The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-11-28
ney, and he has done so. as will be
seen by the following letter:

.t4 MI. oNlON, A. NV, 10, o.
4 Hon. A. g. CuRTIN-DEAR SIR -
In compliance with your request, j
send you the account OF how | came
to send you the telegram of the con-
centration of the Confederate army
at Gettysburg during the war After
being discharged from the nine
months service of the Pennsylvania
Volunteers, l happened to be home,
at my her's-Judge Pomeroy, OF
Rocksbury, Franklin County-when
the enemy were marching down the
Cumberland Valley. There was, OF
course, great excitement, for the en-
emy were at our doors and taking
what they would. Farmers hid
their horses and ether stock in the
mountains, as far as possible. One
day three hundred cavalry marched
into. Rocksbury. When we learned
of their coming ten of the men who
had been out on the nine months
service armed ourselves as we best
could apd went out TO intercept
them but the odds were too great,
go we retired. Anxious to hear the
news and to render what service We
might to our country, a number of
US walked to Chambersburg, a dis
tance of fourteen miles, reaching
there in the afternoon. That night
the rebels were concentrated at
Gettysbur Next morning Judge
| f. A. kimmel, with whom my faith
er sat rs Associate Judge, learned
that a son of Thomas POmerOy was
in town. He sent for me to come to
him at once. found the Judge on
the street that leads to McConnells-
burg, a short distance from the
Franklin Hotel, where the Central
Presbyterian Church now stands
As the town was full of rebels and a
rebel Lad his beat near US, the Judge
asked me in a low tone il | was a
son ofJudge Pomeroy. replied in
the affirmative. With apparent un-
concern he asked me to follow him.
| did so, and he led me into little
dark back room and tolG NE that
the rebels were concentrating at
tGettysburg and Governor Curtin did
not know it, He said it was OF the
utmost importance that the Gov
ernor should know at the earliest
possible moment and asked me if |
would take telegram to the nearest
point on the Pennsylvania Railroad
aud send it to him. He added : : II
lis of infinite importance to him and
to our country | replied that |
would Try it. The telegram was al
ready written, SO be cuta hole in the
buckle strap of my pantaloons and
deposited the telegram to be sent
there and said: Get this safely and
in the shortest time possible to the
/ Governor" Assuming indifference,
| came to the street and met the
rebel guard, who did not disturb me.
lSome of those who came with me
wishing to return to Roxbury, we set
out together
We met many al The edge ofof the
town, returning, who could not get
h! ough the gu ,rd, who were station
ed around the town.
! Coming to the forks of the Stras-
burg and Roxbury roads we found
both cavalry and infantry. On the
left there was Il slight hollow, also
several wheat fields, and beyond
these there were woods. This was
the only way to hope for escape. At
my proposal we crept along this
hollow, at the end of which there
were some wheat fields we kept
these between us and the guard un-
til We reached the woods. When
getting over the fence into the woods
we were seen by the enemy. They
called, rode after Us and leveled their
muskets at Us, but We ran on. and
as they did not fire or follow far We
escaped. Still fearing capture we
kept to the fields. Before we reach.
ed Strasburg all had fallen behind
but one. We must have walked
about seventeen miles before we got
to Roxbury. As the horses were bid
in the mountains / was in dread lest
| should not get horse, but ] met
Mr.. s. L. Seminar riding into town
to get feed for his horses in the
mountains Telling him of the mes
sage | was carrying he gave me his
horse Informing my father of my
errand | set out on my trip at once.
1 1t was about noon. The mountain
road to Anderson Valley was. !
knew, blockaded with trees to pre-
vent the marauders from entering
the valley to steal horses. On this
account | crossed the mountain into
Anderson Valley by foot path,
then another mountain into Path
| Valley. Reaching my uncle's, W.
r. Pomeroy, at Concord. and telling
him by business be got me another
horse. The Barrens. below Concord,
were blockaded by citizens of Tusca-
rora Valley, many of whom knew
me The report having reached them
that | was killed while trying TO
hinder the rebels from entering
Roxbury, the obstacles and excite
ment of my friends at finding me
alive hindered me ten minutes.
Free from them, | fastened down
the Tuscarora Valley as fast as my
horse could carry me. At BealtOwn
Mr.. Beale, now the Rev ID. J. Beale,
speedily got me fresh horse. When
| reached Silas f. Smiths did two
things, got lunch and proved to the
future Mrs, Pomeroy that | was not
dead, as she supposed, but good for
many years to come. From thence
| rode to my uncle's, Joseph Pome-
row, at Academia, found them like
wise mourning my supposed death,
and he supplied another horse, the
fastest he had. That carried me
to within mile of my destination,
when soldier on guard called,
Halt / told the sergeant on
guard my mission and requested one
of the guards to go with me, that |
might get the telegram off to Harris
burg in the shortest time possible.
Getting on the horse behind me
we rode in a few minutes to the office
E;nd;ro, tho orerafor he c1t the tel