The Alleghanian, Ebensburg, Pa. Thursday, October 17, 1861 Volume 3, Number 4 Fires in Blair County On Thursday before last, the steam grist mill of Mr. John Allison and the steam planing mill of Mr. Thomas McAuley, adjoining each other in Altoona were entirely consumed by fire, together with the contents. The fire is supposed to have originated from sparks falling from the stack of one of the mills. Loss to Mr. Allison, $5,000; insured for $2,300. Loss to Mr. McAuley, $4,000; insured for $1,500. On Friday afternoon succeeding, the casting house, bridge over the railroad and two dwelling houses at Blair Furnace were destroyed by fire. Origin of fire and loss unknown. Letters from Our Volunteers Camp in Virginia, October 11, 1861 On Monday we started for Great Falls, fifteen miles from Tennallytown, on the Potomac, to do ten day’s picket duty. We started from our camp at about 2 o’clock P. M. and arrived there at 6. This is considered pretty steep marching. On arriving there, twenty-four men were detailed from each company to do guard duty some six miles further up the river and I had the misfortune to be one of that number. We were very much fatigued when we arrived at our destination and to make matters worse, we had neither blankets nor overcoats along, and were also without supper. The night was very cold and the dew very heavy and in consequence we had a disagreeable time of it. Our line of pickets was stationed between the river and canal, which in some places are not a hundred feet apart. We were relieved early next morning and we rode back to the Falls on a boat. The scenery at the Falls is most grand, the towering rocks, the deep roaring river and the high mountains upon the Virginia shore presenting a very picturesque appearance. But the grandest sight is the “Falls” themselves. The water dashes down over the rocks in some places more than one hundred feet and creates a terrible sound as it falls upon the rocks below. Picketing was very interesting there, as we had an opportunity of conversing with the secession pickets. As you are aware, an agreement was made between Gen. McClellan and the rebel commander to the effect that no more firing should be done between the pickets. This was very comfortable inasmuch as the lives of the pickets would not be endangered. The second day I was on duty I had quite a long and interesting confab with some of the celebrated “Black Horse Cavalry,” of the Bull Run notoriety who talked with all the familiarity of friends. Most of those with whom we were talking appeared like respectable men and seemed to regret they were compelled to be our enemies. They do not like the New England Boys, nor the Zouaves, but can “go” Pennsylvanians. Some of our boys even went across the river and talked with them and drank some of their whiskey. They are not very well uniformed, it being a rusty, ugly cloth and apparently quite well worn. This state of familiarity did not last long, however. They broke the league on Monday morning by shooting one of our pickets without the least cause or provocation. When this became known in our camp one of the field officers with thirty men repaired to the place where the picket had been shot and showered a few charges among their pickets, killing three of them. Immediately after our men commenced firing, the rebels planted seven cannon on the hill opposite our quarters about a mile distant and without any ado, commenced shelling us effectually, sending their shells and cannon balls whizzing through the old houses in which we were quartered and compelling us to vacate forthwith. They fired in all 112 shots but fortunately for us, only two or three shells exploded. One man was struck on the shoulder with a piece of shell and another had his gun bent double by a cannon ball while in the act of capping it. In consequence of our artillery being a mile distant we could not return the iron compliment. After we did get our guns into position, however, we gave them ten shells, which scattered them in every direction. We were relieved on Wednesday and arrived home late in the evening. We held an election on Tuesday, each party receiving about an equal number of votes. The boys do not appear much concerned about the result of elections now. On Wednesday we received marching orders and in the afternoon the whole division crossed the Chain Bridge into Virginia, and advanced six miles on the Leesburg road, where we are now encamped. We are within one mile of Lewinsville, eight miles from Fairfax Court House and fifteen from Leesburg. The enemy’s pickets were, on last Tuesday, at the same place we are now. Signed: E Cambria Cavalry Company The following is the Muster Roll of the cavalry company recruited in this county and now in camp near Washington City, under command of Capt. James A. Skelly of this place. The company is designated as Co. G., 4th Regt. Penna. Cavalry: Captain: James A. Skelly Lieutenants: 1st A. H. D. Williams 2d J. D. Gonts Sergeants: 1st J. C. Murray 2d W. C. Barbour S. Wilson J. A. Skelly Wm. Penrod R. E. Banks Corporals: 1st Cyrus Thompson 2d T. Elder 3d Samuel Arentrue 4th Wm. H. Russel 5th D. Pittman 6th A. Burket 7th J. A. Shue 8th E. Porter Buglers: C. Rhoads W. Powell Furrier: J. Holder Blacksmith: T. Leaman Teamster: D. A. Skelly Saddler: Wm. Sirr Privates: M. Allen T. J. Ake J. Brazil S. J. Breath J. Butler D. Butler E. J. Brookbank J. H. Bryan S. Byer H. Crum J. Creed B. Collins D. T. Carr S. Claycome A. Driscol J. Dugan J. Dell W. Dively J. F. Davis J. Emigh J. H. Edwards W. Estright W. Exline G. W. Faroner R. E. Flinn C. C. Headrick J. Himes B. Hurley J. H. Hads D. Hengst J. Horner F. J. Jones T. Jenks D. M. Kimmel J. Little P. Leahy H. Lane J. A. Lane A. Loudestines J. Ling B. F. Mechling S. Mullin P. Mullin J. Mullin J. Moses T. Mooney J. M. McCauley J. M. McCreary P. B. McMullin J. A. McMullin L. McKinney P. McKenna J. A. McDevitt J. Murray J. Middleton A. Morrow G. Mangus J. H. Patterson A. Penrod H. Penrod M. Quirk B. Rupert J. Richardson E. B. Roberts H. Room J. B. Stalb S. Shipp J. Shiner W. H. Shirley J. Slonghenhaup D. Stine R. G. Thompson _________________________________________________________________ Want to do more with Windows Live? Learn “10 hidden secrets” from Jamie. http://windowslive.com/connect/post/jamiethomson.spaces.live.com-Blog-cns!550F681DAD532637!5295.entry?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_domore_092008