Valley Spirit

The editors relay the facts in the shooting of Lieut. Ford by John Forney in Fulton County. Forney, 46, had been listed as exempt from the draft since he was older than 45. However, he had been put back on the draft list somehow, and was subsequently put on a list to be arrested as a deserter. He was arrested by the Provost Guard and, on Forney's writ of habeas corpus, was brought before a judge who then dismissed the case. Lieut. Ford and two other men went to Forney's house to re-arrest him after this, which is when Forney shot him. Forney then turned himself in and was taken to Washington by military authorities. The editors comment only that the military seems to be trying to usurp civilian authority, and the removal of Forney from his home county is a dangerous precedent--he should be tried by his peers where the crime was committed.

The editors draw the reader's attention to an article on the same page wherein T. Jefferson Boyer, member of the state legislature from Clearfield County, claims he was offered $25,000 to vote for Simon Cameron for the U.S. Senate.

The editors ask the reader to contrast the "fair and impartial" treatment of the Forney affair in their paper with the "vile, false, and malicious statement" of the Dispatch on the matter.

The editors note the collection of stories from across the political spectrum, all of which agree that morale in the Army of the Potomac is low, though there is little agreement on why. It is clear to the editors that the poor morale is due to the removal of General McClellan from command, and they sarcastically suggest that he be brought in to address the men to try to make them forget the incompetence and tragedy of Fredericksburg.

The editors relay the news of the Wisconsin Supreme Court's sustaining of the writ of habeas corpus for draft rioters, thus denying the right of the President to sustain it in such cases.

A letter from T. Jefferson Boyer, a Democratic member of the state legislature, in which he alleges that representatives of Simon Cameron, and then Cameron himself, offered him money to vote for Cameron for the U.S. Senate.

A pair of conflicting news reports as to whether or not the Army of the Potomac had recrossed the Rappahannock river.

A pair of news articles describing the shooting of Lieutenant E. N. Ford of the Provost Guard, who had been summoned from Chambersburg to Fulton County to arrest John Forney. Ford and his two men entered Forney's house and searched the lower level. As Ford approached the stairs, he saw Forney at the top; as Ford turned to get his men, he was shot through the shoulder. His wound is severe and it is not known if he will survive.

A summary of the cases brought before the first week of Court (the editors do not include "numerous petty cases ... of which we have not deemed of sufficient importance"): Commonwealth vs. Adam C. Besore--having counterfeit money; defendant pleaded guilty, sentenced to penitentiary for three years and three months. Commonwealth vs. Susan Drake-- assault, on oath of N. Uglow; verdict, guilty, sentenced to county jail for one month. Commonwealth vs. Joseph Lane, et al. ("colored persons")--Riot, on oath of William Keith; a prosecution against nine black people living in the vicinity of Mercersburg, verdict guilty, sentence against James and Newton Stoner to the penitentiary for one year and two months, Jane Fillkell, Louisa Lane and Margaret Streets, to pay costs of prosecution, William Stuckey, Robert Stoner and Joseph Lane to the county jail for one month. Commonwealth vs. Elias Craig--Larceny, verdict not guilty. Commonwealth vs. Samuel J. Miller, Jr.--assault and battery, verdict guilty, sentenced to county jail for one month; Commonwealth vs. Henry Middour--passing counterfeit money, verdict guilty, sentence to the penitentiary for one year and six months. Commonwealth vs. John Kuhn--passing counterfeit money, verdict guilty, sentenced to penitentiary for one year and six months. Commonwealth vs. Jacob Slyder, Henry Morgan and John Stoner--burglary and larceny, verdict guilty as to Slyder and not guilty as to Morgan and Stoner, Slyder sentenced to four years at the "house of refuge." COMMON PLEAS: George J. Balsley vs. Ignatius Harbaugh and his wife Susan--assumsit, for good sold to Mrs. Harbaugh while a minor; jury could not agree and was dismissed. David McNulty vs. Daniel Gilds--action of deceit in horse trade, verdict in favor of plaintiff for $60.00.

Capt. S. R. McKesson and the non-commissioned officers who were in Chambersburg on recruiting business left on Monday to rejoin their regiment, the 77th Penn. Volunteers.

The editors describe the funeral of Col. Peter B. Housum, whose remains arrived in Chambersburg on Wednesday and who was buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery on Friday. A "vast concourse" of citizens attended, though many more were prevented by the "miserable walking conditions." The Coronet Band provided the music for the procession, followed by the order of Odd Fellows, citizens, and a military escort which discharged three volleys over the grave.

A resolution passed by a committee of the officers of the 77th Reg't Penn. Volunteers, mourning the loss in action of Col. P. B. Housum and praising his bravery and efficiency. It was signed by Thomas E. Rose, Captain commanding the regiment; Fred. S. Pyfer, Capt. of Co. K, Joseph J. Lawson, Capt. of Co. C; William A. Robinson, Capt. of Co. E; Alexander Philips, Capt. of Co. G.; Henry B. Thompson, 1st Lieut. of Co. D; John C. Shroad, 1st Lieut. commanding Co. A; Joseph B. Downey, Ass't Surgeon; S. J. Davis, Adjutant.

List of casualties from the 77th Reg't Penn. Volunteers from the battle of Murfreesboro: Lieut. Col. P. B. Housum, commanding, mortally wounded and since died. Co. A, 1st Lieut. John E. Walker commanding, fifty-five men taken into action--Wounded, Lieut. Walker in knee, Private Henry Temnary in leg, Private Jackson Smith in left leg; Missing, Corp. James Canmon, Private Frederick Reninger. Co. B, Lieut. John W. Kreps commanding, thirty men taken into action--Wounded, Private William Jones in hip, Private Edwin Bratt in leg; Missing, Private Edward Acker, Private David Darby. Co. C, Joseph J. Lawson, commanding, thirty-seven men taken into action--Wounded, Sgt. Scott R. Crawford in both legs, left leg amputated, since died, Corp. William Keith in leg, amputated, Corp. Samuel Getty in left leg, Private William Ganster in ankle, Private Dixon in right eye, Private Andrew Kindline in right face, Private John Kegerries left index finger off, Private Henry Greenawalt right arm; Missing, Private Charles McFarland, Private Richard Mitchell. Co. D, 1st Lieut. Henry B. Thompson commanding, twenty-four men taken into action--Killed, Private Augustus Mace; Wounded, Private William Robison, breast; Missing, 2nd Lieut. Thomas G. Cochran, Private John C. Shirley, Private Jacob Blentzer, Private Joshua Keenar. Co. E, Capt. William A. Robison, commanding, twenty-six men taken into action- -Killed, Private John A. Hake, Private John A. Buler; Wounded, Private Thomas Hardy, not known where, Private Edward J. Murphy, not known where, Private Alfred Ray, slightly in breast Private Enoch Eckle, slightly in hand; Missing, Private James Rodgers, Private Jacob S. Bartholomew. Co. K, Capt. Fred S. Pyfer commanding, thirty-five men taken into action--Killed, Alexander Brown; Wounded, Corp. Robert McMillen in thigh, Private William J. Prentiss in breast and arm, Private Lewis H. Buler in hip, Private John Gamble in shoulder; Missing, Private Charles Mackenaw, Private Alexander Stewart, Private William Clark. Co. F, 1st Lieut. John S. McDowell commanding, forty-two men taken into action; Wounded, Private Michael Short in shoulder, Private William Bivan in hand, Private George Hearner in knee; Missing, Corp. George M. Cooper, Corp. Milton M. Horton, Private Randal Childers, Private James Lippincott. Co. G, Capt. Alex. Philips commanding, eighty-nine men taken into action--Wounded, Corp. James Foster in breast, Private Patrick Gallagher in face; Missing, Sgt. George Buchanan, Sgt. Edwin Morgan, Corp. James Brown, Private William Davis, Private Owen Williams, Private Edward Jones, Private James Forester, Private Jacob Jordan, Private Woodsworth Wetherbee.

A list of soldiers from Mueller's Pennsylvania Battery killed at the battle of Murfreesboro, passed on to the Transcript by Lieut. S. M. McDowell. The battery had been principally recruited in Chambersburg by the late Lieut. Col. P. B. Housum, was commanded by him, and was attached for a time to the 77th Reg't. Penn. Volunteers. Killed were Private Edmund Cuddy of Franklin County and Private Carl Reine; among the wounded were Sgt. E. F. Shartzer, Corp. George Shaffer, Privates Louis Bitner (mortally), Daniel Stoner, William Miller, William Buchanan, Joseph Fornes, of Franklin County, Private Paul Firricks.

The editors call for a few feet of pavement to be added at the corner of King Street and the street leading to the cemetery. During the muddy season, it is impossible for people to go to the cemetery without coming in contact with the mud.

A small stable belonging to Nicolas Uglo burned on Tuesday evening. Several fire companies responded to the call, but when they tried to take water from a nearby cistern, a local German family protested and a fight ensued between the fireman and the family.

The editors note the prevalence of counterfeit currency in circulation, due to wartime conditions, and hope that steps will be taken to counter the issuance of "bogus" money.

Thomas G. Pilkington, Postmaster of Waynesboro and a member of Company A, 126th Reg't Penn. Volunteers, died in the Washington Hospital of diarrhea last Thursday. He was in the battle on the Rappahannock, and was wounded in both hands and one leg.

The barn of P. D. Weaver, who resides near Upton, was consumed by fire about a week ago. Its content of hay and grain, plus two valuable horses, were destroyed, a loss of $600 or $700. The fire was the work of an "incendiary."

Thomas R. Sheller of Washington City and Helen M. Nitterhouse of Chambersburg were married on October 26, 1862, at the parsonage of Christ's Church.

Abraham G. Wingert of Green Township married Mary M. Heintzleman of Fayetteville on January 22 at the Indian Queen Hotel.

Rebecca W. Hege, daughter of Rebecca and Michael Hege, died near Marion on January 14, of diphtheria, aged 3 years, 1 month and 22 days.

Mrs. Mary Belle Bolhard, daughter of Dr. E. G. McGovern, formerly of Chambersburg, died at Chilicothe on January 16.