davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-07-06

BD" The following is copy of a let
ter written by 1t Daniel Boggs, Com
Co. G, 4th Pa. Cav, to his brother Thos
W. Boggs, ESQ., of Evansburg.
CAMP OF 4TH PENNA. CAVALRY,
on James riyer six miles below
Harrison's Landing, June 27, 1864.
DEAR BROTHER Through the Prov
idence of God, am privileged to write
you few lines on this, the only remain
ing piece of paper | have, and in the first
place | will have to tell you of the death
of your townsman, Hugh e 'Cormick, who
was killed on Friday, the 24th instant, at
St. Mary's Church. Our division was
sent to guard the road while. the wagon
train was passing from White House to
this place. We had a train of eight miles
to bring through.
While We were some six or eight miles
separated from the other division, we were
attacked by five times our number and the
result was that the I'd division General
Gregg's) were badly whipped for the first
time; it is a sight don't wish often to
see. The leading cause of defeat, [ sup
pose, was that Gen. Gregg's dispatches to
Gen. Sheridan, were captured by the en-
emy; exposing both our position and our
strength, giving the enemy all the knowl-
edge they required to make successful
attack suddenly upon our exposed lines !;
the consequence was, they did it by ad-
vancing suddenly upon our centre, where
the 4th Pa. Cavalry were stationed, as
well as both right and left fanks occupi-
ed by other regiments of our brigade.
Our company lost four, Corp M'Nama-
ra and private Mccormick, killed; pri-
Yates William Phelps and John Caldwell
of Allegheny city, missing.
On the 11th inst. at Travillion Station,
Va. Central R. r., we lost of our compa-
ny, Jacob Wolford, killed; Hugh Hamil-
ton, Derigan and Bogue, wounded.
1 would not do justice to the men of
your county who came to our company, if
| did not say they were all that was nee
essary for soldiers to be. They came to
us in the midst of vigorous campaign !;
on the day they came we were in range of
the enemies guns, and on each occasion
since that time, they have done their du-
ty bravely; at Travillion Station we were
behind rail fence. We were ordered
when, the bugle would sound, to tear down
the fence and charge concealed enemy
over an open field; the charge was made
in front of calling fire, but it was done
successfully. We drove the rebs' first
from the buildings and from there to the
R..R Twill notwrite any more at present.
Your Brother,
DANIEL G. BooGs,
1t Com. Co. g, 4th Pa. Cav.
American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-07-06
In the Rear of Richmond.

The authenticated reports of our
cavalry achievements, taken in con-
nection with the ascertained results of
Hunter movements, give to the grand
campaign against Richmond most
hopeful aspect. The most certain
way to besiege a city or fortress is to
isolate it by cutting off its communica-
tions. This done, the period of de-
fence will be no longer than the sup
plies on hand will last. This is the
principle on which Grant is now con-
Quoting the campaign against Rich
mond. The expedition under Will
son and Kautz, having for its object
the destruction of the Danyille out
let, having been successful, the roads
running from Richmond can no lon
ger be depended on as reliable means
BY which Lee can obtain supplies.
He may do something towards repair
ing some of them, but the same force
that did the mischief once can and
probably will do it again. To guard
these roads, and especially the Dan
vile road, at all the points liable to
be struck, will necessitate a diver
sion of force which Lee cannot spare
with safety. Thus he is beginning
to feel the weight of the blows which
Grant has fought himself into a pos
sition to deal. By keeping up his
flank movement, he has kept Lee in
Richmond and placed himself in
position to cut his communications.
The rebel general, unless he can
spare men enough to hold securely
his communications and Richmond
at the same time, or is provided with
supplies that make him independent
of his communications, will be COM
PEELED either to retreat or assume the
offensive. To fight Lee out of his
entertainments has been Grants con-
slant wish. The rebel General has
adroitly avoided fight only when
he could avail himself of his works.
1t is an ascertained fact, that the
campaign has greatly reduced Lees
force: Grants army, on the other
hand, is larger now than at any pre-
vious moment. He is, moreover, in
his intrenchments, where Lee, even
if he were stronger than he is, would
hardly venture to attack him.
To the unprofessional eye the COM
parative advantages and disadyanta-
ges of the situation arc apparent.
They show how worse than foolish it
is to indulge in doubts and become
impatient, because entire success
does not not attend every minor un-
dertaking. What may seem days of
inactivity will probably prove to be
days of ACTIVITY leading to important
results. This,has proved to be the
case during the last week. What
has been accomplished during that
time has brought the siege close to the
gates Of Richmond, and in form
that can be least withstood. The
means employed are not less certain
than a shower of shot and shellrained
continually on the doomed city
PITTS. Com.
American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-07-06
President EincOIn's Letter of
Acceptance
EXECUTIVE MANSION,

WASHINGTON, June 27, 1864.
Hon. William DenisOp and others, a
Committee of the National Union
Conrenti0n
GENTLEMEN Your letter of the
14th instant formally notifying me
that ] had been nominated by the
Convention you represent for the
Presidency of the United States for
four years from the 4th of March
next, has been received.
The nomination is gratefully accep-
ted, and the. resolutions of the Con-
vetion, called the platform, are heart
lily approved. While the resolution
in regard to the supplanting ofrepub-
lican governments upon the Western
Continent is fully concurred in, there
might be misunderstanding were l
not to say that the position of the
Government in relation to the ac-
tion of France in Mexico as assumed
through the State Department and
indorsed by the Convention, among
the measures and acts Of the Execu-
tive, will be faithfully maintained so
long as the state of facts shall leave
that position pertinent and applica-
bic.
] am especially gratifed that the
soldiers and seamen were not forgot
ten by the Convention, as they for
ever must and will be remembered
by the grateful country for whose sal
vation they devote their lives.
Thanking you for the kind and
complimentary terms in which you
communicated the nomination and
other proceedings of the Convention,
l subscribe myself your obedient SER
want. ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-07-06
Amendment to the Constitution,
Granting the SoIdiersRiKht TO Vote.
ELECTION on TUESDAY, AUGUST ., 1864.
Edgar COwan.

In speaking of the final vote on repeal
of the Fugitive Slave Law, in the Sc
nate, the Germantown Telegraph remarks;
" 1t will be seen that Cowan of this State,
voted in the negative, with Davis and
Powell, of Kentucky, and Salisbury and
Riddle of Delaware" Poor Cowan, what
a record he has made during the presence
Of this great crisis
Dallas once betrayed the interests Of
Pennsylvania, and they went down un-
der his treachery,-happy it is that no
one man can work such mischief now
All that poor Cowan can do, is to disgrace
himself and shame his friends. Thank
God, there is Loyalty enough left to save
the nation.
American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-07-06
COMMUNICATIONS.


MEssRs EpIToRs:-The following ex-
tract of letter from my brother in West
Virginia, whose son, Almandus Young,
has been in Richmond as prisoner, con-
firms the many reports of eruelties in
ficted there. Edwin Young and Asa
Young, mentioned in the letter, are neph-
ews of mine and my brother who writes.
Several of the prisoners taken at the same
time, have been furloughed, and returned
home after enduring all that human ma
ture could bear, and all that barbarity
could inhict.
"Those who have got home are in a
very feeble state Of health The extent
of suffering that the poor prisoners have
endured. is not, and cannot be generally
known by the community at large. Al
mandus was sick and in the hospital large
portion of the time last fall, and until the
last of January, when he was sent back
to Castle Thunder, but was yet quite fee
ble He then gained some strength and
was soon sent with the other prisoners, to
Belle Island, in that cold weather in the
month of February, and was there seven
teen days, without shelter or fire, and
very thinly clad, with nothing to cat but
very small piece of unsifted, unsaltcd,
half-baked, hard, cold and old corn bread
daily, and occasionally a half pint of
broth from old rice, filed with white
worms one inch or one and a half inch
long; or of old peas or rather pca-shells
filed with bugs, in fact so full that the
bugs were drank with the broth, or half
of the broth turned out to get rid of the
swimming bugs; and the remainder drank.
The prisoners sank rapidly under this
treatment. They then had shelters pro-
vidcd, and were allowed little fire
Edwin Young, happened to be assigned
to tent occupied by prisoners from our
army, and drew a share of provisions sent
over by some benevolent society, and was
thus rendered more comfortable. His
health was much better than Asa's, and
Asa was stouter than Almandus.
We know certainly that nineteen OF
the Militia had died previous to the twen-
tieth of April, and we fear that more than
that number have died since. They were
all out of money. There was large
amount of money sent from here to Rich
mond for them, of which they never re-
ceived but about one tenth"
From the above extract, it would seem
that of the sixty persons captured by the
guerrillas, and taken to Richmond, about
two thirds were so starved and maltreated
that they died, and the rest "arc in very
feeble state Of health" These mems
only military offence was, that they drill
led as militia every Saturday, in their OWL
neighborhood, on French Greek, West
Virginia. They were mostly young mar
ried men. The guerillas captured them
while drilling, and hurried them to Rich
mond. LOYAL Young.
American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-07-06

CONFIDENCE IN GEN. GRANT" The
more We view this campaign, remarks
the Philadelphia Press, 'the mere thor
oughly we are convinced of the justice OF
our faith in Grant; and when we read his
assurance to the President, as reported in
the newspapers, that he will take Rich
mond, we do not regard it as an evidence
of vanity or presumption, but the conf
dent calculation of man who has exam
ined the work before him "a master-ratts-
man who finds it within his power. We
should like him to do it in our way and
time. We should be delighted if he could
do it dramatically, and take Richmond as
he took Vicksburg, on the forth of July.
But still we care little for days and dates.
or the pomp and splendor of the event,
so that it is finally accomplished. We
cherish this opinion the more earnestly
because we believe that when. Richmond
falls the rebellion will be at an end. The
rebels seem to desire this, for they make
Richmond, as it were, the focus of their
power, by drawing around that city all
their power, by drawing around that city
all their strength and substance. 1t is the
heart of the Coniederacy, and when we
take it we shall have taken life itself from
the body of this monstrous rebellion"
His power of generalship, says the N.
Y. Times, which has evidently been more
and more developed through Grants whole
career, is one great source of confidence
that this difficult campaign will be brought
to victorious conclusion. If Gen. Grant
finds the lines of the Chickahominy too
strong for assault, as is intimated by our
correspondent, he will Undoubtedly attack
Richmond by some other line, and thus
draw Lee from his intrenchments. Ills
campaign against Vicksburg showed how
fertile in resources was his mind, and We
must not be surprised if various means of
attacking Lee, with varying success, are
attempted, before the final and successful
one. A just cause, most brave and en-
during army, and general of high mill
tary skill and great tenacity of purpose
with these in view, we can afford to wait
calmly for the future.
American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-07-06


CREDITS UNDER THE DRAFT.-We
learn from the Harrisburg Telegraph that
the Secretary of War fortnight since
addressed a brief inquiry to the Governor
of Pennsylvania, for information in rela-
ton 70 the return made to the Adjutant
Generals Office of the State, on the sub
ject of credits on the draft. The matter
being referred to Adjutant General Rus
sell, he at once proceeded to gather and
arrange the returns necessary for reply
This reply embraces an account of the re-
enlistments in the veteran regiments of
Pennsylvania infantry cavalry and artil-
lery, as such enlistments were credited to
the different sub-districts throughout the
Commonwealth. The object to be estab-
lished by this information is to compare
the returns made to the State authority
with those of the War Department, in
order that the credits may be correctly ar
ranged, and that all possible attempts at
fraud or Misrepresentation circumvented
and defeated
The document prepared in the Adju-
tant Generals Office reflects the greatest
credit on the energy and promptitude of
Adjutant General Russell, and the cleri.
cal force of his department. 1t occupies
half ream of closely written foolscap pa
per, and embraces information connected
with the military organization of the State
for the past three years. This document
for its extent, Importance and intricacy of
detail, is the most voluminous that ever
issued from the same department in the
shape of correspondence.
American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-07-06

THE BUSINESS OF THE HoUR.-To
keep the army efficient and prevent the
families of the absent from suffering ought,
says the N. Y Post, to be the sole busi-
ness of the whole country for the next
ninety days. Those who remain at home
and do business should give their surplus
earnings to the support of soldiers fam;-
lies. In the country every farmer should
see that some soldiers wife aAd children
gets food from him; in the city no citizen
should sleep till he has pleged himself TO
give a weekly sum directly to the family
of an absent soldier. Many are already
doing this, and have done it for many
months past. But it is now the duty Of
every man who remains at home; it is the
only condition on which he can honora-
bly, stay at home. Bread and soldiers are
what we need now-but for short space
of time--n order to restore peace, The
great time Of trial has come, and if the
men who stay at home do their duty the
armies can be kept full without distress
to families and the war can be ended
without delay.
American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-07-06
Provost. Marshal General

AN ExAMpLE.-In one respect the
South has set us an example. Through
out the South, North Carolina excepted,
there have been no political parties since
the war began. The legislation of the
rebel Congress has related almost exclu-
sively to the raising and equipping OF ar
mics and fleets, and providing sinews of
war. Democrat and Whig have become
obsolete words in the Southern vocabula-
ry. The predominating and absorbing is
sue is, shall Confederate independence be
maintained and the American Union con-
tinue broken. We wish our politicians
had allowed that to be the test and only
important question with us, also-that
they had sunk partisanism as the rebels
have done, and narrowed the contest to one
of simply national existence. But they
have not done so,--Pitts Com.
American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-07-06

S9. The Wheeling Sanitary Fair has
been opened under auspicious circum-
stances Governor Boreman delivered
the address. He concludes as follows:
Let us look at the position. How shall
we act? Shall We think of compromise
or a withdrawal of the army? Shall we
after SO much lossof life and money throw
down our arms and recognize the rebels.
No. God forbid it. The rebels are ar
rayed against us with powerful armies, but
we must put them down. We must not
give up. We have the men and the mon
ey, and unborn generations call for us to
cling to and protect the Government and
regard the rights Of the people,
American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-07-06

Ra- Gen. Grant, in opposition to the
views of Admiral Lee, ordered the chan
mel of the James to be obstructed, thus
making sure his base was protected against
raids by rebel iron-clads. By the way,
we see that the correspondent of the
Herald calls Admiral Lee "an old sea
dog" Let the writer consult the Naval
Register, and he will find that the Admi-
RAILS sea life has not been protracted one,
and mostly in sight of land.
American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-07-06
The Election Again.

In our paper this week will be found
the Sherif's Proclamation for the special
election to be held on Tuesday the I'd
day of August. We trust that all will
bear this election in mind. Let no one
have to look for an excuse afterwards for
not attending this election. Reflect how
short the lime is, just three weeks from
next Tuesday. Speak to your neighbors
about it; and make arrangements for hav-
ing full vote polled iu favor of extend
ing the right of suffrage to the soldier.
Honor and justice both demand this at
our hands
American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-07-06
Cry Po1Nr, Va, june 10, 1864.

Editors Of Butler Papers:
Please announce the death of private
David Studebaker, of Co. e, 100 Regt.,
Pa. Vet. Vols, who fell overheard and
was drowned in the Pamunky river, five
miles below the White House Landing,
on the morning of the 18th of June. He
was not with his company, but was detail
ed as nurse at 9th Corps Hospital, and
was with the Hospital moving to the new
base of operations, at the time OF the ac-
cident. He was loved by all his COM
rades, aud when the sad news reaches
them, they will mourn the loss of true
soldier, and dear companion, and will SYM
pathize with those who have lost noble
son, and loving brother.
The deceased was 80 years of age, a
farmer previous to joining the army,
which was at the commencement of the
war, and resident of Worth township,
Butler county, Pa. He had re-enlisted
last December. Respectfully,
J. G. STEVENSON,
Co, E, 100 Reg. P. V. V.
p. S.-Lieut Col. w. w. Dawson,
Sergt. David Book, and Private David
Breckenridge, of the 100 Pa. Regt., have
Just arrived from the front, wounded :
Col Dawson, severely; Breckenridge
above left eye. j. c. S.
American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-07-06

THE OBLIGATIONS OF PATRIoTIsM.-
There are thousands who, though exempt
from military duty, arc nevertheless un-
der the obligations of patriotism to assist
in keeping up our armies. A large por-
ton of this class will, on examination, be
founaabuudantly able to place each man
in the ranks. This they should do, in
addition to whatever else they may have
done, or may propose to do. Whatnobler
or more genuine evidence of patriotisni
can there be, than the certificate that you
haved placed soldier in the ranks in the
hour of the country's great need The
Government would do well to give notice
that it will keep roll OF honor, whereon
any man may have his name inscribed on
proof that, being exempt himself, he has
placed an accepted soldier in the ranks.
The record would be- an enduring honor
to the descendants of those whose names
it bore. There is NO lack either of will
or money. All that is wanting is the ap-
plication of the means to give it practical
directions. Shall we not have move
nrent here, having for its object the ac-
acknowledgement of the obligations of pat
riotism resting on all who, though not Ia
BILE to military duty, are ready, according
to their mean to contribute to place men
in the ranks?
American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-07-06

NATIONAL INooME.-The national in
come under the new tax bill, it is estima-
ted will be at least three hundred mil
lions. This is independent of the reve-
nue. under the tariff. Secretary Chase
will, it is said, ask Congress to pass sup
Elementary bill, to raise one hundred mil
lions more, from articles of luxury. The
Secretary has through views, and holds
that it is in taxation only that the nation
will find the true policy.
American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-07-06
One Year Ago.

One year ago Pittsburgh was menaced
by an overwhelming rebel force, which
had crossed the State btrler, threaten
ing to reduce to ashes the cities OF the
North. Our city, as a point of great
value to the government, by reason of its
manufactures, was particularly threaten
ed. AT the call of danger, our citizens
prepared for defense, and an extensive
range of Notifications will long remain to
testify their zeal and labors. The state
of things then-the rebels aggressive.
confdent, defiant; the Army of the Po-
tomac outfanked, uncertain and under a
clouds so fresh in the recollection Of
the reader that there is no necessity for
recalling it. 1t is only to institute the
contrast between it and the present situa-
ton The rebels are nowhere now on the
aggressive, but everywhere on the defen-
sive. They nowhere propose or under
take to advance, but are compelled to re-
treat everywhere. They hold, neither
nominally nor really, one-half the terrific
ry they then did; and what they do hold
is by tenure SO frail that it is liable to,
be lost almost any day.
On the contrary, nearly the whole of
the great reach of country from Pennsyl-
vania to Georgia is now held by the Union
forces. Through the whole extent of the
great valley from Stanton to Atlanta, runs
line of railway of vast Importance to
the rebels For the first time in the war,
this and all their principal lines of COM
munication are threatened. Running
from the interior of the circumference to
the center, these lines have hitherto been
secure from menace, and have constituted
the main reliance of the rebellion. To-
day there is not a railroad running to or
from Richmond that is not cut This
changes the whole aspect of the case 1t
is the grand new fact in the stuation.-
Itis the fruit of the present campaign
it is what Grant has been steadily aim
ing to accomplish, and what Lee has been
striving to prevent
1t is not solely in the territory we have
wrested from the rebels, or in the advan.
tages of the position we occupy, that We
find the results of the year. We have
found leader, whom not only our armies
but the nation has learned to trust, and
the rebels to fear. Our armies are stron-
ger now than they ever were, and the de-
termination of the North to put down the
rebellion is still strong. The rebels con-
fessedly, have gone to the extent of their
resources. They own that beaten now,
they will be beaten finally. Viewed from
whatever standpoint you choose, the stu
alton to-day, compared with what is was
one year ago, is not only full of encour-
agement, but in its very worst features
affords certain proof that the North has
only to be faithful to itself to win at an
early day complete victory and per-
manent peace.-PHS. Com.
American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-07-06
n.ag- There is tree near the prcscn

Esg- There is tree near the present
quarters of Sherman's army, called the
q fatal tree" Eight men were shot, one
after another, as soon as they advanced to
the fatal tree to take secure position be-
hind its huge trunk. Seven men were
shot, when a board was placed there with
the word g Dangerous" chalked upon it.
The rebels shot the guide-board into frag-
ments, and a sergernt unsuspectingly took
his place behind the tree. In less than
five minutes two minnie balls pierced the
sergeants body, and he fell the eighth
martyr beneath the shadow of the tree of
death.