THE LADIES' RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

On June 12, 1863, the Ladies' Relief Association was formed, the officers being: Mrs. William Orr, president; Mrs. Samuel Duncan, vice-president; Miss Mary M. Swank, recording secretary; Miss Matilda Hindman, corresponding secretary, and Mrs. Charles B. Ellis, treasurer. The object of this association was contained in the first article, as follows: "Its object shall be to supply our soldiers in the field and the wounded in the hospitals with such comforts as they may need, paying particular attention, so far as it is practicable, to the wants of the Johnstown men."

The ward committees were: First Ward, Mrs. Evan Roberts and Mrs. D. J. Morrell; Second Ward, Mrs. J. S. Buchanan and Mrs. James McMillen; Third Ward, Mrs. William McPherson and Mrs. R. P. Linton; Fourth Ward, Mrs. William Masterton and Miss Margaret Hay; Fifth Ward, Mrs. John Beam and Mrs. William Slick; Conemaugh, Mrs. Robert H. Canan and Mrs. Hamilton; Millville, Mrs. Evan Lewis and Mrs. A. M. Gregg.

PENNSYLVANIA INVADED.

On June 15, 1863, Governor Curtin issued the proclamation that the state was threatened with invasion, and called upon "the people of Pennsylvania capable of bearing arms to enroll themselves in military organizations." As soon As soon as the information was received in Johnstown, business was forgotten and, as usual, a mass meeting was held on the Public Square. The result was the issuing of the following:

"Organization Proclamation No. 2. By the recommendation of the citizens, and for public defense, I, George S. King, Burgess of the Borough of Johnstown, do hereby recommend:

1st. Let all able-bodied young men who can do so go to the front under their present organizations, as ordered by the Governor.

"2d. Let all such as cannot go front, immediately organize into companies for home defense, and report officers, men and headquarters to the Burgess at his headquarters.

"3d. Let all the people bring to the headquarters of the Ordnance Department all arms and ammunition, of whatever description, or report the same for service.

"4th. Organize a Pioneer Corps, for the obstruction of the highways leading to the town. Say one hundred men. "5th. Organize a Cavalry force to act as Videttes, to scour

the country and report the advance of the enemy.

"Daniel J. Morrell to act as Chief of Ordnance, with Headquarters at the Company's office.

"Emanuel Shaffer, Chief of Pioneer Corps, with Headquarters at A. Kopelin's office.

"Captain William Linton, Chief of Cavalry, with Headquarters at A. Kopelin's office.

"Aids to the Commander. Col. A. Kopelin, Chief of Staff; Gen. James Potts, Maj. John Flanagan, Captain James Carroll, Captain Webster B. Lowman, Captain James Quinn, and Lieutenant Cyrus Elder. By order of

"GEORGE S. KING.

"Chief Burgess and Commander in Chief. "A. KOPELIN, Chief of Staff.

"June 17, 1863."

Under this organization the following companies were recruited: Co. A, 133d Regt., just returned, with Powell Stackhouse as captain. A company with Chaplain A. J. Hartsock in command; one under the command of Capt. William R. Jones, consisting of Welsh citizens; one of Irishmen, led by Capt. Hugh Bradley, and a company of Independent Rifles, under Capt. Alexander Hamilton. There were over 500 men enrolled. In addition to these there were two or three companies of Home Guards, one of artillery under Capt. William Metzler, and one of cavalry, whose captain was John D. Gontz.

During this time the people of Altoona had sent their men to other portions of the state, and the indications were that the enemy were coming to that town to destroy the railroad shops and the tunnel at Gallitzin. They had arms and ammunition, but no men; and Johnstown had the men, but not sufficient arms nor ammunition. The appeal from Altoona to Johnstown for help was quickly responded to by our companies embarking on the cars for that city, Thursday, June 18, 1863.

The citizens of Johnstown believed that the enemy were aiming to destroy the Pennsylvania railroad and the city of Pittsburg, which meant the invasion of their town. Capt. James Quinn and Lieut. James N. Rhea, of the Anderson Troop, were dispatched to Bedford to reconnoitre. They returned on Wednesday evening, reporting the enemy at Cumberland, but none in Bedford county. This condition renewed the excitement; the men were absent, and it was deemed best to have some forces at Johnstown to repel the advancing hosts. Two companies from Center county were ordered to Johnstown, and arrived about one o'clock in the morning of June 19, bringing

with them a carload of muskets and ammunition.

These sol

diers were quartered in the Methodist church until morning, and were furnished breakfast at the hotels. Col. Coppee, a special aid to Governor Curtin, came here and approved the arrangements made for the defense of Johnstown. About 5 o'clock in the evening both companies set out on a march for Somerset. They camped at Ben's creek for the night, and resumed their march on the following Sunday. The Pioneer Corps, under the charge of S. M. Cornell, started in wagons, equipped with rifles and axes, to block the highways. On Sunday morning, June 21, 1863, a twelve-pound Parrott, with caisson and ammunition, and otherwise equipped for immediate use, was at the Pennsylvania station. The big gun was loaded, placed in charge of one of the German companies, hauled to Bens creek in the afternoon, and planted on the top of the hill.

Several of the Independent Riflemen coming home from Altoona on Monday, announced that all the militia from Johnstown were returning by the way of Bedford, Schellsburg and Stoyestown; that the rebels were coming this way and that defense must be made. This increased the excitement. The Pioneer Corps arranged to make a speedy closing of several of the mountain passes. In the evening a long string of wagons were sent to Stoyestown to meet the returning militia. On that day another company was organized with Irvin Rutledge, captain; John Litz, first lieutenant, and J. D. M. Ambrust, second officer.

On Tuesday, the five companies sent to the front by the way of Altoona, returned, coming from Bedford. About 10 o'clock Co. A., Capt. Powell Stackhouse, arrived; then followed Capt. Jones' company of Welshmen, and about 4 o'clock came the companies of Capts. Hartsock, Bradley and Hamilton. They came by way of Franklin street to the Public Square, where a large assembly of people greeted them. The six days had been full of experience. After leaving Altoona, they had been conveyed to Duncansville in the cars, and from that point they had marched to Bedford, by way of the Sarah Furnace and Claysburg. The brigade was in charge of Lieut.-Col. McCartney, late of the 133d P. V.

On Wednesday the mounted scouts returned, and reported that the enemy had abandoned Cumberland, and that the supposed invasion was not to be. Gen. Milroy's force at Bloody Run was deemed sufficient to keep the outlook, and the men

returned to work, telling stories in the evening about their soldier life on Bloody Run.

Wesley J. Rose, wrote as follows to Col. Linton, on the situation at the time of the Bloody Run campaign:

Near Camp Ben's Creek, June 20, 1863. FRIEND JOHN: Yours of the 17th instant came to hand this morning and was the first reliable news we had from you for a week. Several letters have been received during the week, but none that had been written since the 9th. Reports had you at Grafton, Green Spring, New Creek and Winchester, as well as being entirely cut up and scattered. I send you a printed account of affairs to Thursday, when Colonel Coppee, of Governor Curtin's staff arrived and all military men were superseded.

The organization now is as follows: J. N. Rea, commander of the post to rank as major; Dad Lenhart, quartermaster; Mr. Cornell as chief of Pioneer Corps, vice Shaffer. On Thursday night two companies from Tyrone and Bellefont arrived and were quartered in the different hotels and the Methodist church. Friday morning, the arms having arrived, the men were armed and sent to camp at Ben's creek. The German company having completed their organization with Engelbach's baker as captain, also drew their arms this morning and moved to Ben's creek, the other companies having moved for Berlin. Another company is also full and will move for Shade Furnace by tomorrow and will be armed this evening. The cavalry company is completed and one squad started for Centerville, Somerset county, this afternoon; the balance to start at 4 o'clock tomorrow for Berlin. There are a great number of citizens out on the different routes as scouts, so you see we are feeling pretty safe, or rather have reason to feel very safe, but the excitement has been great.

A portion of Milroy's cavalry came straggling into town on Thursday and reported the rebels at Berlin, and moving to this place. The women became terribly alarmed on Thursday night. They came to the conclusion that the cavalry were all rebels and the town in their possession. One of Milroy's wagons came in about 11 o'clock that night and they were sure the matter was all up. They were for disarming the men and putting them in prison, but the next morning a dispatch came from Milroy for his men to report at Bedford. This was a great relief, and by this time the people are a little more composed.

Well, all has been done that could be done and as well as could be expected, and all are satisfied excepting a few. Your family are all well, as are also your father and mother-in-law's families. I would like to see Boggs, Morley, Grist and Kennedy marching in the hot sun such days as last Thursday and Friday. They are returning and were at Hollidaysburg the last account

we had. Tell Will I will write to him tomorrow, but for him to write at once, and you as soon as you can.

Yours truly,

WESLEY J. ROSE.

On June 26, 1863, Governor Curtin issued a call for 60,000 volunteers for a term of three months for immediate service. The quota for Cambria county was 588. Johnstown responded at once by sending Maj. Ryckman's company to Harrisburg. His lieutenants were J. Speer Orr and Isaac Cramer.

Upon the return of the militia at the close of the preceding week, the people had resumed their daily vocations with a latent feeling of rest and safety, but with the call for more troops, and the information that the confederates were at Carlisle on their way to Harrisburg, and were destroying the Pennsylvania railroad they were again brought to face the question of war at home. The Pennsylvania railroad closed its shops in Altoona, and transferred all the cars and engines to points west of the Allegheny mountains. On Sunday, June 28, rumors that the enemy were at York, Wrightsville and other points near Harrisburg, that the Union forces had been driven from Bloody Run to Bedford, and that Gen. Imboden with 6,000 mounted rangers was coming this way, came thick and fast.

On Monday all trains traveled westward; freight trains that had passed east a few days before went flying towards the setting sun. Notice was given by the railroad company that fast passenger trains would be discontinued. The Cambria works had stopped and no business was transacted. The following day a large meeting was held on the Square to make. efforts to meet the call of the governor. Burgess George S. King called it to order, and speeches were made by T. L. Heyer, Cyrus L. Pershing and the Revs. Agnew, Jackson and Ehrenfelt. The burgesses of Johnstown, Conemaugh, Millville and Cambria boroughs issued proclamations closing all saloons, and the merchants met in the council chamber and agreed to devote their time toward meeting the situation. Capt. Ryckman's company had taken its departure and others were being organized. There was to be one of cavalry, of which the officers were: Captain, James Quinn; Lieutenants, Rev. Cornelius H. Jackson and David G. McLaughlin; another by Capt. Webster B. Lowman and Robert W. Hunt, and another by Maj. John Flanagan, L. B. Cohick and John Howard, of Benscreek.

Recruiting began to lag and the question of bounty was