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

Jeff Davis in Richmond
(Column 3)

Summary: Reprint of an article from the Richmond Enquirer describing the journey to and arrival of Jefferson Davis, his aid Colonel Wigfall, and the Honoroble Robert Toombs of Georgia in Richmond. Recounts the warmth of President Davis's reception at the stops his train made along the way from Montgomery to Richmond and the enthusiastic greeting he received when he arrived in Richmond.

Origin of Article: Philadelphia Bulletin

Excitement at Wheeling
(Column 5)

Summary: Recounts movement of troops from "Camp Carlisle" toward Grafton.

Baltimore--Chief Justice Taney
(Column 1)

Summary: Excerpts an article that reports an alleged plan by the rebel forces to capture Baltimore and slaughter the unarmed Union men and their families residing in the city. The Dispatch predicts, though, that "Gen. Scott will not be caught napping" but will manage to "nip the design in its incipiency." The Dispatch also calls for the resignation of Chief Justice Taney because of the decision he issued in the Dred Scott case.

Origin of Article: New York Tribune

Fugitive Slaves
(Column 2)

Summary: Reprints the instructions of the Secretary of War to General Butler directing him to "refrain from surrendering to alleged masters any persons who come within your lines." The Dispatch points out that thus far, the policy of General Butler has been to announce that slaves who take refuge in Union fortresses will be promptly returned to their owners if those owners have taken an oath of allegiance to the United States government.

Full Text of Article:

As our readers are aware, numbers of slaves have been escaping from their masters, and taken refuge with Major General Butler, since his occupation of Fortress Monroe. In many cases their reputed owners have asked their delivery under the Fugitive Slave Law. The invariable answer of Gen. Butler has been, in all such cases, that the slaves would be promptly returned to their owners, provided they would take the oath of allegiance to the Government of the United States.

The Secretary of War has issued the following letter of instructions:

"Washington, May 30, 1861.

"SIR: Your action in respect to the negroes who came within your lines, from the service of the rebels, is approved. The Department is sensible of the Embarrassments which must surround officers conducting military operations in a State, by the laws of which Slavery is sanctioned. The Government cannot recognize the rejection by any State of its Federal obligation, resting upon itself, and among these Federal obligations, however, no one can be more important than that of suppressing and dispersing any combination of the former for the purpose of overthrowing its whole Constitutional authority. While, therefore, you will permit no interference, by persons under your command, with the relations of persons held to service under the laws of any State, you will, on the other hand, so long as any State within which your military operations are conducted, remain under the control of such armed combinations, refrain from surrendering to alleged masters any persons who come within your liens. You will employ such armed combinations, refrain from surrendering to alleged masters any persons who come within your lines. You will employ such persons in the services to which they will be best adapted, keeping an account of the labor by them performed, of the value of it, and the expenses of their maintenance. The question of their final disposition will be reserved for future determination.

"SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War.
"To Major General BUTLER."

The Rebel Troops at Martinsburg, Va.
(Column 4)

Summary: Describes the Confederate troops stationed at Martinsburg, Virginia, as "drunk when they please," disorderly, and lacking in discipline. Small pox and diarrhea, the paper reports, are widespread.

Gov. Curtin Seeks an Investigation
(Column 4)

Summary: Reprints a dispatch declaring that the governor is prepared to meet any charges against his administration for corruption in the distribution of supplies to the army.

The Alleged Frauds in Contracts
(Column 4)

Summary: Reports that Governor Curtin has ordered an investigation into the charges of fraud in supply contracts for the army. The governor has also ordered "good and substantial clothing" to be distributed to Pennsylvania volunteers stationed in Washington.

Union Meeting in Virginia
(Column 4)

Summary: Reports on a meeting held be Unionists in Martinsburg, Virginia, in which participants denounced secession and the presence of the Southern army on Virginia soil.

Still They Come!
(Column 1)

Summary: Reports that the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Regiments arrived in Chambersburg the previous night. The number of regiments in and around the town now total thirteen.

Run Over
(Column 1)

Summary: Reports that the previous afternoon a soldier slipped from a government wagon and fell. The wheels of the wagon passed over his head and arm, compelling the soldier to go to the hospital.

Arrival of Gen. Patterson
(Column 1)

Summary: Reports the arrival of General Patterson and his staff in town on the previous Sunday evening.

Another Soldier Gone
(Column 1)

Summary: Relates that Samuel Patterson of Company B, the Tenth Regiment, died the previous morning of typhoid pneumonia after a sickness of five days. Patterson was 35 years of age and had served in the entirety of the Mexican campaign.

The Scriptures, &c.
(Column 1)

Summary: Pleads for the Bible Society or some of the women of the town to provide "scriptures, tracts, and other appropriate reading matter" to the soldiers in hospitals and camps in Chambersburg.

Independent Rangers
(Column 1)

Summary: Reports that Captain M'Mullen's Independent Rangers arrived in Chambersburg on Sunday afternoon, acting in the capacity of bodyguards to General Patterson.

A Fracas
(Column 1)

Summary: Reports a scuffle between members of the German Rifles and their officers the previous Saturday afternoon when the officers were attempting to convey their men to camp. One man was wounded in the face with the officer's sword, and three of the men were conveyed to jail "in order to regain their senses."

Chambersburg Hospitality--Opinions of the Soldiers
(Column 1)

Summary: Recounts the comments soldiers from Philadelphia and Camp Scott have made about the "kindness and hospitality" of the people of Chambersburg.

A Disgraceful and Bloody Affray
(Column 2)

Summary: Recounts a shoot-out between a local mulatto, Frank Jones, and several soldiers at Jones's home in Wolffstown. Jones escaped a mob of townspeople who began to pursue him after he had shot two of the soldiers, but then the attorney who had given him refuge released him to the crowd, who shot him repeatedly, even after he had died.
(Names in announcement: Frank Jones, Geo. EysterEsq.)

Full Text of Article:

On Saturday last, our town was the scene of a most disgraceful affray, which resulted in the death of a mullato resident, named Frank Jones, and the wounding of three soldiers stationed here. The particulars, as nearly as we could learn, were as follows:--

On Saturday afternoon, a party of soldiers went to the house of Frank Jones, a mulatto residing in Wolffstown, a suburb of this place, and wanted admission. They found the door fastened, and were informed by Mrs. Jones that they could not come in, when one of them threw a boulder at her head, which she dodged, and called her husband, who was in the garden transplanting cabbages. The men attempted to force the door, and fired a shot through the window, while Jones, in order to defend his own house, seized his double-barrelled gun, which was charged with buckshot, and warning them not to force the door, stood with it ready when the door was burst in, and after retreating to the wall, fired at one wounding him in the thigh about six inches above the knee. A scuffle ensued in which Jones was floored, and while down, his wife begged them not to kill her husband, when one of them struck her a severe blow in the face, others knocked the children about, when Jones recovering his feet, wrested the gun from the soldiers' hands, and, as they were beating a retreat, fired the contents of the other barrel, which took effect in the leg of another of the soldiers. The news of the occurrence spread immediately; a crowd collected, and the sight of the wounded men, who had been conveyed to a neighboring house, so exasperated a number of the soldiers, that a rush was made for Jones' house. He fled, was hotly pursued by the crowd, shouting, "kill the nigger," and other similar expressions. He ran about three-quarters of a mile, and finding no escape, made for the house of Geo. Eyster, Esq., Prosecuting Attorney, and secreted himself in the chimney. His pursuers, representing to Mrs. Eyster that they wished to convey him to jail, obtained permission to take him from the house. As they were taking him away, Lieut. Bryan came up saying, "stand aside, men," when he fired his revolver at Jones, wounding him in the side. A second shot by Bryan, struck him in the other side, when some other person fired into his back, the ball passing through the shoulder blade, and wounding him fatally. He then became a mere target for pistols, bludgeons and bayonets, he at the same time begging piteously for his life. While he was yet moaning, it was stated, this lieutenant stood over him and thrust his sword nearly through his body. In the promiscuous firing, a soldier, who had just arrived, a member of the 2d regiment, Comp. G, received a wound in the hip, the ball glancing down to the thigh.

A post-mortem examination was held, when it was ascertained that Jones had received five shots in the back, several in his head, one passed directly through his heart lengthwise, and, at a coroner's jury held yesterday morning, it was testified that there were several wounds each of which would have produced death. The cause of the assault, as stated before the jury, was, that a neighbor of Jones has been keeping whiskey, and wish to purchase in such quarters, and that Jones a few days ago, fearing disturbance from it, entered complaint against him for selling liquor without license. The frequenters of the "hotel," finding their supply cut off, swore vengeance against Jones, and came with the intention, it was supposed, of carrying heir threats into effect, with results as have been stated.

A Card
(Column 2)

Summary: Offers praise from Company H of the Third Regiment for the generosity of the women of Chambersburg.

Full Text of Article:

Mr. Editor:--It is indeed with pleasure and gratification that I offer, through your columns, the most deep and heartfelt thanks of the officers and members of the "Juanita Rifles," to the Ladies of the neighborhood in which we are at present quartered, the Parsonage of the German Reformed Church, situated near the head of Main street. Those ladies have stepped forward in our behalf, exhibiting all the patriotism and philanthropy of their illustrious Revolutionary mothers. At the present time, when the good city of Chambersburg is completely overrun with the military of our land,--and at a time, too, when it behooves her citizens to exercise the greatest caution, as well as economy, in order to protect them against the evil designs and characteristics of this multitude of strangers--these kind-hearted Ladies have freely and voluntarily provided for our every want, regardless alike of trouble and expense. We have been abundantly supplied with everything the most fastidious taste or yearning heart could desire. Luxuries such as our anxious eyes have heretofore been strangers to, have been, and still are, freely lavished upon us; and Mr. Editor, it is with deep and heartfelt gratitude that I tender to those kind Ladies, the grateful acknowledgements [sic] of every man in the company, accompanied by our sincere wishes for their happiness and prosperity.

I desire also, in this connexion, to tender thanks to Mrs. J. H. Eyster for her untiring devotion to her country's cause, by way of numerous favors supplied the worn out soldier. In gratitude we place ourselves subject to these truly philanthropic Ladies. They have but to command, and their slightest wish shall be our command, and their slightest wish shall be our command, and their slightest wish shall be our law. For the sake of such noble-hearted lady friends no danger can be too great for us to dare, no feat too daring for us to accomplish. May the righteous God cherish and protect such truly noble hearts.

In behalf of Comp. H., Capt. A. M. Lloyd, Third Reg., P. V.
Wm. I. Blain.

Trailer: Wm. I. Blain

Marriages
(Column 3)

Summary: Mr. John Snyder and Miss Benena Laudenslager, both of Chambersburg, were married on May 19.
(Names in announcement: Mr. John Snyder, Miss Benena Laudenslager)

Deaths
(Column 3)

Summary: Rosa McDowell, two years of age, died of the croup on May 30. She was the only child of J. McDowell and Emma L. Sharpe.
(Names in announcement: Rosa McDowell, J. McDowell, Emma L. Sharpe)