Search the Newspapers Browse Newspapers by Date Articles Indexed by Topic About the Newspapers Valley of the Shadow Home

Semi-Weekly Dispatch: August 5, 1861 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Letter from an Austrian Officer
(Column 5)

Summary: Advice offered by Godfrey F. C. Tratzcky, officer in the Austrian service to the military leaders of the United States armed forces.

Origin of Article: Cincinnati Daily Commercial

Taxable Resources
(Column 1)

Summary: Points out that the Northern states, particularly New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Ohio have significantly greater populations, personal property values, and real estate values than those of the Southern states.

Origin of Article: New York Tribune

Violating Parole
(Column 2)

Summary: Reports that General McClellan ordered twelve Confederate troops shot after they carried out a guerrilla attack on a government train. The soldiers had been among ninety rebel troops who had taken an oath not to bear arms against the United States in order to secure their release from capture by the federal army.

Major General McClellan
(Column 3)

Summary: Describes General McClellan as efficient, unpretentious, "indefatigable in his pursuit and attack of the enemy," and devoted to his men.

Fine Stock
(Column 1)

Summary: Reports that John Trostle of the Borough of Chambersburg has a nine-week-old calf that weighs 205 pounds.
(Names in announcement: Mr. John Trostle)

Election of Field Officers
(Column 1)

Summary: Announces the election of officers for the First Artillery Reserve Regiment of Pennsylvania that took place at Harrisburg the previous Thursday. Captain Richard H. Rush of Philadelphia was elected colonel; Captain Charles T. Campbell of Chambersburg was elected lieutenant colonel; Captain A. E. Lewis of York was elected senior major; and Captain H. T. Danforth of Pittsburgh was elected junior major.
(Names in announcement: Captain Charles T> Campbell)

Looking Well
(Column 1)

Summary: Comments on the "robust and vigorous appearance" of returning soldiers. Ventures that more deaths would have occurred had the soldiers stayed home than did since they entered the army. Attributes this situation to the "change and active mode of existence they had adopted" which "so invigorated them that it gave them a new lease upon life."

Greencastle Zouaves
(Column 1)

Summary: Reports that Greencastle in Franklin County is attempting to raise a volunteer company of Zouaves. So far, forty-three "names of good and true men" have been put upon the roll. Mr. Wm. H. Shorb has been chosen captain, and Mr. G. H. Miller has been selected to serve as first lieutenant.
(Names in announcement: Mr. Wm. H. Shorb, Mr. G. H. Miller)

Cruelty to Animals
(Column 1)

Summary: Reports that a dog belonging to Hiram Senseny returned home one night the previous week "with the scalp and both ears completely pared off his head." Reports that Mr. Senseny shot the dog to put it out of its misery. The Dispatch expresses its indignation at the act of cruelty perpetrated against the dog and asserts that "the person who would be guilty of such wanton barbarism is only fit for residence among savages of very low grade."
(Names in announcement: Mr. Hiram Senseny)

Major C. T. Campbell
(Column 1)

Summary: Announces the promotion of Captain C. T. Campbell of Chambersburg to major in the Artillery Regiment.
(Names in announcement: Major C. T. Campbell)

Bank of Chambersburg
(Column 2)

Summary: Reports that the Bank of Chambersburg at present possesses $295,759.40 more in assets than in liabilities.

Light Dragoons
(Column 2)

Summary: Reports that two regiments of light dragoons are being raised in Pennsylvania. General Josiah Harlan of Philadelphia will command the first, and Mr. Geo. Stetzel of Chambersburg has obtained a Captain's commission in General Harlan's Regiment.
(Names in announcement: Mr. Geo. Stetzel)

Distressing
(Column 2)

Summary: Speculates that Dr. S. Hagerdorn of New York, who accompanied W. S. Everett, Esq., of Chambersburg, to the site of Bull Run during the battle, may well have been captured or killed by the rebel army.
(Names in announcement: W. S. EverettEsq.)

Why Straggling Was Permitted
(Column 1)

Summary: Explains that "stragglers"--men who have wandered away from their regiment--are not forced back into camp and into rigid discipline after a battle because it allows them to recover and to resume the duties of a soldier with greater enthusiasm than they would have otherwise.

Origin of Article: N. Y. Times

Full Text of Article:

Many civilians have been very much surprised that the military authorities should have permitted the straglers [sic] of the demoralized regiments to go around Washington and Alexandria, without any apparent effort to sift them apart, and gather them up by companies and regiments. General Scott explains that by letting volunteers ran loose as it were after such a disaster, they much more rapidly recover their spirits and get over the fatigues of the fight and the retreat--that being habituated to reading and hearing news, they would become discontented and morose if they were at once returned to rigid discipline and the seclusion of a camp. By letting them mix together and talk it over, they soon hear all there is to be said--to realize the extent of the disaster--to revive their hopes and inflame their desire for revenging the death of friends, and reversing the tide of the battle. For these reasons, no more notice was taken of the members of the disorganized regiments than to guard against any acts of violence. After three or four days of idleness, the men went almost of their own accord back to camp, and resumed with apparent relish camp duty and camp fare.--N. Y. Times.