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Semi-Weekly Dispatch: May 21, 1861 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Patriotic Speech of Maj. Gen. Butler
(Column 4)

Summary: Butler's speech extols the loyalty and patriotism of citizens from Massachusetts. Residents of the Commonwealth love the Union as well as they do their state, and they are willing to risk bloodshed to preserve the Union whose independence their fathers fought to gain.

How Sumter Was Provisioned
(Column 5)

Summary: Describes how the "traitor Floyd" arranged for Fort Sumter to be defenseless against the South Carolinians, making it also dependent on supplies from Charleston every few days. But Colonel Gardiner managed to provision the fort from Fort Moultrie without Floyd knowing about it.

Origin of Article: Milwaukee Sentinel

The Work of God
(Column 1)

Summary: Expresses agreement with Forney's Press that God has helped to inspire patriotism and enthusiasm for the Union cause among Northerners. Comments on the surprising and uncommon "love of country" that has "burst so suddenly and sublimely" upon Northern men and women.

Full Text of Article:

The mighty uprisings of the people, and tremendous outburst of patriotism throughout the entire North, can only be explained upon the hypothesis, that agencies more than human are at work amongst us. Love of country has burst so suddenly and sublimely upon us, that the most sanguine have been surprised and amazed. Where was supposed to exist one patriot, a host has sprung up. The weak and sickly man has become a very Ajax; and even of the stones, God has raised up children unto Abraham. There is no fear manifested as to the result of the conflict. Faith in the Divinity "shaping our ends" has displaced all doubts, and the inspiration of every one is patriotism. Upon this subject, "Occasional," correspondent of Forney's Press remarks:

"Some of the triumphs of the new revelation that has fallen upon our people are nearly inexplicable. The instant extinction of party feeling is novel enough; the patriotism of the women, natural always, but now sublime; the bravery of the men, from the priest to the publican, from sire to son, would be explained by other causes if it were not so universal and all-pervading. But when you see the miser unlocking his coffers and giving his hoards to his country, flags flying from churches of every creed, and whole populations giving up work and rushing into the army, may we not feel that we are in the hands of God , and that He has become our Protector and our President?

"I have been present at some extraordinary meetings during the last six weeks, particularly since Sumpter [sic] fell. The spirit that moved them was not patriotism merely--it was a religious phrenzy [sic]. The songs that were sung were songs of liberty; and not by one, but by all. The Star Spangled Banner has become quite a chant and a chorus everywhere. It is hymned in churches, shouted in taverns, sounded in the streets, and made familiar to the lips of beauty and the lisp of childhood. There is joy and harmony at all these meetings, and a gratitude for blessings received and realized that calls tears from the strongest men, and makes the orator almost a clergyman. As to party feeling, he who shows it is shunned like a plague. We have forgotten all of the past save that which teaches to love our country, and look only upon the future to save and fight for her."

We hail with gratitude and delight all such noble and patriotic sentiments. Coming from people and newspapers of, heretofore, various and opposing political opinion, as well as religious and the more conservative, our cause must prevail, and the designs of Providence in thus visiting us, must be those of ultimate and substantial good.

"Then conquer we must, for our cause is just,
And this be our motto:--In God is our trust,
And the Star-spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"

"Knapsacks for Democrats"
(Column 2)

Summary: Complains about an article in the Valley Spirit that claims 57 out of 800 men in a particular regiment supported the Republican party before the war. The editor writes that such partisanship is only detrimental to the cause of Union.

Full Text of Article:

Under the above caption the Valley Spirit, of the 17th, copies a very invidious article, taken by the Luzerne Union from the N. Y. Daily News, with some editorial of the Union. We are pained to see a disposition on the part of any portion of the public press to create a spirit of jealousy and heartburning among our countrymen, and especially among our brave volunteers. Even if every word were true as stated, the bare publication of such articles in times likes this, shows that in the minds of the writer and publisher exist a want of knowledge and appreciation of the perils through which our country is now passing--a disbelief of the truth regarding the ends and aims of the Traitor Government at Montgomery--or a reckless and criminal disregard for the welfare of the nation; the maintenance of our Union undivided; the vindication of the supremacy of all our constitutional laws, and the preservation of our civil and religious liberties. If the latter, then open traitors are, in comparison, honest men. Davis, Rhett, Yancey and Wigfall, are higher in the scale of morality, and no lower in that of treason, than such writers and such publishers. If this is so--and who can deny it?--how much lower must sink the man who, for party purposes, when our country is bleeding at every pore; when barely convalescent from an attack which started the death-sweat upon its brow, would knowingly and wilfully [sic] give currency to slanders calculated to wound that agonized country deeper in the house of its friends.

The following we quote from the article mentioned:

We have it from data which we deem perfectly reliable, that of the regiment from Luzerne, commanded by Col. Emley, there are but 57 Republicans in the ranks out of nearly 800 men.

This regiment being stationed here, a reliable gentleman, wishing to test the statement, found one company in it that contained 60 persons who had heretofore acted with the Republican party, and another contained 65. He concluded it was not necessary to proceed any further in the search. We think not. As for the appointments of Generals, Colonels, Majors, on down, it is altogether unnecessary to name any. The whole thing is degrading and insulting to the good sense and knowledge of our people.

To the honest indignation of every country-loving and country-sustaining citizen, we leave these offenders. We sincerely hope a better spirit may be infused into them; better motives actuate them; and for their own welfare as well as for the welfare of our whole people, their future publications may not be blemished by the dissemination of such incendiary and pernicious articles.

[No Title]
(Column 1)

Summary: Officers affiliated with Camp Slifer have unanimously agreed to enter the service for three years.

Fugitive Arrested
(Column 1)

Summary: A black woman was arrested in Chambersburg last Saturday, charged with being a runaway slave. She was remanded to prison for a further hearing.

Full Text of Article:

On last Saturday a colored woman was arrested in this place by constable M. W. Houser, on charge of being a runaway slave. The case had a hearing before P. Hammond, Esq., who remanded her to prison for a further hearing.

Arrest
(Column 1)

Summary: Judge Mason of Hagerstown was arrested on Saturday for being a spy. He was released, however, after insufficient proof was offered that he was a secessionist.
(Names in announcement: Judge Mason, Brig. Gen. Williams)

Movement of Troops
(Column 1)

Summary: A source has reported that troops stationed at Chambersburg may be moved shortly, perhaps within a day or two.

Camp Instructor
(Column 1)

Summary: Governor Curtin will soon appoint several camp instructors to teach the Pennsylvania regiments in the drill, including Major Herschberger of Chambersburg.
(Names in announcement: Major Hershberger)

Visit of Gov. Curtin
(Column 1)

Summary: On Saturday, Governor Curtin and his staff visited Chambersburg. The governor was met by General Williams of the 7th regiment.

Soldiers' Health
(Column 2)

Summary: Copied from Hall's Journal of Health, this list of recommendations advises soldiers on precautions they can take to remain healthy (and, in some cases, alive) while at war.

Marriages
(Column 4)

Summary: Mr. Benjamin R. Yoe, merchant from Baltimore, and Miss Ariana R. Riddle of Chambersburg were married on the 16th of May.
(Names in announcement: Mr. Benjamin R. Yoe, Miss Ariana R. Riddle)

Deaths
(Column 4)

Summary: Reverend George K. Harper, aged 48, died in Gatesville, North Carolina, after a lingering illness. Nixon was a native of Chambersburg, where he learned the printing business from the late George Harper before going into the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church.
(Names in announcement: Rev. Robert T. Nixon, Geo. K. HarperEsq.)

General Orders, No. 10
(Column 4)

Summary: Establishes new orders for the Sabbath. No companies will be permitted to leave the base, and all soldiers are urged to attend a religious service.