The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-10-02


in Johnstown in 1888. Early in life he
devoted his time mostly to study, and
read law with Hon, Cyrus l.. PerShing,
who is now President Judge of Schuyl-
kill county. After his admission TO the
bar in 1851, Col. Linton formed part
nership with Judge Pershing, which
lasted until shortly before the breaking
out of the Civil War.
When, on April 10, 1S6l, the day
after the capitulation of Major Anderson
at Fort Sumpter, President Lincoln Is
sued his first call for volunteers to put
down the rebellion, the old Citizen 5
Guard, Of Johnstown, with John p. Lin
ton rs captain, was one of the first COM
panies TO tender its services for the pre-
servation of the Union. Reporting at
headquarters, it was assigned to the 3rd
regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, as
Company F. The regiment was part
of General Patterson's division. The
term of enlistment (three months) hav-
ing expired, company F was mustered
out and the members returned home
about August l, 1861.
Shorty after the return of Company
+, the regiment, afterward known as the
54th Pennsylvania Volunteers, was re-
cruited in this part of the state, Cambria
county contributing over half the men.
Colonel Linton was at first Major and
afterward Lieutenant Colonel. The 9th
reported at Washington in February,
1862, and spent some time there. 1t
was afterward transferred to take care of
a division of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, from South Branch to Back
Creek, between Cumberland and Har-
/ per's Ferry. The history of the regi-
ment is the history of its officers, and
none were more constantly at their posts
than Colonel Linton. The regiment re-
I manned near the place last mentioned
] for some time, and at the time of Lees
( invasion of Maryland and the battle of
/ Antietam, was marched on the National
! Pike arriving at Williamsport, on the
/ Potomac, just after Lee had crossed it in
his retreat. In the spring of 1864 the
forces in that vicinity were concentrated
/ under General Franz Sigel at Martins
I burg in the Shenandoah Valley, West
> Virginia. At the battle of New Market,
/ May 10, 1864, the 54th was engaged in
the fight and Colonel Linton was wound
/ ed. Returning to New Market after the
/ healing of his wound, ne was put in
| command of Il battalion of recruits.
When Gen. Early advanced into the
Shenandoah the Union forces fell back
TO Harper's Ferry and finally to Mary
land Heights which they held during his
raid in the vicinity of Washington
After that Colonel Linton rejoined the
54th regiment and participated in a severe
fight at Smokers Ford, with a part of
Early's force, in which the Union bri-
gade commander was killed and not Il
field officer escaped unhurt. The Union
force then proceeded TO Winchester,
where they had battle, and fell back
eventually to Williamsport. About that
time General Sheridan was put in COM
mand of all the troops in that region, and
on August 10, 1864, fought Early at
what the Unionists generally called Ope-
quan, but generally called by historians
the battle of Winchester. Here Colonel
Linton was wounded severely, and never
Il 70 L.. r
Early we've routed at Winchester. and
two days later at Fishers Hill they were
again defeated. In October, at Cedar
Creek, the whole Confederate army was
so completely routed that all organized
opposition to the Union authority ceased
in the Shenandoah Valley.
After his return from the army, Col
Linton resumed the practice of law. In
1866 he was the nominee OF his party
for Surveyor General, bot the Democrat
ic State ticket that year met the fate it
so long continued 10 meet in Pennsyl-
vania after the war. In 1867 and '6S
Col. Linton served in the House of Rep
resentatives at Harrisburg, as member
from Cambria county. In 1868, he was
tine Democratic nominee for Congress,
but his district being largely Republican,
he was defeated by the Hon. Daniel j.
Morrell. In 1880 Colon el Linton was a
presidential elector for Hancock, and he
was a delegate to the State Convention
both times PattisOn was nominated for
Governor. During the whole or his
active career, Col Linton has always
been an advocate of Democratic princi-
pies. In all the great campaigns he was
formost among those who gave much
time and labor to assist in achieving the
success of the Democratic party.
In casting their suffrages for Colonel
John 2. Linton, for President ,IudoA tbe
voters of Cambria county will feel con-
scious that they are not only contribut.
ing toward placing an honor on should
ers III every way worthy of receiving it,
but are also helping to put into the highest
office IN the county a thoroughly COM
petent man, and one who twice voluntar-
lily left lucrative law practice to draw
his sword for the preservation of the
Union.
y anpt bpr polurnr u-iU ha ,n,,nJ ~