The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-09-15
The Military Record
OF
LIEUT.. COL. JOHN p. LINTON,
The Democratic Candidate for Surveyor
General.


/ We are indebted to Adjutant William H.
Rose, of the 54th Regiment, p. v, for the fol-
) lowing suceinct and graphic history OF Col
Linton's military services;
ssIs START IN LIFE.
Col. Linton comes of good Democratic stock
being the eldest son of Robert p Linton, who
| has been a life long Democrat, and who has
served three terms as sheriff of Cambria Coun-
tY, and has ali along been working partisan,
! He was born in Johnstown, Cambria county
! in the year 1888, and is thirty-two years of
age. lie WIS student at Jefferson College.
CaHOnsburg, Pennsylvania, but his eyesight
failing, he was compelled to leave college. He
did not, however, entirely give up his studies,
/ but continued to store his mind with vast
fund Of useful knowledge, gathered under such
! adverse circumstances as would have utterly
deferred man of less energy and determina-
| ton. In 1852 his eyesighi was sufficiently re-
stored to enable him to study, and he at once
entered the law office of Hon c. L. Pershng
| OF Johnstown, where for three years he was an
| interchangeable student. In 1855 he was admit
/ ted to the practice law. Immediately thcreaf
| ter he was taken into partnership with his pre-
| ceptor, Hon. G. L. Pershing, in which lac con-
| tinued until 1858.
! HE SERVES IN TIE THREE MONTHS CAMPAIGN.
Whilst in the midst Of a successful career,
the war of the great rebelkoii broke out, and
| the call was made for troops Col. Linton was
! First Lieutenant of yol0nteer organization,
| composed almost ifnot exciusiviy, Of Democrats.
! The company at once elected him Captain, and
he marched it to Camp Curtin, where it was
! designated as Company F. Third Penne. Vel.
/ Infantry.
HE GOES IN FOR THREE YEARS.
/ Immediately after the termination Of the
three months campaign, under Maj Gen. Pat
terson, Col Linton, in conjunction with bis pres
/ emf competitor, Col. Jacob NJ. Campbell, set
about raising regiment for the three years
/ service. This was accomplished, and Linton,
/ by the unanimous voice Of his companions of
! the three months service, was selected as Major.
! The regiment was designated the 54th Pa. Vols.
WHERE THE REGIMENT WAS STATIONED
The regiment was stationed for a long time,
! along the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, guard
/ ing it, as well as protecting the lower tier of
/ counties in Pennsylvania. We may here say
( that, although for long time unknown to
/ fame, this regiment occupied and protected fif-
! ty-six miles OF that important artery of supply
| for Washington and the Army of the Potomac.
Its duty was the most arduous and trying, re-
/ curing the utmost diligence and watchfulness
( of both officers and men; but a single compa-
| ny at a ford, and these were miles apart, and
each exposed TO very imminent danger Of being
cut off and captured
/ SCOUT AND sKIRMIsH.
Major Linton was stationed at South Branch,
( the extreme western post, until Lee invaded
! Maryland. The regime Mt at tbs kme was &
/ part of Col. d. S, Miles command When
! Harper's Ferry fell, the 54th was the only reg
/ ;ment Of the command that escaped the sur
render. Back Greek Bridge, the extreme east
ern post, being threatened by the enemy, MAJOR
Linton was transferred from the west and as
/ signed 10 the command of the same Whilst
the rear guard of Jackson's army, marching to
! invest Harper's Ferry, was passing, within one
mile of Major Linton's post, Col Campbell
and Major Linton with thirty men pushed out
from Linton's camp and suddenly attacking,
threw the rebels into confusion, who, thinking
themselves attacked by large force, fed in ev-
cry direction. Returning to his post, Major
Linton continued to hold it in the very face of
the enemy, being constantly in sight of their
lines, and liabie at any moment to attack.
| lie GUARDS BRIDGE WITH QUAKER GUNS
AGer the battle Of An4ietam, the whole rebe4
.
ged IN destroying the railroad Major Linton
with a single company of infantry held a post
j guarding an important bridge but twelve miles
from the main body of the rebel army and in
constant sight of their scouting parties. By
eonstaatly scouting; by repeated skirriishes by
erecting log breast-works, and Raounting "Qua-
ker guns" by blowing up stumps mornings and
evenings, to initiate the discharge of artillery,
he deceived the reSels eGectuai!y as to has
strength. In this be was of course sustained
by Col Campbell, who assisted in the deception
by bringing companies from other posts by rail
to Back Creek, which were marched and COIN
termarched in and out of the breastwerks and
in face of the enemy, with great show of
strength, when they were then quietly moved
off to their proper posts, leaving Linton alone
to keep the works. By these devices the rebels
were deceived and held in check for two weeks,
but early ore morning they marched with a
large force of cavalry, infantry and artillery to
attack, and by their superior numbers compel
led the Major to fall back slowly three miles to
Cherry Bun, where he was met by Col. Camp
bell with reinfoSeements. An effort was made
{ to disodge the rebels, but it failed, and Major
Linton was LEFT with but two companies of IN
fantry at Cherry Run 10 watch the movements
, and defend as best he could, the road. by con-
slant diligence and activity, saddeniy appear
, ing at unexpected points, he succeeded in hs
perilous duty. At Maynards Mill, he came
unexpectedly CA a force of rebel cavalry, three
or four times his numbers, and completely rout-
ed them. Not content with hearing how affairs
fstood Major Linton always accompanied his
scouting parties and personally directed Their
movements, fter penetrating the rebel lines,
and once barely escaping them.