Page 1
Page Description:
A reprint of the Constitution of the United States
Page 2
Page Description:
Poetry, fiction, and anecdotes
Page 3
Page Description:
Agricultural advice and four columns of classified advertisements
Page 4
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Includes a review of recent books and periodicals, as well as war news from east Tennessee.
The Constitution
(column 1)
Summary:
The editors explain that they reprinted the Constitution in this issue to remind readers of the clauses that they believe are being violated by the Lincoln administration. Among others, the confiscation act has deprived people of property without due process, the admission of West Virginia was not done with the consent of Virginia, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom from false imprisonment have all been violated by federal authorities, the right of states to organize militias has been trumped by federal conscription laws, and military authorities have interfered with free elections.
Excerpt:
"The purposes it achieved with wonderful harmony and success, for the period of seventy odd years, until the madness of sectional fanaticism became the ruling power in the councils of the nation, tore asunder the bonds of Union, struck down the scales of justice, stabbed the domestic tranquillity to the heart, shivered into atoms the common defense, and debased the great privileges of civil liberty to the sole purposed of liberating a few million savage and untutored blacks while it would leave thirty millions of whites in chains."
A Bogus Senator
(column 2)
Summary:
The editors protest the attempt by Republicans to file a resignation for Major White, a Republican state senator who has been unable to take his seat because of his commission. White's resignation has not been presented to the proper authorities, claim the editors, and thus there is no legal ground on which they can hold a replacement election.
Names in Announcement:
Major White
The Coming Financial Crash
(column 3)
Summary:
The editors cite a report by the Comptroller of the Currency that warns that the end of the war may bring an end to the "apparent prosperity" of the country. They accuse the Lincoln administration of misleading the country with falsely optimistic statements about the future of the economy.
Excerpt:
"[The Democratic press] showed that the vaunted prosperity of the country was false and hollow, a mere bubble that must burst, sooner or later, producing untold misery and ruin to the business and laboring classes of the community, and that even now, while speculators and army contractors are acquiring sudden wealth, the great body of the people are stinted in the common necessities of life."
(column 5)
Summary:
The editors note the call of the Repository to Congress to issue a ruthless conscription bill, one that will, in the Spirit's words, "gobble up every poor man as well as every man of moderate means, and force him into the army before spring opens."
Excerpt:
"There is to be no way of escape to any except such as the possessors of magnificent farms and stately mansions a la 'Norland.'"
Page 5
Page Description:
The top portion of column five is missing; the remaining page includes three and a half columns of classified advertisements.
How to Avoid the Draft
(column 1)
Summary:
The editors reprint a call by Governor Curtain for volunteers to fill up the 2nd and 9th Army Corps, under the command of Major Generals Winfield Hancock and Ambrose Burnside. The following Pennsylvania regiments and batteries are included. 2nd Army Corps: 53rd, 69th, 71st, 72nd, 81st, 106th, 116th, 140th, 145th, and 148th regiments, and Independent batteries C and F, and batteries F and G of the 1st Pennsylvania artillery. 9th Army Corps: 45th, 48th, 50th, 51st, 100th regiments, and Durrell's Independent Battery D. The editors encourage enlistment "thereby avoiding any necessity for another draft."
Names in Announcement:
Governor Curtain; Major General Winfield Hancock; Major General Ambrose Burnside
Another Draft
(column 2)
Summary:
The editors reprint an order from President Lincoln authorizing a draft for 500,000 men on March 10 for three years service. The editors note that this follows on the October order for a draft of 300,000. This order includes the 300,000, and assumes a volunteer rate of 2000 per day. The order credits any men who have been enlisted or drafted up to the 1st of March to the state's quota.
Names in Announcement:
President Abraham Lincoln
The Nine Months' Men to be Drafted
(column 1)
Summary:
The Senate has amended the conscription bill to exempt only those men currently in the service, or who have been in the service two years and have been honorably discharged, from the draft. This makes all those who served in the nine months regiment subject to the draft. These veterans do receive an additional bounty of $40 on top of the $362 for first-time enlistees.
A Row
(column 1)
Summary:
A fight among members of the troops stationed in town took place in front of the Post Office last Friday.
Excerpt:
"Such displays of the progress of our soldiers are not at all creditable, and no laurels are to be gained in such encounters, we would therefore suggest that they reserve their valor for the enemies of our country 'away down South in Dixie.'"
Full Text of Article
On Friday night last, just after dark, considerable of a row was gotten up, in front of the Post Office, by some of the military now stationed in and near town. Several knock downs occurred; but we could not ascertain whether cavalry or artillery came off second best. Our country's gallant defenders appear so anxious for a fight, that, in the absence of rebels, in order to keep their hands in, they occasionally pitch into each other.--Such displays of the progress of our soldiers are not at all creditable, and no laurels are to be gained in such encounters, we would therefore suggest that they reserve their valor for the enemies of our country "away down South in Dixie."
United Brethren
(column 2)
Summary:
The annual conference of the United Brethren in Christ took place in Mechanicsburg on January 21. The following are the pastoral appointments for Franklin County: Chambersburg District, J. W. Burd, P.E.; Chambersburg Station, J. Dickson; Rocky Spring Station, J. M. Bishop; Orrstown Station, H. Y. Hummelbaugh; Big Spring Station, Z. A. Colestock; St. Thomas Circuit, S. Jackson; Greencastle and Alto Dale Circuit, J. C. Smith and W. Humberger; Path Valley Station, S. Young.
Names in Announcement:
J. W. Burd, P. E.; J. Dickson; J. M. Bishop; H. Y. Hummelbaugh; S. Young; Z. A. Colestock; J. C. Smith; W. Humberger; S. Jackson
Court Martial
(column 2)
Summary:
At a Court Martial held in Chambersburg last November, presided over by Gen. O. S. Ferry, U.S. Volunteers, Private Isaac Fishel, 166th Reg't Penn. Militia was convicted of desertion and giving intelligence to the enemy, which finding was approved by the Major General commanding. Fisher was ordered to be shot by musket on Friday, March 18. Joseph Fisher was tried and found guilty of spying for and giving intelligence to the enemy, and was sentenced to be hanged. The finding and sentence were approved, but the sentence was commuted to imprisonment for 10 years in the state penitentiary.
Names in Announcement:
Isaac Fishel; Joseph Fisher
The Academy
(column 2)
Summary:
The editors call attention to the advertisement of the Chambersburg Academy in this issue and praise the school and the "efficient and energetic management" of its principal, Mr. Kinney.
Names in Announcement:
Mr. Kinney
Excerpt:
"Notwithstanding the adverse circumstances of 'wars and rumors of wars' in our valley we have to congratulate Mr. Kinney not only on the rapid increase of attendance at his school, but the large number of fine looking young men which we daily see passing to and from the academy."
How to Treat Frozen Limbs
(column 2)
Summary:
The editors pass on some advice on thawing out frozen limbs. They recommend encouraging internal circulation at the same time as applying external heat.
Public Lecture
(column 2)
Summary:
Rev. John A. Warner of Gettysburg will give a lecture in Chambersburg on the battle of Gettysburg, to benefit the Ladies' Aid Society. Warner was an eyewitness to the battle, and he should command a full house.
Names in Announcement:
Reverend John A. Warner
Excerpt:
"The subject, the battle of Gettysburg, is an intensely interesting one to all and the well established reputation of the Rev. gentleman, who was an eye witness of the battle . . . "
Full Text of Article
Rev. John A. Warner of Gettysburg has consented to deliver a lecture in this place on some evening next week in aid of the funds of the "Ladies Aid Society."
The subject, the battle of Gettysburg, is an intensely interesting one to all and the well established reputation of the Rev. gentleman, who was an eye witness of the battle; as a speaker, in connection with the laudable object in view, should, and not doubt will, attract a full house. The time of the lecture will be duly announced.
The 77th Regiment Pa. Vols.
(column 2)
Summary:
Reports that nearly every member of the 77th Reg't Penn. Volunteers re-enlisted for three years.
Excerpt:
"The gallant men of the 77th deserve a cordial welcome and high honors."
Full Text of Article
We understand from private sources, that the members of this gallant Regiment which covered itself with laurels on the hard-fought fields of the South west, have almost to a man, re-enlisted for three years, and are now on their way home on a furlough of thirty days. The gallant men of the 77th deserve a cordial welcome and high honors.
School House Burned Down
(column 2)
Summary:
The Mount Rock School House, in Southampton Township, was entirely consumed by fire last week. There is no information on the source of the fire.
Married
(column 3)
Summary:
William Harmony and Regina Baine, both of Chambersburg, were married on January 28.
Names in Announcement:
Rev. M. Wolf; William Harmony; Miss Regina Baine
Married
(column 3)
Summary:
Clarkson Starliper of Montgomery Township married Elizabeth Steffy of Peters Township on January 28 at the residence of the bride's father.
Names in Announcement:
Rev. I. G. Brown; Clarkson Starliper; Elizabeth Steffy
Married
(column 3)
Summary:
James B. Culbertson and Margaret Stewart (daughter of Davis Stewart), of Amberson's Valley, were married on January 21.
Names in Announcement:
Rev. William A. West; James B. Culbertson; Margaret Stewart; Davis Stewart
Married
(column 3)
Summary:
James G. Haymaker and Adele E. Skinner (daughter of William Skinner, Esq.) were married near Chambersburg on January 27. A "large and delicious cake" to which "all hands did ample justice" accompanied the wedding notice.
Names in Announcement:
Rev. S. J. Niccolls; James G. Haymaker; Adele E. Skinner; William Skinner, Esq.
Died
(column 4)
Summary:
George Franklin Schaefer, son of Jacob and Catharine Schaefer, died on January 26, aged 4 years.
Names in Announcement:
George Franklin Schaefer; Jacob Schaefer; Catharine Schaefer
Died
(column 4)
Summary:
Michael Cantner, son of Michael Cantner, died on January 19 in Greencastle, aged 4 months.
Names in Announcement:
Michael Cantner
Died
(column 4)
Summary:
Levi Hawbecker died on January 23 in Greencastle at age 48.
Names in Announcement:
Levi Hawbecker
Died
(column 4)
Summary:
Levi Bonebrake died on January 25 near Waynesboro of typhoid fever [age obscured by tear in paper].
Names in Announcement:
Levi Bonebrake
Died
(column 4)
Summary:
John Hennicle, son of Henry Hennicle, died on January 24 near Waynesboro [age obscured by tear in paper].
Names in Announcement:
John Hennicle; Henry Hennicle
Died
(column 4)
Summary:
Bartholomew Mullnix died on January 23 in Chambersburg, aged 63 years.
Names in Announcement:
Bartholomew Mullnix
Died
(column 4)
Summary:
James Kerr died on January 29 in Chambersburg, aged about 87 years.
Names in Announcement:
James Kerr
Page 6
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Classified advertisements
Page 7
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Anecdotes and classified advertisements
Page 8
Page Description:
Includes miscellaneous war news, a directory of advertisers, and four columns of classified advertisements.
