The Alleghanian, Ebensburg, Pa. Thursday, October 31, 1861 Volume 3, Number 6 A Veteran Solider Among the men enlisted with Capt. Williams of the regular infantry, in Johnstown, is an old soldier who has already seen nineteen years and three months service, having served nine years in the British service, ten in the United States service, and three months in the recent volunteer service as a member of the band of the 3d regiment of volunteers from this State. He has also four sons enlisted in the United States service, two in Col. Campbell’s Cambria County Regiment and two in Capt. Williams Company. The name of this veteran soldier is Elisha C. Bennett. He is over 45 years of age, and last week, married a second wife half his age, who will accompany him in the campaign upon which he will soon enter. During his term of service in the British army he visited the West Indies and Canada. His first enlistment in the U. S. service, from 1839 to 1844, was spent principally in Maine and Rhode Island, at Newport Barracks. During his second term he passed through the Mexican war in Gen. Taylor’s division of the army, participating in all old Zach’s battles from Palo Alto to Buena Vista and received his discharge at Newport Barracks, Kentucky in 1849. His entire nineteen years and a quarter’s service was put in as a musician but he entered the public service for the fifth time as a private in the ranks. We are pleased to say however than since his enlistment with Capt. Williams he has been assigned the position of 2d Sergeant and will remain among us for some weeks yet on recruiting service for the Company. We question whether a similar instance of faithful and persevering public service and devote patriotism can be found in the land, even in this most prolific era of patriotic examples. Pass around the name of Elisha C. Bennett, the man who has already given nine years to the country of his birth, ten to that of his adoption and now gives himself, wife and four sons for three years more to the support of the Government. [Cambria TRIBUNE] Direct Communication with the Pacific San Francisco to New York Greeting The Great Overland Telegraph to the Pacific has been completed and the first messages from the far off Golden State were received last week. The Atlantic is now wedded to the Pacific in indissoluble bonds and the two great sections of our common country speak to each other with instant and instinctive patriotism. We live in an age of never ceasing wonders: what formerly took months to achieve is now performed it the quickness of a flash. May the projectors of this enterprise, the successful completion of which will be of inestimable value to the whole Republic, receive their full mead of honor and profit. The first message dispatched over the wire, was a brief announcement of the completion of the line to Salt Lake as follows: Fort Bridger, Utah, Oct. 13 - The Pacific Telegraph Line was completed to Salt Lake at one o’clock today. The line between Salt Lake City and San Francisco will be finished in a few days. Accident Mr. Robert Coleman of White township, Indiana county, was severely injured on Wednesday of last week under the following circumstance: He was engaged felling timber in the woods and the limb of a tree which he had just cut down caught in its descention an adjoining tree and from thence fell to the ground, striking Mr. C. on the head during its progress and inflicting a dangerous wound. He has been unable to speak since the accident but hopes are entertained of his recovery. Silver Grays This gallant and patriotic body of men as many of our readers are aware met in Wilmore on Friday last for the purpose of effecting an organization. William Palmer, Esq., of Wilmore was elected Captain; James Murray of Ebensburg, First Lieut.; and Isaac Teeter of Johnstown, Second Lieut. It will be seen that the men have been peculiarly fortunate in the selection of their officers. Capt. Palmer, we feel certain will be deservedly popular as the head of the company. He has not, we believe hitherto been a military man, but from the first his heart has beat in unison with the war of the Union. He has been very active in raising the company under his command and with a little discipline we feel confident he will make a most able and accomplished officer. Lieutenant Murray is no stranger to the tented field. When the war with Mexico broke out he was among the first to volunteer his services in behalf of the “Stars and Stripes.” He was captain of the “Cambria Guards” of Ebensburg, a company which made its mark on every occasion. He is considered one of the best drill officers in the State. With Lieutenant Teeter we are not so well acquainted though from what we can learn of him, he is evidently “the right man in the right place.” We do not know that he has seen actual service but he has always taken a deep interest in military matters and is a gentleman of enlarged experience. Shortly after the election, Capt. Palmer repaired to Harrisburg to procure the officers’ commissions and attend generally to the business of the company. We understand that Wilmore will be the place of rendezvous until the ranks are full and everything ready for marching. The company now numbers about eighty men and although they are aptly styled “Silver Grays” yet they are all stout, hearty and robust and probably capable of enduring more hardship than many who are much younger in years. We hope the energetic captain will soon have his full complement of men and take up his line of march for the seat of war, as we are confident that when they go upon duty we shall have a good account of them. All honor, say we, to the Silver Grays. _________________________________________________________________ See how Windows connects the people, information, and fun that are part of your life. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/msnnkwxp1020093175mrt/direct/01/