The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-07-13
From the Four Quarters, Phiia.l
General William SzCCandieSS.

There are few youHg men in our country
who are more worthy Of public notice than
Gen. Wm. McCandless, OF this city. Sprung
from a stock whose good name has never
been tarnished by an ignobe deed, bred to
Industry, a son Cf toll, and yet gentIemar
in every sense of the word, and whether III
the machine shop earning his bread by the
sweat Of his brow, happy in the esteem and
confidence Of his associates and employers
grasping the throttle of his engine to guide
it with its precious weight Of living. trusting
freight, in safety through its Incident dan
gers raising the voice Of advice or warning
in the halls of state; pleading clients
cause with concentrated eioquence and min
ute precision. or leading the gallant boys of
the Pennsy vania Reserves into the hottest
cf the fight at the Wilderness, or down the
slope of the round top" at Gettysburg,
fearless and undaunted; engaged in which
ever of these occupations, lie has always
been a man. the peer of any IN the country
il the same sphere.
He is still young man, yet be has long
since earned an honored name. In the au-
nails of the late war his gallantry is the subs
iect of extended encomum by the different
historians. We have before US Syphef's
History Of The Pennsylvania Reserves, and
Bates History Of the Pennsylvania Folun-
teers, from which we gather the subject
matter for the portion Of this sketch which
relates to his military career.
Gen. McCandIess is Phiiadelphian by
birth, education and affinity. He was born
in this city On the 29,h day Of September.
1884, and received good English eluca~
ton. Immediately on leaving school, hav-
ing been left an orphan. he entered himself
an apprentice to the machinist's trade In the
shops Of Richard Norris & Sons, where he
served the term Of five years. Subsequently
lie ran q locomotive on the Pennsylvania
Railroad, but becoming piqued at being re-
tarded in the line Of promotion on account
of his youth, (not yet having attained his
majJrity) he left the road and commenced
the study Of the law with Moses \. Dropsie,
Esq, Of this city. He was admitted 10 the
bar in 1858, and through his personal popu-
larity and legal aptitude soon obtained
lucrative practice. Three years afterward
the war broke out. and he was among the
frat to enlist in defence Of the Union. He
enrolled himself as private soldier in Cap
tain Timothy Mealey'S company, and when
the regiment was recognized as the u regi-
meat, Pennsy lvauia Reserves, he was elected
major. 10 October. 1861, upon the promo
tiol of Lieutenant Colonel Albert Magltou
to the cdlonelcy Of the 4th regiment, Major
McCandlesa was elected and commissioned
Lieutenant Colonel, and upon the etirement
of Colone! VIM. B. Mann. assumed command
Of the regiment In the Penusular cam
paigu he commanded his troops with skill
aad on the lst of August, 1862. was promo
led to the colo2elcy for gallant and merto,
Iiyus conduct. AT the battle of Bull Run
j. ! /
the field to Washington. lie rej)ined his
regiment at Sharpsburg and participated in
Burnsids's campaign. In Mcade's cam
paign Colonel McCandless commanded the
1st Brigade Of the Reserve Corps; and du-
ring the absence Of Genera. Crawford in the
wiuter Of 1868 and the following spring, he
commanded the division.
On Thursday. the 9th Of May. 1864,
when the ist brigade was cut eff and sur
rounded in the WILDERNESS, Colonel McCaud-
less was captured, but 10 the confusion that
ensued be eiuded his captors and made his
escape through the dense forests. and arrived
safely IN camp at Spottsylvania Court House
Whilst leading his brigade in q charge on
Sunday evening he was wounded in the
arm and disabled from further service. He
returned 20 Philadelphia, and was subse-
quentiy tondered a brigader's commission,
but feeling that while the War Department
acknowledged his gallantry and bravery on
the field, and well knowing that Governor
Curtin had long before favored his promo
ton, his claims were sighted. he felt impell-
cd, from sef-respect, to decliue the honor.
Accordingly he remained IN the privacy and
practice Of bis profession.
Sypher's History, in speakiI Of the bat
tie OF Spottsylyanla, says: Colonel Nc
Candies, who lei the charge with conspi-
cuioua gallantry, was wounded, and Colonel
Tally assumed command of the brigade'
L. 4. Hendricks, the New York Hsrqla's
correspondent. in speaking Of this battle,
says: ''Ou Monday evening. when the roar
oi battle was sounding along the whole line,
Colonel McCandless, who had accompanied
the Reserve Corps through all it's battles
and campaigns, was carried to the rear to be
sent TO his home in PHILADELPHIA As an
tihcer he has Won great distinction, and " as
favorite with his companions in arms.
" ho now deeply feel his departure"
lie was twice wounded. the first time at
the second battle of Bull Rur. in the groin.
and the second in tho bloody battle at Spott-
sylvania Court House. where his left arm
was broken by canister shot.
General Mcclellan, in bis official report
oI the battle OF Aechanicshurg com pliments
the Second Reserves very highly. and especi-
ally Colouel McCandless, their commander.
lie says: assault after assault was made
by the enemy, and three times they succeed
cd IN forcing their way through on the left
OF the regiment, and gained the cleared
ground, but were as often driven back at
the point of the bayonet. Colonel McCand.
less gallantly leading the charge"
n mo- = Of 4 IL
Bates says: AT p. NJ the engagement
became SO severe that the entire second line
and reserves were moved forward tn sn.toin
the FIRST line against repeated and desperate
assaults General Reynolds soon ro1e up
and ordered the Second To advnr,co ,I.,,,.,i
the wood, clear it OF the enemy and take ~,
a position on Its extreme edge. Colonel
NcCaudless. knowing that this 1,ove,,,a,-t ;
would bring the enemy on his right Aani
asked the Generals permission to move if al
Tisht angles to the position assigned it. The
General Waa siiapt for N ,,.or,,-. 1: