods, upon the outskirts of Petersburg, which were not long since in the possession of the rebels, including all their works on the south side of the Appomattox river, constructed previous to the advance of our army to these points. These positions entirely command the town of Petersburg and the railroad communications through Petersburg – the only one between Richmond and Weldon, the town being also commanded by the enemy’s works to the north side of the river and therefore not to be occupied by us so long as those works remain in the hands of the rebels. “Nevertheless for all practical purposes the command which our guns hold of the town and the railroad there stops all continuous communication by rail between Richmond and any points south of Petersburg. Gen. Butler has effectually destroyed about three miles of the road between Petersburg and Richmond, twisting the rails so that they must be re-cast or re-rolled before they can be used again, which they are not doing now. So long as Gen. Grant elects, he can hold the enemy thus by the throat at Petersburg, his camps being perfectly healthy, with good and abundant water for the use of his men and entire secure communications with his base of supplies at City Point. From his present position he can move at will toward the south with say, twenty day’s supplies, compelling Lee to follow him and risk heavy engagements on unfortified ground, as he must, if possible, prevent the eventual total destruction of his rail communications with Weldon. “On the north side of the James river, Hunter and Sheridan have effected results of immense importance in their bearing upon the balance of the campaign; having so effectually destroyed Lee’s railroad communications north – the railroad to Lynchburg and the Virginia Central Railroad – as that he cannot make them again available this season. They have also consumed and destroyed all the supplies remaining in Virginia in the valley between the two Annas and Washington, which, together with the destruction of the railroads above referred to, renders it impossible for Lee to send any respectable force northward. “The rebels in and around Richmond are restricted to the use of the Danville road, of the destruction of a part of which, by Hunter, we may hear at any moment, we apprehend. That railroad is of different (broad) gauge from all other Virginia railroads and therefore no machinery adapted to them can be used upon it. Thus, any damage it may receive in the loss of cars or locomotives will be irreparable for months to come. “The meaning of all this is that Grant by his move south of the James has cut Lee’s railroad communications in all directions except via Danville, which as yet are incomplete and cannot be available for the receipt of supplies for his army from any considerable region of country. In achieving this important result, he has placed Lee in a situation in which he must not long hence come out from behind his fortifications and risk a battle on a fair field or abandon Richmond and Petersburg, where he cannot much longer obtain supplies. “We have the authority of Assistant Secretary Dana, who arrived last night direct from Gen. Grant’s headquarters, for stating that up to the moment he left there on Wednesday, our entire loss in killed, wounded and missing, since crossing the James, has not been more than ten thousand; while there is but little reason to doubt that the rebels loss has been proportionately as great as ours.” War News President Lincoln paid a visit to Gen. Grant’s headquarters last week. He reports the latter still sanguine of taking Richmond at any early day. Whiskey hereafter is to be a permanent item in the army ration. This is deemed wise by our surgeons. The news from Sherman continues cheering. He is within sight of Atlanta. The rebels were removing from the city. The Governor has issued an order directing that the city and its railroad are not to be destroyed and threatening to call on the militia and the veterans to prevent their destruction. The Fugitive Slave Laws of 1793 and 1850 have been repealed by Congress. Thus the blood-red stain which for seventy years has blotted the statute books of the Republic is wiped out forever. Negro Soldiers Congress has at last done partial justice to the negro troops in the service. It has placed all enlisted since January 1st, 1864, upon the same footing as to pay and allowances except bounty as white troops and the question of law concerning the pay of those enlisted prior to the that date is left to the decision of the Attorney General. The bounty allowed to colored troops is fixed at $100. The bill containing these provisions has been for some time passing back and forth between the two houses on disagreeing amendments; but on Saturday the report of the Committee of Conference upon it was agreed to and the bill only awaits the signature of the President to become a law. The history of this war has shown so far that the colored troops do as good fighting as any. They have behaved bravely, under all circumstances in the Department of the South and that department is garrisoned by them now almost exclusively. They won honors at the siege of Fort Hudson and lately at Petersburg; their conduct under fire has been most exemplary. There comes also a very creditable account of their courage at the fight at Guntown under the unfortunate General Sturgis. The testimony to this effect comes from officers who look upon events from a purely military stand point and who have never been suspected of partially to the negro or even of the absent of prejudice against him. A dispatch from Memphis states that the black soldiers who came into Memphis after Sturgis’ defeat brought their guns with them, while the white ones left theirs behind. That with proper treatment and good officers these black troops will make good soldiers is no longer an open question. To put them upon an equality of pay and allowances is one step in the right direction; all others that may be needed will, in the end, doubtless be extorted as this has been, by the bravery of those who are its objects. -A correspondent in Grant’s army says that about 2,000 rebel prisoners were marched past a portion of the negro troops of Burnside’s corps. It was amusing to hear the negroes inquire, jestingly, “How is you, boss? Mighty good thing we didn’t cotch you; we would never tuck ye prisoners.” The prisoners became infuriated and begged to have their will of the negroes five minutes. “Remember Fort Pillow,” the negroes would urge. “We’ll cut your black throats,” was the threat of the others. Thus the two races revile each other. The master was prisoner; the bondman free and a soldier. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEATHS Man Killed On Friday evening last a man named George Attig, who was a watchman on the Penna. Railroad between Cresson and Gallitzin, this county, came to his death under the following circumstance: He was making his usual rounds between the two points above named and discovering an up-train approaching, had stepped to the opposite track to avoid it, when a down-train of the proximity of which he was not aware, ran over him, killing him instantly. He was aged about 60 years and leaves a wife and several children. Another Soldier Gone We grieve to learn that John T. Roberts, a member of Co. G, 145th Pa. Vols., died in hospital at Alexandria, Va., one day last week from the effects of a wound received in the Wilderness fight. The deceased was about 23 years of age. He was born and raised here and leaves a mother and several sisters in our midst to mourn his irreparable loss. Of a kind and obliging disposition he was much beloved by his associates. We knew him well – knew him only to love him. A martyr in behalf of his country, may his memory ever remain green! We understand the body will be brought home for interment. James G. Humes Mr. James G. Humes, who will be remembered as the genial and accommodating telegraph operator at Cresson during last summer, died at Altoona on the 15th inst., aged 25 years. _________________________________________________________________ Access your email online and on the go with Windows Live Hotmail. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_AE_Access_022009