The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-11-30

| ehtiV III thO ndb ftlGnt
the rebels were concentrating at Gettys
burg. Next morning Judge H. "A.
Kimmel, with whom my father sat as
Associate Judge, learned that son OF
Thomas Pomeroy was in town. He
sent for me to come to him at one.
found the Judge on the street that leads
| to McConnelsburg, short distance
from the Franklin Hotel, where the
Central Presbyterian Church now
stands. AS the town was full of rebels
and rebel had his beat near us, the
Judge asked in low tone il | was a
son of Judge Pomeroy Ireplied in
the affirmative, With apparent uncon-
cern, he asked me to follow him. |
did 80 and he led me into a little dark
back room and told me that the rebels
were concentrating at Gettysburg and
Governor Curtin did not know it. He
said it was of the utmost Importance
/ that the Governor should know at the
earliest possible moment and asked me
ii | would take a telegram to the near
est point on the Pennsy vania Railroad
and send it to him. He added sit is
of infinite importance to him and to our
country" ! replied that Iwould try it.
The telegram was already written, so
he cut hole in the bucklestrap of my
pantaloons and deposited the telegram
TO be sent there aud said "Get this
safely and in the shortest time possible
to the Governor. Assuming indiffer-
ence, l came to the street and met the
rebel guard who did not disturb me.
Some of those who came with me wish
ing to return to Roxbury we set out to.
gether.
We met many atthe edge Of the town,
returning, who could not get through
the guard, who were stationed around
the town.
Coming to the forks of the Strasburg
and Roxbury roads we found both cav
airy and infantry. On the left there
was a 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 till we reached the woods. When
getting over the fence into the woods
we were seen by the enemy. They
called, rode after us an levelled their
muskets at US, but we ran on, and as
they did not fire or follow far we es-
capped. Still fearing capture we kept
to the fields. Before we reached Stras-
burg all had fallen behind but one
We must have walked about seventeen
miles before we got to Roxbury. As
the horses were hid in the mountains |
was in dread lest should not get a
horse, but | met Mr.. S. l.. Seminar
riding into town to get feed for his
his horses in the mountains. Telling
him of the message l was carrying he
gave me his horse. Informing my
father of the errand set out on my
trip at once. 1t was about noon. The
mountain road to Anderson Valley, was
l 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 footpath, then another
mountain into Path Valley. Reaching
my uncles, w. r. Pomeroy, at Con
cord, and telling him my business he
got me another horse. The Barrens,
below Concord, were blockaded by cit
zens of Tuscarora Valley, many of
whom knew me. The report having
reached them that was killed while
trying to hinder the rebels from enter
ing Roxbury, the obstacles and excite
ment of my friends at finding me alive
hindered me about ten minutes. Free
from them, / hastened down the Tus-
carora Valley as fast as my horse could
carry me. At Bealetown. Mr.. Beale,
speedily got me fresh horse, When
/ reached Silas E. Smiths I 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 l
rode to my uncle's, Joseph Pomeroy,
at Academia, found them likewise
mourning my supposed death, and he
supplied another horse, the fast
est he had. That carried me to
within mile of my destination, when
a soldier on guard called, Halt! | told
the sergeant on guard my mission and
requested one of the guard to go with
me, that might get the telegram
off to Harrisburg in the shortest time
possible.
Getting on the horse behind me we
rode in a few minutes TO the office
Finding the operator, he cut the tele.
gram out out of the strap of my panta
looms and sent it at once to you. The
excitement and journey being over, and
the telegram being off to you, l began
to look at the time and found it about
midnight. bad walked that day about
seventeen miles and ridden about FORTY
one miles. Anxious as l was about the
critical state of the country, l was so
tired had to seek the house of my
kinsman, Major j. M. Pomeroy, ia
Perryville, now Port Royal, for rest.
The above is the history of that tel,
egram, that | believe, first gave you
notice of the concentration of the rebel
troops at Gettysburg, just before the
famous battle in that place.
Respectfully yours,
STEPHEN w. POMEROY.