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Valley Spirit: May 21, 1862 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |

Shall Constitutional Liberty Survive the Restoration of the Union?
(Column 3)

Summary: Argues that either radical abolitionists or the Constitution must give way, and hints that it would be better to "bloodily suppress" abolition sentiment rather than allowing what the authors see as a violation of the Constitution.

Origin of Article: Louisville Democrat

Emancipation and its Consequences
(Column 5)

Summary: Argues that, since the separation of the races is in accordance with natural law, the emancipation of the slaves would only worsen social problems. The North could not handle the influx of free blacks, who if they stayed in the South would simply relapse into slavery, and colonization is too expensive an option.

Origin of Article: Patriot and Union

Mr. John W. Forney
(Column 1)

Summary: Attacks Forney's support for a Union movement with Republicans in the Pennsylvania legislature. Forney noted that Senator Wilmot supported the idea, which the authors of the article see as a sure sign of its worthlessness. The authors lump Forney, Wilmot and Sumner together as supporters of the "treasonable theory" that the southern states had given up their rights as states and should revert to territories.

Origin of Article: Patriot and Union

Democratic State Convention
(Column 1)

Summary: Announces that the Democratic State Convention will be held in Harrisburg on Friday, July 4, to nominate candidates for Auditor General and Surveyor General.

Democratic County Committee
(Column 1)

Summary: B. Y. Hamsher, chairman of the Franklin Democratic County Committee, announces a meeting on June 3 at Montgomery's Hotel, to elect delegates to the state convention.
(Names in announcement: B. Y. Hamsher)

Under Abolition Rule
(Column 1)

Summary: Argues that Lincoln has turned the war into one solely to free the slaves, and that his abolition of slavery in Washington D.C. has turned the city into a haven for runaway slaves. The article states that former slaves are being supported in idleness by the federal taxpayer.

A Hero Wanted
(Column 2)

Summary: Attacks the leaders of the Republican party, arguing that every figure the Republicans have tried to celebrate as a hero has fallen short of the mark--Cameron, Fremont, and finally, Lincoln.

The Transcript and the Democratic Address
(Column 3)

Summary: Attacks the Transcript for its criticism of the recently published speech by certain Democratic members of Congress. The Transcript said that the Democrats neither praise the soldiers nor denounce the rebels in their anxiousness to attack the Republicans. The Valley Spirit responds that Republican sentiments for the Union are weakly held, and that if abolition were repudiated, the abolitionists would be as likely to go into rebellion as the southern states were.

General Hunter's Order
(Column 4)

Summary: Reprint of General Hunter's order freeing the slaves in South Carolina. The Spirit criticizes it for its failure to distinguish between loyal and disloyal owners, and notes that it is in direct violation of the purposes of the war as declared by Congress.

Surveyor General
(Column 4)

Summary: The Valley Spirit notes its support for Col. Levi L. Tate, the editor of the Columbia Democrat, for the position of Surveyor General. The Colonel, they note, is a "'rock-water' Democrat."
(Names in announcement: Col. Levi L. Tate)

Capt. Wishart in Town
(Column 1)

Summary: Capt. Wishart of Company F, 77th Reg't Penn. Volunteers, made a short visit to Chambersburg last Friday to recover from a health problem. Wishart, a doctor, was promoted to surgeon of the entire regiment during the battle at Pittsburg Landing. He requested to remain in command of his troops, which he did until a man in his own regiment was shot and the Colonel ordered him to take charge of the wounded. Colonel P. B. Housum related this incident, and would have written about it himself had he not been "prostrate on a bed of sickness."
(Names in announcement: Capt. Wishart, Colonel P. B. Housum)

Full Text of Article:

Capt. H.S. Wishart, Company F., 77th regiment Pa. Volunteers, made a short visit to our town on Friday last. The Captain was obliged to return home on account of the condition of his health, which has somewhat improved, since his return, and he hopes to be able to join his regiment in a few days. The Captain led his company into battle at Pittsburg Landing, at 6 o'clock on the morning of April 7th, and remained with it in the thickest of the fight until 1 o'clock in the day, when he was promoted to the position of Surgeon of the regiment--Previous to going into battle Gen. McCook desired that all the medical men, no matter what office they might hold, be detailed to take charge of the wounded. Col. Stumbaugh communicated this order to Capt. Wishart, who is a regular physician, and desired him to act as Surgeon of the 77th. The regiment was then about entering battle without a Surgeon--Dr. Irish the Principal Surgeon was back with the ambulances, and did not arrive upon the field until the battle was over, and his Assistant, Dr. Potter, had been left in charge of an Hospital at Columbia. Capt. Wishart, notwithstanding the position in which the regiment was left in regard to a Surgeon, requested to be allowed to remain with his company, to which the Colonel reluctantly agreed, and he continued in command of the company until 1 o'clock, when the first man shot down in the regiment was a member of his own company. Capt. W still continued with his company for over one hundred yards in advance of where the man was shot, when he received a peremptory order from the Colonel to take charge of the wounded and perform the duties of Surgeon of the regiment for the remainder of the day. In obedience to orders, as well as promoted by a feeling of humanity, and knowing too that his 1st Lieutenant was a brave and skilful [sic] officer, and would lead the company gallantly through the battle, Capt. Wishart transferred his command to Lieut. West and assumed the duties of Surgeon, which he performed skilfully [sic] and humanely until the regular Surgeon arrived and took charge of the wounded. Capt. Wishart speaks in the highest terms of praise of Lt. West, as well as of all the men under his command. We have the principal facts in the above statement not from Captain Wishart, but from Colonel P.B. Housum who would take pleasure in corroborating them over his own signature was he not prostrate on a bed of sickness.

From the Wars
(Column 1)

Summary: Nip Scott, a black resident of Wolftown, returned from service as a commissary in the 77th Reg't Penn. Volunteers. The Valley Spirit accuses him of cowardice in the face of fire.
(Names in announcement: Nip Scott)

Full Text of Article:

Nip Scott an individual of the kullered persuasion, who held the distinguished position of private commissary to the colonel of the 77th Pennsylvania regiment, returned from the wars last week covered all over with glory. Nip is quite a lion among the wolves of Wolfstown while fighting his battles o'er again and recounting his hair-breadth escapes on field and flood. Nip called to see us and gave a "gleamy" account of our boys in Tennessee. He considers the 77th the crack regiment of the army--that it did all the fighting, took all the prisoners and killed all the rebels at Pittsburg Landing he is quite sure. It would excite Nip's belligerent propensities to a very unsafe degree to say anything against the 77th in his presence. Nip has one trait about him that we admire--his modesty, and it would be worthy of imitation by all who have seen the elephant. We inquired of Nip if he was in the battle?

"No sa I warn't."

"How near were you to the fight?"

"Well you see de Colonel, in de afternoon you see, sent for me you see, to bring him somthin to eat you see. I slung de habbersack ober my back and started for de field on de double quick you see, and got up whar de balls war wizzen and den--"

"Well, what then Nip?"

"I'd radder you wouldn't ax me anything more 'bout dat."

"You did'nt [sic] retreat I hope?"

No S-ar. Dat is not de word we use out dar--I retired, sa in good order."

"Did the Colonel get nothing to eat all day?"

"No sa, muffin by dis individual nigger."

"Were you afraid of being shot?"

"No, sa, but I didn't want to be."

Discretion is evidently the better part of valor in Nip's estimation, and it would be as well for all those who have a natural aversion to smelling powder to "acknowledge the corn" as frankly as Nip Scott.

Farmer's and Mechanic's Industrial Association
(Column 1)

Summary: An election was held on Tuesday May 13 for officers of the Franklin County Farmer's and Mechanic's Association. They are: President, John Ruttrauff; Vice-Presidents, J. S. Nixon, G. W. Immell, D. K. Wunderlich, James C. Eyster; Secretary, W. S. Everett; Corresponding Secretary, Samuel M. Armstrong; Treasurer, Emanuel Kuhn; Managers, William Bossert, William Cline, B. F. Nead, J. Watson Graig, W. W. Skinner, H. B. Davison, William McClure, James G. Elder, Samuel Myers, H. C. Greenawalt, A. B. Wingerd, Andrew Davison.
(Names in announcement: John Ruttrauff, J. S. Nixon, G. W. Immell, D. K. Wunderlich, James C. Eyster, W. S. Everett, Samuel Armstrong, Emanuel Kuhn, William Bossert, William Cline, B. F. Nead, J. Watson Graig, W. W. Skinner, H. B. Davison, William McClure, James G. Elder, Samuel Myers, H. C. Greenawalt, A. B. Wingerd, Andrew Davison)

The Seventy-Seventh
(Column 1)

Summary: Quotation from General McCook's report on the "great battle of Shiloh," which praises the action of the 77th Reg't Penn. Volunteers and singles out Col. Stumbaugh, Lt. Col. Housum, and Major Bradford for compliments for their efforts.
(Names in announcement: Lieut. Col. Housum)

Full Text of Article:

General M'Cook, in his official report, tells what part Colonel Stumbaugh's regiment took in the great battle of Shiloh. He says:

"Colonel Stumbaugh, with the 77th Pennsylvania Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, early in the action, being ordered to watch the enemy on my left, was, at a later period ordered to engage. His regiment, partially isolated from the rest of the division, steadily moved over an open field in its front under a heavy fine. While here the enemy's cavalry charged this regiment twice, but was each time repulsed with heavy loss. Col. Stumbaugh had the satisfaction of receiving the sword of Colonel Batteles, of the Twentieth Tennessee, who surrendered to him as a prisoner. Lieut. Col. Housum and Major Bradford ably seconded the efforts of Col. Stumbaugh.

War News
(Column 2)

Summary: A collection of dispatches on the war, including rumors of the capture of Richmond, a report on the repulsion of Federal gunboats south of Richmond, reports on the situation in the west and southwest, and notice of the lifting of the embargo on Beaufort, NC, Port Royal, SC, and New Orleans.

From Banks' Command
(Column 6)

Summary: A brief report of encounters with Confederate cavalry near Strasburg.

Died
(Column 6)

Summary: Catharine Ripper, "relict" of the late Peter Ripper, died on May 16 in Chambersburg after a prolonged illness. She was 84 years old.
(Names in announcement: Catharine Ripper, Peter Ripper)

Died
(Column 6)

Summary: George Polmer died on May 16 at the age of 86.
(Names in announcement: George Polmer)

The Union Must Be Saved Constitutionally
(Column 1)

Summary: Argues that, by making abolition a war goal, the Republicans seem to want to destroy the Union in order to save it. No circumstances, they argue, justify the violation of constitutional guarantees of the right of states to determine the fate of slavery within its own borders. For people to advocate a federal plan of abolition is tantamount to advocating revolution.

Origin of Article: Journal of Commerce

Proclamation of General Butler
(Column 1)

Summary: Reprint of the orders of Major General Butler regarding the occupation of New Orleans. Butler declares martial law, makes it a punishable offense to show disrespect to the American flag, prohibits publications from describing the movement of American troops, and dissolves the municipal authority of the city with the exception of the fire companies.