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diff --git a/32268.txt b/32268.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..059867d --- /dev/null +++ b/32268.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2804 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Burning of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, by +B. S. (Benjamin Shroder) Schneck + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Burning of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania + + +Author: B. S. (Benjamin Shroder) Schneck + + + +Release Date: May 6, 2010 [eBook #32268] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG, +PENNSYLVANIA*** + + +E-text prepared by the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading +Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by +Internet Archive/American Libraries +(http://www.archive.org/details/americana) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the map of Chambersburg. + See 32268-h.htm or 32268-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/32268/32268-h/32268-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/32268/32268-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive/American Libraries. See + http://www.archive.org/details/burningofchamberpp00schn + + + + + +THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG. + +by + +REV. B. S. SCHNECK, D. D. + + * * * * * + +NOTICE. + + +Since the appearance of the first edition of this work, kind friends and +strangers from abroad have been prompted to send contributions for the +sufferers of our town, sometimes specifying who shall be the recipients, +sometimes leaving it discretionary with myself, and sometimes designating +the particular denomination of Christians to whose most needy members the +gifts should be applied. In order to afford an opportunity to _all_, to +avail themselves of such methods as may be most acceptable, I will here +say, that contributions to the General Relief Committee may be sent to the +Treasurer, _G. R. Messersmith_, Esq., Cashier of the Bank of Chambersburg. + +Those wishing to make the pastors of the different churches (all of which +have suffered very greatly) to be the almoners of their bounty, can send +as follows: + + First Reformed Church, Rev. P. S. Davis. + + Second " " (German), Rev. B. S. Schneck. + + Presbyterian, Rev. S. J. Niccolls. + + Lutheran, German (without a pastor). Money can be sent to Rev. F. W. + Conrad. + + Methodist, Rev. Mr. Barnhart. + + United Brethren in Christ, Rev. J. Dickson. + + Roman Catholic, Rev. John Gerdeman. + + Bethel (Church of God), Mr. W. G. Mitchell. + + + + +THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG. + +BY REV. B. S. SCHNECK, D. D. + + Single copies sent by mail, free of postage, at the usual + retail price, 40 & 60 cts. + By the dozen, in cloth, $5 40 + (If sent by express, the receiver pays charges--if by mail, + 72 cents per dozen copies added to the above price,) or 6 12 + By the dozen, in paper, 3 60 + Postage per dozen copies, 40c., 4 00 + By the hundred, in cloth, 40 00 + " " " in paper covers, 26 67 + +_No books given on commission._ + +Agents wishing to canvass particular sections or counties, can apply to +the author at Chambersburg. + +_Agents wanted_ for a number of counties in the eastern and western +portion of Pennsylvania, and also for Ohio, Indiana, etc. + +A _German_ edition, in a condensed form, will shortly leave the press, +which will retail at 30 cents in paper, and 50 cents in cloth. + + By the dozen, in paper, $2 70 + Postage per dozen copies, 30 + By the dozen, in cloth, 4 50 + Postage, 60 + By the hundred, in paper, 20 00 + " " " in cloth, 33 33 + + +OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. + +The following are a few of the notices given by the public press to this +work in its first edition: + +"It is invaluable as the only account of the most fiendish act of the war +that is in a form to be preserved."--Colonel A. K. MCCLURE, in the +Chambersburg "_Franklin Repository_," Sept. 28, 1864. + +"To readers of every class we take great pleasure in commending this +truthful narrative as a valuable contribution to the history of the +war.... The incidents of the burning are detailed by Dr. Schneck with a +vividness which makes his account of that barbarous transaction as graphic +as it is authentic."--Editor of Washington "_National Intelligencer_," +Oct. 6. + +"The source from which it proceeds carries with it sufficient authority as +to the correctness of its statements. It will be read generally with +interest and will doubtless receive a large circulation."--"_German +Reformed Messenger_," Oct. 5. + +"This little book should be read by every Pennsylvanian. The scenes +therein so simply and yet so touchingly depicted, have no parallel for +horror in any war among civilized nations except our own."--Pittsburg +"_Evening Chronicle_," Oct. 14. + +"I rejoice that this little book has met so rapid a sale, though I +anticipated nothing less, as it is certainly one of the most thrilling +narratives I have ever read. I shall send for a number of copies to be +distributed here."--Rev. Dr. W. B. SPRAGUE, Albany, N. Y., in a letter to +the author, Nov. 1, 1864. + + * * * * * + + +[Illustration: MAP OF THE PORTION OF CHAMBERSBURG + +Burnt by order of General Early, July 30, 1864.] + + + + +THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA. + +by + +REV. B. SCHNECK., D. D., + +An Eye-Witness and a Sufferer. + +With Corroborative Statements from the +Rev. J. Clark, Hon. A. K. Mcclure, J. Hoke, Esq., Rev. T. G. Apple, +Rev. B. Bausman, Rev. S. J. Niccolls, and J. K. Shryock, Esq. + +In Letters to a Friend. + +Second Edition, Revised and Improved, +With a Plan of the Burnt Portion of the Town. + + + + + + + +Philadelphia: +Lindsay & Blakiston. +1864. + +Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1864, by +Lindsay & Blakiston, +in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States +for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. + +Stereotyped by J. Fagan & Son. + +Printed by Sherman & Co. + + + + +PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. + +The first edition of this work having been exhausted in a single month, my +worthy and enterprising publishers have encouraged the preparation of a +second without delay. + +It is hardly necessary to say, that the first edition was prepared under +exceedingly unfavorable circumstances. Mind and body were in a state of +exhaustion. For a month, and longer, the hours of each day were so much +taken up with new and exciting cares and duties, as to unfit one in great +measure for either mental or physical effort. Hence the unpretending +little book was ushered into existence with a felt sense of its +deficiencies. + +An honest effort at improvement has been made in the present edition. No +small portion of redundant matter has been left out, thus affording room +for various statements which were not at hand before. I may here direct +special attention to the masterly "Vindication of the Border" by Mr. +Apple, the spirited contribution from the facile pen of Mr. Bausman, and +the excellent article by Mr. Shryock. I have with forethought chosen to +introduce other witnesses, besides myself, to testify in regard to the +matter in hand, rather than to have the public rely upon my testimony +only. + +The list of names, with the amount of losses by those who owned houses, +were to have been omitted in this edition; but so numerous were the +protests from valued friends against such a course, that it has been +allowed to remain. The space occupied by these details has, however, been +reduced nearly one half, partly by employing smaller type, and partly by +condensing the matter. + +The engraving prefixed to the present edition, representing the burnt +portion of the town, will, it is hoped, be acceptable to the reader. A +steel plate engraving of the ruins of the town would have been given, if +any satisfactory representation in so small a compass could have been +furnished. But the judgment of the artist decided against its feasibility, +and in favor of that herewith presented.[1] + +B. S. S. + +CHAMBERSBURG, Oct. 31st, 1864. + + + + +THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG. + +LETTER I. + + +MY DEAR FRIEND: + +Your request to give you a succinct and, as far as may be, detailed +account of the terrible calamity with which our town was visited on the +30th day of July, is received. You are pleased to say, that not only my +long residence in the place, but the fact that I had, as on former +occasions, so also during the present one, remained at home, gives me a +right to speak on the subject, without fear of cavil or sneer from those +who are ready, either from ignorance or something worse, to misrepresent +the facts in the case, or apply the ill-timed weapons of ridicule and +sarcasm against statements which have appeared in print.[2] Passing by +your other remarks, which I may be permitted to set down as emanating from +personal partiality, I shall proceed to give you, as perfectly as I can, +and as briefly as the subject will allow, a somewhat detailed account of +the terrible disaster, with an honest endeavor to avoid all special +pleading and overdrawn statements, dealing only in simple matters of fact, +as far as I have been able to gather them, either from personal knowledge +or unquestionable authority. + + +The Military Situation on the Border. + +Before proceeding directly to the narration of the terrible catastrophe, +it may be well to glance at the military situation on our border. This +seems the more necessary from the fact, that a very large portion of the +public prints have been misled into the belief, and consequently have +unwittingly led their readers to believe that, "if the citizens of +Chambersburg had turned out to resist the enemy, the burning and pillage +of the town could have been averted," inasmuch as the rebel force, +according to some statements, was very trifling, "scarcely numbering two +hundred men." You, my dear friend, are laboring under this erroneous +belief yourself. Allow me, therefore, to turn your attention to the +following facts, which are well established, and which can be corroborated +by any amount of evidence. + +General Couch, the commander of this military division, had under his +control a company of about one hundred men at Mercersburg, sixteen miles +southwest from here, and a section of a battery of artillery in this +place. This was the entire military force in the Cumberland Valley, under +the control of our military commander, at the time. Several Pennsylvania +regiments which had previously been organized for the defence of the +border, through the efforts of our vigilant Governor, had been summoned +by the General Government to Washington and the Potomac Army. One hundred +men and two small cannon--that was all. + +But you ask: "Was not General Averill near enough to have prevented the +rebels from executing their nefarious design upon your town? and, if so, +why did not General Couch inform him of the situation of affairs, and urge +him forward?" The answer is at hand. General Couch _did_ attempt to inform +General Averill in time of the fact that the enemy, with a force about +three thousand strong, had crossed the Potomac west of Williamsport, and +was moving by way of Mercersburg and St. Thomas directly on Chambersburg. +Averill was encamped one mile from Greencastle (ten from Chambersburg) on +Friday night, July 29. The first two messengers with despatches from +General Couch, could not find him. The third messenger succeeded +accidentally in finding him after midnight in a field. Averill only now +discovered that he had been flanked by the enemy, and expressed himself +greatly surprised and chagrined to the messenger at this state of things. +Whether he was to blame, it is not for me to say. It is sufficient for my +purpose just now to know that, beyond two small cannon and one hundred +men, we were _without any military protection_. And could the few hundred +citizens of the place, most of them without firearms, be expected to make +a resistance against such a force, and with six cannon planted on the +hills overlooking the town? To ask the question is to answer it. + +In reading over the two preceding paragraphs it occurred to me that the +impression might have been made on your mind, that I wished to find fault +with the General Government for removing from us all military protection +on our border. I have no wish to do so in this letter. I am no military +man, and hence am not so positive in my opinions as many other men, who +are doubtless far more capable of forming a judgment in such matters. I +merely mention the simple facts as they are patent to all who had the best +opportunities of knowing the true state of things. So, too, in regard to +both the Generals named. There is, since the burning of our town, a very +strong feeling of disapprobation in our community and elsewhere against +both, especially against General Couch. I cannot as yet share this +feeling. I know how apt we are, especially when smarting under severe +personal losses or grievances, to look around for some object upon which, +or some person on whom, to lay the blame. For my part, I would rather err +on the side of charity than on the side of unjust fault-finding and +denunciation. I prefer, until better advised, to endorse the views of my +friend Colonel A. K. McClure, himself one of the sufferers, and well +posted in such matters. He says: + +"General Averill possibly might have saved Chambersburg, and I know that +General Couch exhausted himself to get Averill to fall back from +Greencastle to this point. I do not say that General Averill is to blame, +for he was under orders from General Hunter, and not subject to General +Couch. He had a large force of the enemy in his front, and until it is +clearly proved to the contrary, I must believe that he did his whole +duty." + +These two sentences are guardedly worded. "General Averill _possibly_ +might have saved Chambersburg." The enemy, under McCausland, Bradley +Johnson, and Gilmore, let it be recollected, had at least three thousand +cavalry, with artillery at command, eight hundred of the latter being in +town, the rest within supporting distance. Johnson's command occupied the +high eminence one mile west of the town with a battery. No better position +could have been desired. They were flushed at the prospect of plunder and +pillage; their horses were fresh and sleek; their men resolute and +defiant. On the other hand, Averill and his men had been worn out and +jaded by long and heavy marches in Western Virginia for a number of +consecutive weeks. Their horses were run down, and many of them ready to +die, so that two hundred and fifty of these last could not be taken any +farther, but were left here to recruit. It is therefore only _possible_, +scarcely probable, that, even if Averill's force of less than two thousand +five hundred men had been here, a successful resistance could have been +made under these circumstances. But Averill and his men were not here +until several hours after the work of destruction was accomplished, and +the enemy, gloating over his vengeful deeds, was miles away on the Western +Turnpike, towards McConnellsburg. + +Judge then, dear sir, how keenly we must feel the unjust reproaches heaped +upon us by professed friends, after our houses are in ruins, our goods +despoiled, and our hearts saddened at every step we take in beholding +continuous squares of desolation in our once beautiful town. And +reproaches _for what_? Because a picket guard of one hundred soldiers and +a small number of citizens did not successfully resist more than three +thousand[3] veteran cavalrymen, with cannon eligibly planted to lay waste +the town without even coming into it. That commanding position once +gained by the enemy, and the town was at his mercy, no matter what force +of cavalry or infantry might have been in Chambersburg. + +Reproaches--and from _whom_ and _whence_? From certain newspaper editors +of New York; that same New York, which, with its population of half a +million, could not quell its rabble mob last year, without having a part +of the Potomac Army brought thither to guard some of the very newspaper +offices from which those reproaches upon a helpless town in a neighboring +State are now so unjustly heaped; those identical newspapers which have +ever and anon sent forth paragraphs of bitter invective against +Pennsylvania in general, and Chambersburg in particular, for the "ill +treatment of the New York militia" at the hands of our citizens.[4] New +York is a great State, and counts its noble and good men by hundreds of +thousands; but like every large State with large towns and cities, she +also counts her thousands of depraved creatures in human shape. And I +speak from personal knowledge, for they were quartered for weeks near my +late residence, when I say that of all the soldiers who were in this +community since the commencement of this war, none have left behind them +such a bad moral odor as have many of these men. Drunkenness, wanton +destruction of property, thieving, fighting and stabbing each other, (in +some cases to death outright,) were frequent occurrences. And yet such men +are not only allowed to vilify and abuse the people whom their misconduct +has outraged, but certain New York sheets take up their cause and pour +forth wormwood and gall upon the town, the community, and the State. Let a +virtuous public pronounce its verdict. + +Let me illustrate what kind of "defenders" these two regiments of New York +militia were. On their arrival in the town, and whilst marching through it +on their way to camp, about one mile south from here, some of the men +received the hearty cheers of our citizens with sneering remarks about the +necessity of coming "all the way from New York to protect Pennsylvania!" +Just as if the protection of the border was not at the same time a +protection of other States--perhaps, in certain contingencies, even of New +York. But mark the sequel. They went to camp the same day of their +arrival, with liberal supplies of everything. The border was known to be +imperiled a second time, and a large portion of our citizens were armed +and marched out with these regiments. During the night our scouts brought +information to camp that the rebels were moving from the Potomac this way. +And now a scene of confusion ensued which beggars description. In the +greatest conceivable consternation, these "defenders" made for +Chambersburg in "double-quick," and took seats in the cars, "homeward +bound." Two interesting little circumstances, in connection with this +_allegro_ movement, must be added, of which hundreds of our citizens were +eye-witnesses. The first is, that these "defenders," in their hasty +retreat, did not forget to provide for themselves as _safe_ a retreat as +possible. To this end they ordered our citizen soldiers to keep in the +rear--in military phrase, "to cover their retreat" until the militia-men +had reached the cars in safety! The other little circumstance is, that in +their hasty retreat, they left the whole of their camp equipage behind. At +daylight the following morning you might have seen a score of wagons from +the town returning with loads of tents, boxes, trunks, packages, and all +sorts of military fixtures, and conveying them to the cars, in which they +were sent as far as Shippensburg, by military orders. As the militia +thought proper to hasten on farther to the north instead of protecting +their own property, the wary rebels took unmolested possession of the +whole of it on the same day! + +I think you will agree with me in the remark that these men had not much +capital to boast of in the way of bravery, although Pennsylvanians should +not perhaps complain, when these "defenders" did no worse for _us_ than +they did for _themselves_, namely, beat a hasty retreat, and leave all +their valuables to the enemy, even before they had a sight of him. + +I would not have troubled you with this unpleasant chapter, if it were not +necessary, in order to understand the animus of the splenetic course of +the papers referred to. These editors, under the pretext of "defending the +citizens of New York," have most unaccountably, unjustly, and without the +shadow of provocation, except it be the desolation and ruin of hundreds of +homes and hearths, assailed and sneered at a deeply afflicted community, +which has poured out of its former means to the soldiers of our armies at +home and abroad without stint and with cheerful alacrity, and by night +and by day watched and ministered at the sick and dying beds of our +soldiers without distinction of nation or State. + +Yours, &c. + + + + +LETTER II. + + +MY DEAR FRIEND: + +You are aware that the late incursion of the enemy was not the first visit +we had from our Southern "friends." In the fall of 1862 we had Stuart's +cavalry raid, and in 1863 the invasion by Lee's army. Since the first of +July of the present year, up to the time of McCausland's advent, the +entire community, especially the farmers, were kept in constant +uneasiness. Twice before had they been robbed of horses, wagons, and +grain. The wheat harvest had just commenced, and now the enemy was again +on the border. During the first three weeks of July, the farmers felt it +necessary to remove their most valuable personal property. Merchants +packed up and sent away, at least a portion of their goods, eastward. But +in each case the rebels did _not_ come, and some degree of apathy in the +community was the result. But this did not last long. On the morning of +July 29th, unmistakable evidence of the crossing of squads of rebel +cavalry over the Potomac, reached us. The citizens of Chambersburg, with +very few exceptions, remained. Indeed, early in the evening we were +assured that a considerable force of our troops were on their way from +Harrisburg, which, however, like many previous assurances, telegrams, and +rumors, was not realized. Our scouts soon reported the near approach of +the rebels, and by three o'clock on the morning of Saturday, the 30th, the +citizens who had gone out with their arms and a section of the battery, +having satisfied themselves of the overpowering strength of the enemy, +fell back to town. Three shells were now thrown over the town by the +rebels from the hills beyond, and as these did not elicit any reply, eight +hundred and thirty-one of their number came to town, their skirmishers +simultaneously investing every street and alley, gradually moving forward, +and then halting until the signal or forward command was again given. We +were once more in subjection to rebel rule. The centre of the town was +filled with them. They called together several of the citizens who were on +the street, requesting them to collect some of the prominent inhabitants, +with a view to entering into negotiations. To this end the Court-House +bell was rung. The summons to the citizens was very partially obeyed. It +was felt that nothing could be done by negotiation, and that they must +submit to pillage--the most they anticipated. The few who did come +together were approached by Captain Fitzhugh, one of McCausland's staff, +who produced and read a written order, signed by General Jubal Early, +directing the command to proceed to Chambersburg, demand a tribute of +$100,000 in gold, or $500,000 in Northern currency, and, on the failure to +secure this sum, to proceed to burn the town, in retaliation for the +burning of six or eight houses specified as having been burned in certain +counties in Virginia by General Hunter. The citizens stated that it was +utterly impossible to pay the sum named either in gold or currency, and +that the demand could not be made in good faith. They further remonstrated +against the monstrosity of burning a whole town of six thousand +inhabitants, in retaliation for the six or eight houses named. So utterly +incredulous were they as to the threat being actually carried out, that +they expressed their incredulity without reserve. Captain Fitzhugh replied +with a clinching oath, that these orders would be carried out very +quickly. He immediately issued his orders to his men, a barrel of kerosene +and matches were secured, and in less than twenty minutes the town was +fired in a dozen places, and they continued the incendiary work for about +one hour. I may here say, that most of the store-goods had been removed, +and a few prominent citizens had left, but that no families, women, or +children had departed. The burning was executed in a most ruthless and +unrelenting manner.[5] + +"A squad of men would approach a house, break open the door, and kindle a +fire, with no other notice to the inmates, except to get out of it as soon +as they could. In many cases, five, ten, fifteen minutes were asked to +secure some clothing, which _were refused_. Many families escaped with +only the clothing they had on, and such as they could gather up in their +haste. In many cases they were _not allowed to take these_, but were +threatened with instant death if they did not cast them away and flee. +Sick and aged people had to be carried to the fields. The corpse of at +least one person who had recently died, was hastily interred in the +garden, and children, separated from their parents, ran wildly screaming +through the streets. Those whose stupor or eagerness to save something, +detained them, emerged with difficulty from the streets filled with the +sheeted flames of their burning homes. I should say here, that no +provocation had been given; not a shot was fired on them in entering the +town, and not until the full crisis was reached, did desperation, in a few +instances, lead to desperate acts. + +"As to the result, I may say that the entire heart or body of the town is +burned. Not a house or building of any kind is left on a space of about an +average of two squares of streets, extending each way from the centre, +with some four or five exceptions, where the buildings were isolated. Only +the outskirts are left. The Court-house, Bank, Town Hall, German Reformed +Printing Establishment, every store and hotel in the town, and every mill +and factory in the space indicated, and two churches, were burnt. Between +three and four hundred dwellings were burned, leaving at least twenty-five +hundred persons without a home or a hearth. In value, three-fourths of the +town was destroyed. The scene of desolation must be seen to be +appreciated. Crumbling walls, stacks of chimneys, and smoking embers, are +all that remain of once elegant and happy homes. + +"As to the scene itself, it beggars description. My own residence being in +the outskirts, and feeling it the call of duty to be with my family, I +could only look on from without. The day was sultry and calm, not a breath +stirring, and each column of smoke rose black, straight, and single; first +one, and then another, and another, and another, until the columns blended +and commingled; and then one vast and lurid column of smoke and flame +rose perpendicularly to the sky, and spread out into a vast crown, like a +cloud of sackcloth hanging over the doomed city; whilst the roar and the +surging, the crackling and crash of falling timbers and walls, broke upon +the still air with a fearful dissonance, and the screams and sounds of +agony of burning animals, hogs, and cows, and horses, made the welkin +horrid with sounds of woe. It was a scene to be witnessed and heard once +in a lifetime." + +To you and other friends, more or less familiar with Chambersburg, it will +be interesting to specify a little more particularly the localities which +have been laid waste. Beginning on East Market street, the one leading +from Gettysburg to Pittsburg, directly through the centre of the town from +east to west, the burning commenced simultaneously with the Court-house +and Mansion-house (Printing Establishment of the German Reformed Church). +Facing the west from the Franklin railroad, the first building to the +right is the residence of the Misses Denny, in a somewhat isolated +position. This stands in its freshness and beauty, solitary and alone. +Passing down two squares to the centre of the town, not one building and +only two or three stables or barns remain on either side of this street of +private residences, my own with all of my library and manuscripts, among +the number. Passing further on westward for more than three squares in +length, to the top of "New England Hill," five or six more or less +isolated houses remain. The large Franklin Hotel, the Arcade Buildings, +John B. Cook's houses and tannery, Riley's Hotel, the late Matthew +Gillan's large dwelling, J. M. Wolfkill's store and dwelling, G. W. +Brewer's and Mrs. Joseph Chambers's beautiful residences, are among the +many valuable properties on this street, in ruins. + +Then from North Main street (the street from Carlisle to Greencastle), +beginning with Mr. Benjamin Chambers's new residence, at the Falling +Spring, and Mr. W. G. Reed's, on the corner, and from here on every house +on both sides up the square, on to the centre, across it to Queen street, +and up to Washington street, with the exception of Rev. Dr. Fisher's, Mr. +Reineman's, Lehner's, and Feltman's dwellings, every house, shop, stable, +&c., is gone. This street, as you know, contained more than three-fourths +of all our stores, ware-rooms, and shops of business. Then comes Queen +street, at the intersection of Second street, beginning at Brandt's (now +Brown's) hotel, which was only partially destroyed, sweeping every +building (except Mrs. Brandt's dwelling), on both sides down to the creek, +over two squares, including Dr. Culbertson's, N. Snider's, Barnard +Wolff's, Mr. Wallace's, and other valuable dwellings and stores. Between +eleven and twelve squares of the best part of the town are, therefore, in +ruins, among them houses of many, inhabitants, whom you knew in former +years as among your dearest friends, and in comfortable or affluent +circumstances, many of them now reduced to penury and want. + +After I had written the preceding pages, I found a minute and well-written +statement of the subject now in hand in the "Franklin Repository," of this +place, of August 24. I take pleasure in giving the following extracts from +the same, instead of my own, as the matter was evidently prepared with +judgment and care, under the supervision of its editor, Colonel McClure. +He says: + +"It seems inexplicable to persons and journals at a distance that General +Couch, a Major-General commanding a department, with his border repeatedly +invaded, should have no troops. The natural inclination is to blame the +commander, for it is reasonable to suppose that he would endeavor to have +an adequate command, and also that ample authority would be given him to +have sufficient force. Just where the blame belongs, we do not choose now +to discuss; but we do know that it was no fault of General Couch that he +was unable to defend Chambersburg. He organized a Provost Guard regiment, +some twelve hundred strong, expressly for duty in his department; the men +were enlisted under a positive assurance, based on the order authorizing +the organization, that they were to be kept on duty in the department. +They were ordered to General Grant after the battles of the Wilderness. He +organized six regiments of one hundred days' men before the advent of +McCausland, and they were ordered to Washington as soon as they were ready +to move. We are assured that Governor Curtin, fully two weeks before the +burning of Chambersburg, formally pledged the State to make provision for +arming, organizing, and paying the entire militia force of the border for +home defence, if the General Government would simply give the uniforms; +and we believe that General Couch pressed it upon the Washington +authorities to uniform the entire force of the southern counties, assuring +them that the people were willing to defend themselves if encouraged by +granting them uniforms, so as to save them from inhuman butchery, but it +was denied. We do not speak advisedly as to General Couch's correspondence +with the Washington authorities; we give no statements at his instance, or +based upon information received from him or his officers; but we do write +whereof we know, when we say that every effort was made to carry these +measures into effect, and that they were not sanctioned at Washington. +While we do not assume to fix the responsibility of this terrible +disaster, we do mean that it shall not fall upon a commander who was shorn +of his strength and left helpless with his people. + + +The Rebels Enter Chambersburg + +"The rebels having been interrupted in their entrance into the town until +daylight, they employed their time in planting two batteries in commanding +positions, and getting up their whole column, fully three thousand strong. +About 4 o'clock on Saturday morning they opened with their batteries and +fired some half a dozen shots into the town, but they did no damage. +Immediately thereafter their skirmishers entered by almost every street +and alley running out west and southwest; and finding their way clear, +their cavalry, to the number of eight hundred and thirty-one, came in +under the immediate command of General McCausland. General Bradley Johnson +was with him, and also the notorious Major Harry Gilmore. + + +Plundering Promptly Commenced. + +"While McCausland and Gilmore were reconnoitring around to get a deal with +the citizens for tribute, his soldiers exhibited the proficiency of their +training by immediate and almost indiscriminate robbery. Hats, caps, +boots, watches, silverware, and everything of value, were appropriated +from individuals on the streets without ceremony; and when a man was met +whose appearance indicated a plethoric purse, a pistol would be presented +to his head with the order to "deliver," with a dexterity that would have +done credit to the freebooting accomplishments of an Italian brigand. + + +Tribute Demanded. + +"General McCausland rode up to a number of citizens and gave notice that +unless five hundred thousand dollars in greenbacks, or one hundred +thousand dollars in gold were paid in half an hour, the town would be +burned; but no one responded to his call. He was promptly answered that +Chambersburg could not and would not pay any ransom. He had the Court +House bell rung to convene the citizens, hoping to frighten them into the +payment of a large sum of money, but no one attended. Infuriated at the +determination of our people, Major Gilmore rode up to a group of citizens, +consisting of Thomas B. Kennedy, William McLellan, J. McDowell Sharpe, Dr. +J. C. Richards, William H. McDowell, W. S. Everett, Edward G. Etter, and +M. A. Foltz, and ordered them under arrest. He said that they would be +held for the payment of the money, and if not paid he would take them to +Richmond as hostages, and also burn every house in town. While he was +endeavoring to force them into an effort to raise him money, his men +commenced the work of firing, and they were discharged when it was found +that intimidation would effect nothing. + + +Burning of Chambersburg. + +"The main part of the town was enveloped in flames in ten minutes. No time +was given to remove women or children, the sick, or even the dead. No +notice of the kind was communicated to any one; but the work of +destruction was at once commenced. They divided into squads and fired +every other house, and often every house, if there was any prospect of +plunder. They would beat in the door with iron bars or heavy plank, smash +up furniture with an axe, throw fluid or oil upon it, and ply the match. +They almost invariably entered every room of each house, rifled the +drawers of every bureau, appropriated money, jewelry, watches and any +other valuables, and often would present pistols to the heads of inmates, +men and women, and demand money or their lives. In nearly half the +instances they demanded owners to ransom their property, and in a few +cases it was done and the property burned. Although we have heard of a +number of persons, mostly widows, who paid them sums from twenty-five to +two hundred dollars, we know of but few cases where the property was saved +thereby. Few houses escaped rifling--nearly all were plundered of +everything that could be carried away. In most cases houses were entered +in the rudest manner, and no time whatever was allowed for the families to +escape, much less to save anything. Many families had the utmost +difficulty to get themselves and children out in time, and not one-half +had so much as a change of clothing with them. They would rush from story +to story to rob, and always fire the building at once in order to keep the +family from detecting their robberies. Feeble and helpless women and +children were treated like brutes--told insolently to get out or burn; and +even the sick were not spared. Several invalids had to be carried out as +the red flames licked their couches. Thus the work of desolation continued +for two hours; more than half of the town on fire at once, and the wild +glare of the flames, the shrieks of women and children, and often louder +than all, the terrible blasphemy of the rebels, conspired to present such +a scene of horror as has never been witnessed by the present generation. +No one was spared save by accident. The widow and the fatherless cried and +plead in vain that they would be homeless and helpless. A rude oath would +close all hope of mercy, and they would fly to save their lives. The old +and infirm who tottered before them were thrust aside, and the torch +applied in their presence to hasten their departure. In a few hours, the +major portion of Chambersburg, its chief wealth and business, its capital +and elegance, were devoured by a barbarous foe; three millions of property +sacrificed; three thousand human beings homeless and many penniless; and +all without so much as a pretence that the citizens of the doomed town, or +any of them, had violated any accepted rule of civilized warfare. Such is +the deliberate, voluntary record made by General Early, a corps commander +in the insurgent army. + + +Incidents of the Burning. + +We find it impossible to make room for all the many touching incidents +which occurred in the burning of the town. The house of Mr. James Watson, +an old and feeble man of over eighty, was entered, and because his wife +earnestly remonstrated against the burning, they fired the room, hurled +her into it and locked the door on the outside. Her daughters rescued her +by bursting in the door before her clothing took fire. Mr. Jacob Wolfkill, +a very old citizen, and prostrated by sickness so that he was utterly +unable to be out of bed, plead in vain to be spared a horrible death in +the flames of his own house; but they fired the building. Through the +superhuman efforts of some friends he was carried away safely. Mrs. +Lindsay, a very feeble lady of nearly eighty, fainted when they fired her +house, and was left to be devoured in the flames: but fortunately a +relative reached the house in time, and lifting her in a buggy, pulled her +away while the flames were kissing each other over their heads on the +street. Mrs. Kuss, wife of the jeweller on Main Street, lay dead; and +although they were shown the dead body, they plied the torch and burned +the house. Mrs. J. K. Shryock had Mrs. Kuss's sick babe in her arms, and +plead for the sake of the dead mother and sick child to spare that house, +but it was unavailing. The body of Mrs. Kuss was hurriedly buried in the +garden, and the work of destruction went on. When the flames drove Mrs. +Shryock away with the child, she went to one of the men and presenting the +babe, said, "_Is this revenge sweet?_" A tender chord was touched, and +without speaking he burst into tears. He afterwards followed Mrs. Shryock, +and asked whether he could do anything for her; but it was too late. The +houses of Messrs. McLellan, Sharpe and Nixon, being located east of the +Franklin Railroad, and out of the business part of the town, were not +reached until the rest of the town was in flames, and the roads were +streaming with homeless women and children. Mr. McLellan's residence was +the first one entered, and he was notified that the house must be burned. +Mrs. McLellan immediately stepped to the door, and laying one hand on the +rebel officer, and pointing with the other to the frantic fugitive women +and children passing by, said to him: "_Sir, is not your vengeance +glutted? We have a home and can get another; but can you spare no homes +for those poor, helpless people and their children? When you and I and all +of us shall meet before the Great Judge, can you justify this act?_" He +made no reply, but ordered his command away, and that part of the town +was saved. Mr. Holmes Crawford, an aged and most worthy citizen, was taken +into an alley while his house was burning, and his pockets rifled. He was +thus detained until it was impossible for him to get out by the street, +and he had to take his feeble wife and sit in the rear of his lot until +the buildings around him were burnt down. Father McCullom, Catholic priest +of this place, was robbed of his watch. Colonel Stumbaugh was arrested +near his home early in the morning, and, with a pistol presented to his +head, ordered to procure some whiskey. He refused, for the very good +reason that he had none and could get none. He was released, but +afterwards re-arrested by another squad, the officer naming him, and was +insulted in every possible way. He informed the officer that he had been +in the service, and that if General Battles was present, they would not +dare to insult him. When asked why, he answered, "I captured him at +Shiloh, and treated him like a soldier." A rebel Major present, who had +been under Battles, upon inquiry, was satisfied that Colonel Stumbaugh's +statement was correct, ordered his prompt release, and withdrew the entire +rebel force from that part of Second Street, and no buildings were burned. +Mr. John Treher, of Loudon, was robbed by the rebels of $200 in gold and +silver, and $100 in currency. Mr. D. R. Knight, an artist, started out to +the residence of Mr. McClure when he saw Norland on fire, and on his way +he was robbed of all his money by a squad of rebels. He reached the house +in time to aid in getting the women away. Rebel officers had begged of +him, before he started, to get the women out of town as fast as possible, +as many rebel soldiers were intoxicated and they feared the worst +consequences. + +Colonel McClure's beautiful residence, one mile from the centre of the +town, was evidently marked out for destruction, for no other house between +it and the burnt portion of the town was fired. The Colonel was known as a +prominent man in National and State affairs, and, after the raid of +General Jenkins and the succeeding invasion by General Lee's army, he had +spoken of Jenkins and his men in no complimentary terms in the paper of +which Colonel McClure is chief editor. And although no house in the +community was more coveted by rebel officers to be quartered in than his, +and for the reason, doubtless, that every comfort and luxury could be had +in it, and although Mrs. McClure had, with her well known generosity and +kindness of heart, ministered to the necessities and comforts of the sick +and wounded insurgents, which were left during General Lee's invasion, for +which she has since received the most touching acknowledgments from some +of them--yet, his property was doomed, irrevocably doomed to be burnt. +Captain Smith, son of Governor Smith of Virginia, with a squad of men, +passing by all the intervening houses, entered the devoted mansion with +the information to Mrs. McClure, then and for some time before an invalid, +that the house must be burned by way of retaliation. Ten minutes were +given her in which to leave the house, and in less than ten minutes the +flames were doing their work of destruction, and Mrs. McClure and the +other members of the family at home, started on foot, in the heat of one +of the hottest days I have ever known, in order to escape the vengeance of +the chivalry. Whilst the flames were progressing in the house as well as +the large and well-filled barn, the Captain helped himself to Mrs. +McClure's gold watch, silver pitcher and other valuables. The gold watch +and other articles were easily concealed, but the silver pitcher was +rather unwieldy, and could not be secreted from profane eyes as he rode +back through town from the scene of his triumph. He resolved, therefore, +to give a public display of his generosity. He stopped at the house of the +Rev. James Kennedy, and handed the pitcher to his wife, with the request, +"Please deliver this to Mrs. Colonel McClure, with the compliments of +Captain Smith." + + +Humane Rebel Officers. + +Fiendish and relentless as were McCausland and most of his command, there +were notable exceptions, who bravely maintained the humanities of war in +the midst of the infuriated freebooters who were plying the torch and +securing plunder. Surgeon Abraham Budd was conversing with several +citizens when the demand for tribute was made, and he assured all present +that the rebel commander would not burn Chambersburg. In the midst of his +assurances, the flames burst forth almost simultaneously in every part of +the town. When he saw the fire break out, he wept like a child, and +publicly denounced the atrocities of his commander. He took no part in it +whatever, save to aid some unfortunate ones in escaping from the flames. +Captain Baxter, formerly of Baltimore, peremptorily refused to participate +in the burning, but aided many people to get some clothing and other +articles out of the houses. He asked a citizen, as a special favor, to +write to his friends in Baltimore and acquit him of the hellish work. +Surgeon Richardson, another Baltimorean, gave his horse to a lady to get +some articles out of the burning town, and publicly deplored the sad work +of McCausland. When asked who his commanding officer was, he answered, +"Madam, I am ashamed to say that General McCausland is my commander!" +Captain Watts manfully saved all of Second street south of Queen, and with +his command aided to arrest the flames. He said that he would lose his +commission rather than burn out defenceless people; and other officers and +a number of privates displayed every possible evidence of their humanity. +After the rebels had left, the following note was received by Rev. S. J. +Niccolls, Presbyterian pastor, written on an envelope with a pencil: + + REV. MR. NICCOLLS: + + Please write my father and give him my love. Tell him, too, as Mrs. + Shoemaker will tell you, that I was most strenuously opposed to the + burning of the town. + + B. B. BLAIR, + Chaplain, and son of Thomas P. Blair, Shippensburg, Pa. + +That there was a most formidable opposition to burning the town in +McCausland's command was manifested in various ways. In the morning before +daylight, when McCausland was at Greenawalt's, on the turnpike west of +Chambersburg, a most boisterous council was held there, at which there +were earnest protests made to McCausland against burning anything but +public property. McCausland was greatly incensed at some of his officers, +and threatened them with most summary vengeance if they refused to obey +orders.[6] Many, however, did openly disobey, and went even so far as to +give the utmost publicity to their disobedience. + + +The Order to Burn Chambersburg. + +Captain Fitzhugh exhibited to J. W. Douglas, Esq., an attorney of this +place, a written order, with the name of Jubal A. Early to it, directing +that Chambersburg should be burned, in retaliation for the burning of six +houses in Virginia by Hunter. The burning of Chambersburg was therefore by +an order from one of the corps commanders of General Lee's army, instead +of the work of a guerrilla chief, thus placing the responsibility squarely +upon the shoulders of General Lee. We have in support of this the +statement of Rev. Mr. Edwards, Episcopal clergyman of Hagerstown, who was +taken as a hostage after Chambersburg had been destroyed. He was brought +to General Early's headquarters at Williamsport, and there paroled to +effect his exchange. General Early there informed him that he had directed +Chambersburg to be burned, in retaliation for the destruction of property +in Virginia by Grant, Meade, and Hunter, and that the account was now +squared. + + +Retribution. + +Several of the thieves who participated in burning Chambersburg were sent +suddenly to their last account. An officer, whose papers identify him as +Major Bowen, 8th Virginia cavalry, was conspicuous for his brutality and +robberies. He got too far south of the firing parties to be covered by +them, and in his desire to glut his thievish propensities, he was +isolated. He was captured by several citizens, in the midst of his brutal +work, and was dispatched promptly. When he was fired at and slightly +wounded, he took refuge in the burning cellar of one of the houses, and +there, with the intense heat blistering him, he begged them to spare his +life; but it was in vain. Half the town was still burning, and it was +taxing humanity rather too much to save a man who had added the boldest +robbery to atrocious arson. He was shot dead, and now sleeps near the +Falling Spring, nearly opposite the depot. + +Mr. Thomas H. Doyle, of Loudon, who had served in Easton's battery, +followed the retreating rebels towards Loudon, to capture stragglers. When +beyond St. Thomas he caught Captain Cochran, quartermaster of 11th +Virginia cavalry, and as he recognized him as one who had participated in +the destruction of Chambersburg, he gave him just fifteen minutes to live. +Cochran was armed with sword and pistols, but he was taken so suddenly by +Mr. Doyle that he had no chance to use them. He begged piteously for his +life, but Mr. Doyle was inexorable; the foe who burns and robs must die, +and he so informed him peremptorily. At the very second he shot the thief +dead, and found on his person $815 of greenbacks, all stolen from our +citizens, and $1750 of rebel currency. His sword, belt, and pistols were +brought to this place by Mr. Doyle. + + + + +LETTER III. + + +MY DEAR FRIEND: + +Allow me in this letter to send you part of an article which appeared in +the German Reformed Messenger of September 7, in vindication of the +border. It is from the pen of the Rev. T. G. Apple, of Greencastle, in +this county. Mr. Apple is a corresponding editor of that paper, and one of +the most cool, honest, and sagacious writers within the range of my +acquaintance. The article referred to is as follows: + + +A Vindication of the Border. + +"We have lived in the most exposed portion of the Pennsylvania border ever +since the commencement of the war, and therefore feel that we have some +right to speak in its vindication. It is very easy and somewhat natural +for persons living away from the scene of danger to say what they would do +under certain circumstances, if their homes were invaded. But for those +who are willing to give the subject a little calm thought, the following +considerations ought to be sufficient to show the error into which many +seem to have fallen: + +"1. The border counties are required, whenever a call is made, to make up +their quotas for the national army. Their men are sent away to fight for +the maintenance of the Government. Can it be expected, then, that these +counties, after filling their quotas and paying their taxes, will be able +still to turn out and maintain in the field an additional force, +sufficient to protect them from invasion? Is not the Government pledged, +after it has taken their men and their money, to afford them protection, +so far as it has ability? And have not these border counties a right to +expect such protection? Is not the State under obligation to use all its +power to afford protection to the remotest portion of its territory, so +long as it demands the support of all its citizens? + +"2. It has generally been conceded in the North, during this war, that +what is called _bushwhacking_ is contrary to the rules of war. A private +citizen has no right to enjoy that protection and immunity which is +accorded him by the armies, and then take his gun and shoot down a +soldier. This, we think, is conceded, and it has been urged all along that +private citizens who do so deserve summary execution. Suppose now that +private citizens should employ violence against rebel soldiers, is it not +plain that they would expose themselves to the vengeance of the rebel +army, and that the end of it would be a war of savage butchery on both +sides, a war of destruction and desolation? Would it not invite to pillage +and arson and murder? + +"3. But even if this had been attempted in the cases of invasion that have +occurred, it would have been of no avail. Take the recent case of the +capture and burning of Chambersburg. General Averill was not far from the +place, with twenty-five hundred cavalry, when a detachment of Early's +corps, under McCausland, entered and burned it. If, then, General Averill +felt himself too weak to interfere to prevent the rebels from entering the +town, what could the unarmed citizens of such a place, without any one to +lead them, have been able to do? It has been said by papers that ought to +know better, that two or three hundred rebels captured and burned the +town. Is it not to be supposed that General Couch would know what could be +done, and when he despaired of being able to hold the town and left it, +would it not have been sheer madness for the citizens to have provoked the +rebel soldiery to shoot them down in the streets, without being able to +effect anything? + +"Besides it must be remembered that the citizens of Chambersburg did not +know, and had no right to expect, that the rebel force intended burning +their town before they entered it. As unarmed private citizens they +submitted to what could not be averted, and expected to be treated +according to the rules of war, under which private citizens are protected +from personal injury by soldiers. + +"That farmers should send away their horses, and merchants their goods, at +the approach of the enemy, is not only natural, but eminently wise and +proper. Allowing them to remain at home, without the ability to defend +them from capture, would be giving aid and comfort to the enemy. + +"As against New York, the city whose leading papers have been vilely +slandering the border counties of Pennsylvania, the case would seem to +need no explanation or vindication. It is still remembered how that city +found it necessary to have regiments from our armies to come to their +rescue in putting down a riot caused by opposition to the draft. It is +known, too, how anxiously they clamor for the Government to provide ample +defences for their harbor against some rebel iron-clad that might slip in +unawares and destroy their city. If New York needs monster guns to protect +it from the enemy, is it wrong for Pennsylvania to expect arms and men to +be furnished by the Government, to protect her borders from invasion? + +"As to the kind of philanthropy that would thus vilify and slander a town +lying in ashes, and its inhabitants houseless and homeless, what terms can +characterize it? It is not only unchristian but inhuman. These things are +past, but they are not forgotten. + +"Chambersburg had a right to claim help in its calamity, not as a charity, +but as a right. But in these times rights are not always accorded. Some +sections have to suffer more than others, who do fully as much in men and +money to support the government. This is to be expected. Let us try at +least to be just in our judgment." + +The following is from the graphic pen of the Rev. B. Bausman, late pastor +of the German Reformed congregation here, now of the city of Reading, +likewise a corresponding editor of the paper referred to, and author of +"Sinai and Zion," an interesting volume of Travels in the Holy Land. Mr. +B. hastened to the scene of ruin as soon as the telegraph informed him of +the fearful calamity. After a suitable introduction, he furnishes the +following incidents and reflections: + +"Persons were fired upon, who attempted to extinguish the flames. A rebel +soldier threatened a young man to 'blow his brains out' if he would not +let the fire burn. With a revolver in hand, his sister rushed out of an +adjoining room, her eyes flashing with a more terrible fire than that of +rebel kindling: 'Begone, thou brutal wretch!' said the heroine, as she +aimed with precision at the rebel's head, who scampered away in a terrible +fright. + +"Three sides around a lady's home (Mrs. Denig's) are on fire. The fourth +is enclosed with an iron fence. An attempt to cross the fence burns her +palm into crisp. She sits down in the middle of her narrow lot. Around her +she folds a few rugs, dipped in water, to shelter her person against the +heat. An old negro crouches down by her side, and helps to moisten the +rugs. Her face, though covered, is blistered by the intense heat. Now and +then God sends a breath of wind to waft the hot air away, and allows her +to take breath. Virtually, it was a martyrdom at the stake, those two +hours amid the flames. Only after she was rescued did the sight of her +ruined home open the fountain of tears. 'Don't cry, missus,' said Peter, +the old negro; 'de Lord saved our lives from de fire.' In a few hours two +thousand people are scattered through the suburbs of the town, in the +fields, on the cemetery, amid the abode of the dead. A squad of rebels +seized a flag, which a lady happened to have in her house. With some +difficulty, she wrested it from their grasp, folded it around her person, +and walked away from her burning house, past the furious soldiery, +determined that the flag should become her shroud ere it should fall into +the hands of the foe. + +"Never was there so little saved at an extensive fire. Sixty-nine pianos +were consumed. The most sacred family relics, keepsakes and portraits of +deceased friends, old family Bibles, handed down from past generations, +and the many objects imparting a priceless value to a Christian home, and +which can never be replaced, were all destroyed. + +"In the dim moonlight we meditated among the ruins. Chimney-stacks and +fragments of walls formed the dreary outline of ruined houses. Not a light +was left but the fitful glowing of embers, amid the rubbish that fills +the cellars. The silence of the grave reigns where oft we have heard the +voice of mirth and music, of prayer and praise. Now and then some one +treads heavily along in the middle of the street; for the pavements are +blocked up with fallen walls. + +"Here we must pause a moment. More than fifty years ago, a happy young man +brought his bride into yonder house, now in ruins. One room sufficed, on +the second floor. A happier pair could not be found in the halls of +affluence. The first day they said: 'We will build an altar here.' Around +it they daily knelt. In 1812, the husband tore himself away from his +weeping bride, to drive the British foe from our soil. From that day to +this, his heart was aglow with the fire of Christian patriotism. Children +were born to them, and children's children. By industry, thrift and piety, +they acquired a competent fortune, meanwhile giving much to Christ and His +kingdom. Their children, too, they gave to Him. The first room continued a +sacred 'upper room.' There were portraits, books and family keepsakes of +fifty years' gathering. Mementos of sorrow and joy were treasured up +therein. Some years ago, the once happy bride, then an aged matron, died. +Her death was like the falling of a great shadow on a sun-lit home. By +this time the silvery locks of age adorned the brow of the bridegroom. +Sorrow had made his home doubly sacred; trials riveted his heart to it. +Still he prayed and read his old family Bible in the room where first he +built the altar. With what a cheerful, buoyant spirit he bore the burdens +of age! Under this room was a store, with a considerable quantity of +powder. The fire is already hissing around the kegs. Still he lingers in +his dear chamber, as if preferring death there to safety elsewhere. The +violence of friendship forces him away just before the fatal explosion. +Every domestic memorial, which piety and affection have gathered for more +than half a century, are in the ashes. Two cases these, out of three +hundred. Thousands of domestic and social ties bind the members of +communities and of families together. To tear up and sunder all in a few +hours, and cut hundreds of hearts loose from the moorings of past +generations--who can fathom such a sorrow! + +"The Rev. P. S. Davis, who lately entered upon the pastorate of the First +Reformed Church, sustained a serious loss. A great portion of the clothing +of his family and his manuscripts, the literary fruits of an earnest, +laborious ministry, were consumed. Dr. Schneck vainly contended with the +flames. His cozy, substantial house, with all that it contained--the +costly relics borne home from two European tours, his valuable library, +all his manuscripts, precious domestic keepsakes and furniture--all are a +heap of undistinguishable ruins. To begin the world anew at his time of +life, presents a cheerless prospect. Dr. Fisher's is one of the four +fortunate homes that were saved in the burned district." + + + + +LETTER IV. + + +MY DEAR FRIEND: + +In your last letter, you ask me what are the feelings of our people, +especially the immediate sufferers, under the severe stroke which has +befallen them; whether desponding or otherwise, and whether the spirit of +"retaliation for the bitterly severe losses and deprivations does not +largely manifest itself among them." + +In regard to the first, I am enabled to say, that during the whole course +of my life, I have not witnessed such an absence of despondent feeling +under great trials and sudden reverses of earthly fortune, never such +buoyancy and vigor of soul, and even cheerfulness amid accumulated woes +and sorrows, as I have during these four weeks of our devastated town. And +I leave you to imagine the many cases of extreme revulsion from +independence and affluence to utter helplessness and want. The widow and +fatherless, the aged and infirm, suddenly bereft of their earthly all, in +very many instances, even of a change of clothing. Large and valuable +libraries and manuscripts, the accumulations of many years; statuary, +paintings, precious and never-to-be-replaced mementoes--more valuable than +gold and silver--gone forever. And yet amid all these losses and the +consequent self-denial and the necessity of adapting themselves to another +and almost entirely different state of things, to which the great majority +of the people were subjected, you seldom see a sad or sombre countenance +on the street or elsewhere. Exceptions there are doubtless, traceable in +part to feeble physical constitution, in part also to an inordinate love +of and dependence upon transitory objects. But in a general way the +sufferers by this wholesale devastation are among the most patient, +unmurmuring, cheerful, hopeful people I have ever known. God really seems +to have given special grace in a special time of need. When, on the +morning after the burning and pillage (God's sweet day of rest) I +attempted to preach to an humble flock of Germans, whom I serve once a +Sabbath, a godly woman belonging to the little congregation wept nearly +during the whole service. On the way to my lodging-place, I overtook her +and found her still in tears. Fearing I had been misinformed as to her +safety from the recent calamity, I asked for the cause of her grief. "I +weep for _others_, my dear pastor," she replied, "and not altogether and +entirely for others either, for I fear me that if _my_ little all had been +burnt before my eyes, I should not have had grace to bear up as you and +the rest are enabled to do." And then with an outburst of irrepressible +emotion, she added: "And you can yet exhort us to forgive these our +enemies, and not murmur and repine under all this, as not only you +yourself but others have said, we should do. It's _this_ that makes me +weep." + +I freely confess that I have never experienced in my own case, nor in the +case of others, even under comparatively light and trifling losses and +deprivations, such resignation, such quiet, gentle submission, and such +calm endurance, amid the loss of all things, as in this instance. To such +an extent have been these manifestations, that persons from neighboring +towns, and strangers from a distance who in great numbers have visited the +place, almost universally remark upon it. A highly intelligent and pious +woman in a remote part of the county, a few days after the burning, called +at the house in which a number of the homeless ones were kindly cared for. +The large dining-table was surrounded by those who, a few days before, +were in possession of all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. +Pleasant and cheerful conversation passed around the board. The visitor +alone seemed sad and out of tune. Tears stood in her eyes as she looked +around upon us. "I am amazed beyond measure at you all," she said. "I +expected to see nought but tears, hear only lamentations and sighs, and +here you are as I have seen and known you in your bright and happy days, +calm, serene, and even cheerful!" When one of our number replied, that no +tear over the losses sustained had yet been shed by herself, but many +tears at the numerous tokens of Christian sympathy and generous aid from +far and near to relieve the immediate necessities of the sufferers, she +added, "God be thanked for your words; they flow like precious ointment, +deep down into my heart. Oh, what a commentary on the promised grace of +God!" And we all felt, I am sure, that among the many gifts of our +heavenly Father, not the least was + + "A cheerful heart, + That tastes those gifts with joy." + +And in regard to the feeling of revenge, so natural to the human heart, I +have been gratifyingly disappointed. Among the heaviest sufferers, by far +the largest proportion have not only expressed themselves decidedly +opposed to the spirit of retaliation, but have used their best efforts to +dissuade our soldiers from carrying their threats into execution when an +opportunity should offer. They have gone farther, and have drawn up a +petition in which they earnestly implore the Government in Washington to +prevent to the utmost anything of the kind on the part of our army. They +believe it to be morally wrong, no matter what may be the provocation from +the other side, and have always condemned the destruction of private +property by our troops in the South, whenever isolated instances of the +kind were reported. They believe, moreover, with our wise and judicious +Governor, that retaliation "can do no good to our own people, but a great +deal of harm, because we have more towns, villages, flouring and other +mills to be destroyed in three counties than our enemies in the Southern +States have in fifteen or twenty counties." + +Such a wholesale, premeditated, and cruel work of destruction as the +burning of Chambersburg, was never perpetrated by Union troops, and when +Richmond papers have said so, they have said what the facts in the case +did not warrant. It must be admitted, however, that in too many instances, +Union troops did destroy private property unnecessarily and wantonly. We +hope in God it will never be done again. We trust our commanding officers +in the army will not allow passion to set aside moral principle, military +rule, and military honor. Within sight of our charred and desolated homes, +we implore and beseech them not to bring reproach upon our Government, +trample upon all law and order, inaugurate cruel barbarity instead of +civilized warfare, and be guilty of such accumulated horrors as have been +enacted here. And yet all this, and much more, will follow with unerring +certainty, if the immoral, dishonorable, and unmilitary spirit of +retaliation is carried into effect. God in mercy forbid it! + +In this connection, and for the purpose of showing that I am not alone in +the views expressed as regards the destruction of private property by +Union troops on the one hand, and the exaggerated or untrue statements of +the Southern press on the other, I will quote the following paragraphs +from the pen of Colonel McClure, in his paper already referred to. I +suppose his statements come as near the truth as can well be ascertained. +He says: + +"Jacksonville (Florida) was fired at a single point when our troops were +retreating from it, because citizens fired on our men from the houses, and +unfortunately most of the town--composed of wooden structures--was +destroyed. The firing was in accordance with a well-recognized rule, that +civilians who shelter themselves in their houses to fire upon troops, +shall not only lose their property but suffer death. In Alexandria an +accidental fire, resulting from a party of intoxicated soldiers, +threatened the destruction of the entire town, owing to its inflammable +buildings and unfavorable winds; but it was arrested before one-third of +the village--the poorest portion of it--was burned. At the head of the +force detailed to put out the fire was Major-General Banks in person, and +by his orders and efforts the town was saved. Jackson (Mississippi) was +partially destroyed by our guns when it was defended by the rebels, but it +was not fired and burned by our troops after possession was gained. +Wrongs, even atrocities, may have been committed by individual soldiers or +isolated commands; but no such thing as deliberate and wanton burning and +robbing of houses was practised by the Union army. Colonel Montgomery +committed gross outrages on private citizens in two raids in South +Carolina, which we have never seen reason to justify; but he was deprived +of his command, or at least subordinated, and it may be dismissed, as he +should have been. Kilpatrick burned mills unwarrantably, as we have ever +believed, and other Union commanders may have done the same; but it was +some excuse that they were filled with rebel supplies. While McCausland +was on his way to Chambersburg to lay it waste, General Rousseau was +penetrating the richest part of Georgia, and not a single private house +or building of any kind was destroyed, nor were his soldiers permitted to +enter a residence on the route. When private property was near to +Government stores, which he had to fire, he detailed men to save all but +the buildings belonging to or used by the rebel government. General +Stoneman enforced the same rules rigidly in all his raids, and so did +Grierson. The Union troops have captured and occupied hundreds of rebel +towns since the war has commenced, and they have yet for the first time to +demand the freebooter's tribute, or destroy a town by order of a +commanding officer. Repeatedly have our troops been fired upon and +murdered by skulking rebels who protected themselves in their dwellings; +but in no case has a town been destroyed therefor." + + + + +LETTER V. + + +MY DEAR FRIEND: + +After my last letter was beyond my control, I became acquainted with some +additional incidents which may interest you. + +A lady, well known to me, the mother of a large family of children, was +ordered to leave the house in five minutes, as the house must be burned. +She collected them all around her to obey the cruel summons. Preparations +were at once made to fire the building in the rooms above and below, and +as the family group walked out of the large and beautiful mansion, the +children burst into loud weeping. "I am ashamed of you," said the +tenderly loving, yet heroic woman, "to let these men see you cry," and +every child straightened up, brushed away the falling tears, and bravely +marched out of the doomed home. + +An elderly woman, of true Spartan grit, gave one of the house-burners such +a sound drubbing with a heavy broom, that the invader retreated, to leave +the work of destruction to be performed by another party, after the woman +had left to escape the approaching flames of the adjoining buildings. + +The wife of a clergyman succeeded in preventing one of the enemy from +firing her house, by reminding him that she had fed him during Stuart's +raid in 1862, and that she also ministered to him when he was in the +hospital in this place in the summer of 1863. The man recognized her, and +frankly declared that he could not be so base as to destroy her house, now +that he remembered her kind offices. He had been wounded and made a +prisoner at the battle of Gettysburg, was brought to the hospital here, +and afterwards exchanged. + +Mr. Jacob Hoke, one of our most worthy and enterprising merchants, has +furnished the following statement of facts and incidents for publication +in the Religious Telescope, of Dayton, Ohio. As his residence and store +were located in the centre of the town, he had an opportunity of +witnessing the scenes of the day to greater advantage than most others. I +may as well inclose the principal part of his article, as it explains more +fully several general statements before given, whilst, at the same time, +it brings out some points not alluded to before: + +MR. EDITOR: Not having seen in any published report, a satisfactory +account of the late rebel raid on Chambersburg, and being a resident here, +and an eye-witness, I will hastily sketch what came under my own +observation, and what I have from reliable persons. In Thursday's +Philadelphia Inquirer, the correspondent at Frederick stated "that our +troops were in such numbers, and so situated, that for the first time in +the history of the war, glorious news might be expected from the +Shenandoah Valley." Very high military authority, but a few days prior to +the raid, assured us "that every ford of the Potomac was strictly watched; +that it was impossible for the enemy to cross; that if they only would +cross it would be the best thing that could happen, as they could never +get back again." In this way our community was lulled into comparative +security, until on Friday noon, July 29th, it was announced that the +rebels had crossed in considerable force at Williamsport, and also at +Cherry Run. No one could depict the scene of excitement which then +occurred. Merchants and others commenced packing, shipping, and otherwise +disposing of their valuables. + +At eight o'clock in the evening General Hunter's large wagon train +commenced passing through our town toward Harrisburg, and continued +passing during the greater part of the night. At least fifteen hundred +cavalry and two hundred infantry passed through with that train as guards +and as stragglers. That these men were not stopped here by General Couch, +who did not leave town until three o'clock in the morning, is explained by +the assertion that they were under orders from General Hunter to guard his +train. That train was entirely safe after it had passed through +Chambersburg, and that body of men, judiciously posted, could, with the +artillery in town, and the citizens, have held the enemy in check until +Averill could arrive, who was then ten miles distant, and threatened in +his front by a force of rebels who, it is now evident, were only making a +demonstration to hold him until the other and heavier column under +McCausland and Gilmore, could effect their object in Chambersburg. + +I sat at my window on the corner of the Diamond and saw them enter. +Skirmishers, dismounted, led the advance, followed by cavalry. They came +in simultaneously in all the streets and alleys, and called to each other +as a signal, when they reached the centre of the Diamond. In five minutes +after, a force of about five hundred cavalry filed around the Public +Square, and immediately commenced the work of plunder. The first building +broken open was Mr. Paxton's shoe and hat store; then the liquor stores +adjoining my residence. I met them at my store door and unlocked it, when +about twenty entered and commenced a thorough search. Finding it empty, +they inquired where I had my goods, to which I replied, I had shipped them +to Philadelphia. Returning from the room, I locked the door, and sat down +by it, and entered into conversation with a gentlemanly-looking man, who +informed me he was the Chaplain to McCausland's command. He gave his name +as Johnson, born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and said he was a +Methodist preacher. During our conversation an officer dismounted at my +door, tied his horse, and listened to our conversation, where he remained +until the circumstance occurred to which I shall presently refer. The +Chaplain said to me, "Do you reside in this house?" I replied +affirmatively. He then said they were rolling several barrels of +combustible matter into the Court House, near my residence; that they were +going to burn it, and I had better try to save something from our house. +Leaving these two men at the door, I ran up stairs and carried a load of +precious articles from the parlor table, consisting of a valuable family +Bible, books, photograph album, &c., to a neighbor's house, where I +presumed they would be safe. They were all burned there, however. Next, I +carried some bed-clothing to a different part of the town, and they were +saved. Returning to the house, I encountered a rebel officer in one of the +rooms. Said he: "Do you belong to this house?" On my replying in the +affirmative, he said: "My friend, for God's sake, tell me what you value +most, and I will take it to a place of safety. They are going to burn +every house in the town." I told him if that was the case, it was no use +to remove anything, as they might as well burn here as elsewhere. + +By this time my wife and two other occupants of the house came down stairs +each with a carpet-bag packed with clothing. The officer followed us to +the door and entreated one of the women to mount his horse and ride him +off, as he declared he did not want him any more in the rebel service. +Another man unbuckled his sword and put it in our house, in disgust at the +scene before him. It was afterwards found among the ruins. At the door I +found the officer previously referred to, weeping bitterly. The flames +were bursting from buildings all around us. "See," said he, "this is awful +work. O God! O, my God, has it come to this, that we have to be made a +band of thieves and robbers by a man like McCausland!" I have seen many +men weep, but never did I see a strong, robust man hide from his sight, +with his handkerchief, the appalling scene, and cry at the top of his +voice, "O God! O mighty God!--See, see!" + +Imagine the feelings of my family, when an hour before this, without +intending to select any particular passage of God's Word, I read the 138th +Psalm, in which the following words occur: "Though I walk in the midst of +trouble, Thou wilt revive me: Thou shalt stretch forth Thy hand against +the wrath of mine enemies, and Thy right hand shall save me." We knelt in +prayer and surrounded the breakfast-table under the conviction that it was +for the last time in that dear home. Then came the hasty snatching of +precious relics of dear departed ones, passing hurriedly from room to +room, leaving clothing, beds, furniture, library, pictures--all to the +devouring flames. In our parlor hung the photographs of several of our +bishops, with many others. These were either carried away by the rebels or +burned. At the door we encountered the incident previously narrated. +Leaving the weeping officer, we pressed through flame and smoke, amidst +burning buildings, to the suburbs of the town, where we sat down and +watched four hundred buildings in flames, two hundred and seventy-four of +which were dwelling-houses, the affrighted occupants running wildly +through the streets, carrying clothing and other articles, while screams +of anguish from lost children in pursuit of parents, the feeble efforts of +the old and infirm to carry with them some endeared article from their +blazing homes, the roaring and crackling flames, falling walls and +blinding smoke, all united to form a picture of horror, which no pen could +describe, no painter portray. For three hours the fire raged. At about 11 +o'clock, the rebels left town, as Averill's scouts captured five rebels +within one mile of the town. In three hours after their exit, Averill +filed through the streets. + + +Incidents. + +In our flight through the streets, the rebel officer alluded to followed +us half a square, entreating one of the women to mount and ride off his +horse, declaring that he was done with the rebel service. No sooner did he +turn away, than another rode up and demanded our carpet-bags; we ran on, +and he turned back without them. Brother Winton, while fleeing with his +wife and little children, was stopped by a cavalryman and compelled to +deliver his shoes and hat. Hundreds of robberies occurred of hats, shoes, +watches, money, &c. An old and very estimable lady, who had not walked for +three years, was told to run, as her house was on fire. She replied that +she had not walked for three years. With horrid curses, the wretch poured +powder under her chair, declaring that he would teach her to walk; and +while in the act of applying fire to his train, some neighbors ran in and +carried her away. + +The burning mass appeared to converge toward the Diamond, forming fearful +whirlwinds, which at times moved eastwardly along the line of Market +street. At one time an immense whirlwind passed over where a large lot of +bedding and wearing apparel had been collected. Large feather beds were +lifted from the ground. Shirts and lighter articles were conveyed with +fearful velocity high in the air, alighting at a great distance from where +they lay. It was grand and fearful, adding to the horror of the scene. In +many cases soldiers set fire to houses, and to the tears and entreaties of +women and children they said their "orders were to burn. We will fire; +you can do as you please after we go away." An officer rode up to our +parsonage, and thus addressed Mrs. Dickson: "Madam, save what you can; in +fifteen minutes we will return and fire your house." They did not return. +Our church and parsonage were saved. The printing establishment of the +German Reformed Church was completely destroyed, with all the valuable +presses, books, the bindery, &c. Dr. Fisher estimates the loss to the +Church at over forty thousand dollars. Those of our readers who know the +town will understand the extent of this destruction from the following: + +Beginning at the Presbyterian lecture-room on the north, the fire swept +every building on the west side of Main street, except four, up to +Washington street, four squares; from King street on the north, every +building on the east side of Main street up to Washington, three squares; +from the Franklin Railroad to nearly the top of New England Hill, five +squares, on both sides of the street; also eight or ten dwellings over the +top of New England Hill; from the Market-house down Queen street, both +sides, to the edge-tool factory, and several buildings on the street +running parallel with the creek, up to Market street, with many buildings +on Second street from Market, up near the Methodist Church. The Methodist, +German Reformed, and Lutheran churches saved the parts of the town in +which they were situated from being involved in the general conflagration. +The Associate Reformed and Bethel churches, the latter belonging to "The +Church of God," were burned. The Associate Reformed was used as +headquarters for drafted men; hence its destruction. The "Bethel"--so +marked on a stone in the front--was supposed by the fiends to be a negro +church. In most cases fire was kindled in beds or bureaus by matches, and +in balls of cotton saturated in alcohol or kerosene. + +I saw men and officers drinking liquor as it was carried from the hotels, +the doors of which they broke open. Many were drunk. Women were insulted; +cruel taunts and threats were repeatedly made. + + * * * * * + +I have thus hastily sketched the foregoing _facts, for such they are_. The +reader will remember they are written by one who lost heavily by the fire; +is now surrounded by the extended ruins; is aware of the sufferings and +heart-breakings of over two thousand men, women, and children, many of +whom have been reduced from affluence to poverty, are now dependent for +the bread they eat, the clothes they wear, and the houses that shelter +them, upon others more favored. + +J. HOKE. + +CHAMBERSBURG, August 10, 1864. + + +I also append to the foregoing the following graphic letter in the +Pittsburgh Evening Chronicle, afterwards copied in the Chambersburg +Franklin Repository. It is from the pen of the Rev. S. J. Niccolls, the +esteemed pastor of the Presbyterian congregation in this place. + +"So much misapprehension exists in many quarters concerning the facts +connected with the burning of Chambersburg, that it has become a matter of +justice to a wronged and suffering community to state them fully to the +public. Many things have been written concerning this calamity, true in +themselves, but disconnected from their attending circumstances, and so +the most injurious impressions have been made on the minds of those who +live remote from the border. A connected and truthful narrative of this +sad event, it is hoped, will correct these. + +"The history of the past month commences with the advance of Early up the +Shenandoah, and the invasion of Maryland. The enemy, about fifteen hundred +strong, soon occupied Hagerstown, and it was believed that they intended a +raid on Chambersburg. At this time there were three hundred soldiers in +the place, under command of General Couch, the whole number available in +his department. The citizens rallied around these, and determined to +defend the town. Barricades were thrown across the streets, cannon +planted, houses occupied by sharpshooters, and every preparation made for +defence. Soon, however, the enemy fell back across the Potomac, and the +invasion was declared to be ended. The small body of troops under General +Couch were withdrawn to protect the national Capital, and we were left +defenceless. We were assured, however, that the fords of the Potomac were +well guarded, and a large army lay between us and the rebels. The very +papers in New York which now condemn us for our apathy were daily assuring +us that it was "all quiet on the Potomac," and that the enemy had fallen +back. We were soon startled from our dream of security by the announcement +that General Crooks had been defeated, and the rebels were again advancing +to invade Pennsylvania. + +"We did not then take arms, because it was plain to every one that if the +forces of Crooks and Averill could not resist their advance, it would be +folly in a few citizens to attempt it. We had seen an invasion once +before, and knew what it meant. Anticipating a repetition of the scenes +of last year, the people of the county began to remove their stock and +valuables. In the midst of conflicting rumors nothing could be learned of +the movements of the enemy until Friday, July 29th. In the afternoon of +that day it was known that they had crossed the Potomac, and were +advancing rapidly on Chambersburg. We also learned from Mercersburg that +the invading force was three thousand strong, or as it afterwards +appeared, by actual count, thirty-one hundred, with six pieces of +artillery. To meet this force there were in the town one hundred soldiers, +with two pieces of artillery, and the citizens capable of bearing arms. +The number of the latter would not reach three hundred, a large portion of +the population being already in the army, and quite a number absent, +attending to the removal of their horses and valuables. The citizens who +remained were willing to defend the place, had it been deemed practicable +by General Couch; but with this small and inadequate force at his +disposal, it seemed like courting destruction for the town to attempt its +defence. A show of resistance, which none could hope would be successful, +would only give them a pretext for burning. No word could be obtained from +General Averill, who was then near Greencastle, though the most earnest +efforts were made by General Couch to obtain his assistance. + +"At four o'clock A. M. on Saturday the military authorities left, and soon +after the combined forces of McCausland and Bradley Johnson were placed in +line of battle upon the range of hills commanding the town. The Eighth +Virginia regiment, numbering about five hundred men, was thrown forward +into the streets. These were detailed to burn the place.... + +"The scene that speedily followed is indescribable in its horrors. The +soldiers went from house to house, bursting open the doors with planks and +axes, and entering, split up the furniture to kindle the fire, or else +scattered combustible materials in the closets and along the stairways, +and then applied the torch. In a little over half an hour the whole town +was fired, so complete were their arrangements to accomplish their hellish +designs. No time was given the inhabitants to save anything. The first +warning of danger most of them had was the kindling of the fire in their +houses, and even the few articles that some caught up in their flight were +seized by the soldiers and flung back into the flames. Many such instances +have come to the writer's knowledge, that in their dark malignity almost +surpass belief. The aged, the sick, the dying, and the dead were carried +out from their burning homes; mothers with babes in their arms, and +surrounded by their frightened little ones, fled through the streets, +jeered and taunted by the brutal soldiery. Indeed their escape seemed +almost a miracle, as the streets were in a blaze from one end to the +other, and they were compelled to flee through a long road of fire. Had +not the day been perfectly calm, many must have perished in the flames. + +"The conflagration in its height was a scene of surpassing grandeur and +terror. A tall black column of smoke rose up to the very skies; around it +were wrapped long streamers of flames, writhing and twisting themselves +into a thousand fantastic shapes, while through it, as though they were +prayers carried heavenward by the incense of some great altar sacrifice, +there went up on the smoky, flame-riven clouds the cries and shrieks of +the women and children. But the moment of greatest alarm was not reached +until some of the more humane of the rebel officers warned the women to +flee, if they wished to escape violence to their persons. We cannot, in +this letter, describe the scenes of the sad flight which followed. + +"The ferocity of the rebel soldiers during this affair seems almost +incredible. With all their fierce passions unrestrained, they seemed to +revel in the work of destruction. An aged elder of the Presbyterian church +was taken from his house and robbed; the building was fired while his +wife, aged and infirm, was still in it. Upon his return, it was with the +utmost difficulty she was saved. Escape by the street was impossible, and +they were compelled to flee to a little garden in the rear of the house, +where they sat for hours, surrounded by fire. The rebel Gilmore forbade a +lady to remove her trunks from her house, and upon her telling him to his +face what she thought of his conduct, he drew his pistol and declared "he +would blow out her brains if she did not take that back." Many such +instances, and worse, might be recorded. There were, indeed, some among +them who acted humanely, refusing to do the work assigned them, but they +were exceptions. + +"As soon as the town was thoroughly fired at all points, the rebels fell +back. On their way out they burned the residence of the County +Superintendent of Public Schools, because, as they told his family, 'he +had taught negroes.' Two hours after their departure, General Averill +entered the town, and we were once more inside the Union lines. + +"Such is the story of the burning of Chambersburg. These outlines, +however, form a poor picture of the reality. The blackened ruins of this +once beautiful town must first be seen before the calamity can be +understood, and not then, for it is only by looking at it in detail, by +understanding the peculiar sadness there is in each separate loss, and +seeing the strange diversity of sorrow there is in this common woe, that +one can realize the full extent of the ruin. Eleven squares of blackened +ruins and over three millions of dollars in property consumed is the +outward estimate of the loss. But who can write the history of two +thousand people suddenly made homeless, dashed from affluence to poverty, +torn violently from the sacred associations of the past, and driven forth +houseless wanderers among strangers? + +"The question is often asked, 'Who is responsible for this calamity?' Many +coldly and unhesitatingly lay it upon the citizens themselves; but surely +it is not necessary to argue that a few hundred citizens could not have +resisted successfully three thousand veteran soldiers with six pieces of +artillery. Many, too, have blamed General Couch, and false representations +have gone forth that the citizens were greatly incensed against him. The +writer of this letter has had peculiar opportunities of knowing the true +state of the case, and would ask attention to the following facts. When +General Couch took command of this department one year ago, he urged upon +the citizens the necessity of forming organizations for home defence. His +appeal was readily responded to, and all the citizens in the borough +capable of bearing arms enrolled themselves in some organization. General +Couch then made application to the War Department, asking that we might be +uniformed and enrolled in the general service, so that, if we were ever +overpowered, we would be treated as prisoners of war and not as +guerrillas. This request was denied. He then proceeded to organize a +cavalry force, from what was known as the 'six months' men,' for the +defence of the border. Many of our citizens enlisted in this force. It was +kept on the border until their term of service expired, when they +re-enlisted for three years. But their new organization was scarcely +completed, before they were taken from this department and sent to the +Army of the Potomac. General Couch then proceeded to organize the 'Provost +regiment, for special service in his department.' This was filled up to +1200 men, and then, as with the rest, taken from him by order of the +Secretary of War. These gone, scarce a corporal's guard was left under his +command. + +"Two weeks before the advance of Early up the valley, General Couch +renewed the request of last year, asking that the citizens might be armed +and enrolled; stating, also, that they were ready to attempt their own +defence. This was again denied. Then followed the request made by Governor +Curtin, and endorsed by General Couch, which is already published in the +Governor's Message. At the time of the invasion of Maryland the whole of +the available force in the Department of the Susquehanna did not exceed +three hundred men; and during the raid on Chambersburg, General Couch had +but one hundred and thirty-five men under his command. Nor is he to blame +for the smallness of this number. He had during this month of alarm +organized six regiments of one hundred days' men; but these, as soon as +equipped, were ordered to Washington by the Secretary of War. Such are the +facts in the case. We make no comments on the propriety of leaving the +border thus defenceless. Its security is perhaps a small matter compared +with the strengthening of our armies elsewhere. We only say, General Couch +is not to blame. He did everything a brave, earnest and faithful officer +could do to avert this calamity. + +"Many also are under the impression that this place was disloyal, and +consequently they have no sympathy with us in our affliction. Nothing does +greater injustice to our suffering community than this. No town of its +size in Pennsylvania has fewer "sympathizers" with the rebellion than +Chambersburg. Its quotas have always been filled by volunteers, and many +of its best citizens have fallen on the field of battle. Such was and such +is the spirit of the inhabitants. The affliction into which they have +fallen is so great that, were it the result of their own neglect, common +charity should teach others to speak of them kindly. But they do not wish +to be excused; they only ask to be judged by the facts in the case. The +writer has stated such facts as he knows to be true, and subscribes his +name to them. + +S. J. NICCOLLS." + + + + +LETTER VI. + + +MY DEAR FRIEND: + +A gentleman has just handed me the "Lutheran and Missionary" of +Philadelphia, of August 11, in which I find the following excellent +article, which, with a few omissions, is here subjoined. It is from the +pen of our worthy townsman, Mr. John K. Shryock, who, as well as his +brother, Samuel S. Shryock, have for years carried on a large business in +the "Mansion House" as booksellers, and were among the many heavy +sufferers by the fire. After alluding to the circumstances attending the +advent of the insurgents, he says: + +"I was in my house with my wife and two little children, and also a lady +whose husband was taken to Richmond last summer, her little boy, and +sister. The earliest warning we received was from the stifling smoke that +poured through the house, and from some one knocking at the door and +crying: 'If there is any one in this house, for God's sake leave, for it +is all on fire.' I gathered my family together, and left with nothing but +the clothes I had upon my person, two of the ladies not having time even +to get their bonnets. Having gotten them out of the house, I ascended the +stairs to see if any had been left behind in the haste. After having +examined all the rooms, I met two of the infuriated wretches rushing up +the stairs as I hurried down. At this time the house was filled with +blinding smoke. I locked the front door, hoping that the unwelcome +visitors would not be able to find their way out. + +"I immediately hurried after my charge, and found them struggling their +way through the streets, thronged with homeless women and children, the +pavements blocked up by the rebels, who had ridden their horses in every +imaginable way to hinder the course of the fugitives. The streets were +filled with smoke and flame, and almost impassable. After we had reached a +temporary shelter, my wife returned to the scene of destruction, as a bird +to its nest, and on her way was stopped before a burning house, in which a +corpse was lying, and a little child at the point of death. The dead +woman was gotten out with difficulty, and buried in the garden without +shroud or coffin, and the child was barely rescued and placed in her arms, +when an officer in front of the house called out to his men: 'Boys, +remember Hunter!' She ran up to him, uncovered the child, and said: 'Here +is a dying baby we have saved from the house you have fired. Is your +revenge sweet?' Shocked, the fellow burst into tears, and answered, 'No, +madam.' He followed her some distance, and leaning down, asked her +earnestly, 'Madam, can't I save something for you?' Her answer was, 'No, +it is too late: I have lost all!' Warned to leave the house in which we +had taken refuge, a party of us left, but soon became separated, and I +lost my little boy, aged about ten, and did not find him till the next +day, at Shippensburg, whither he had walked, a distance of eleven miles. +The rest of us kept upon the edge of the burning town, and for three or +four hours watched the progress of the flames. + +"One of the saddest sights I witnessed was the burning of the old Academy. +I watched it burn, timber by timber. Fifteen years of associations as +scholar and teacher were annihilated in the course of one short hour. My +attention was then drawn to the flag-staff in the centre of the public +square, and we all, of our party as well as others, expressed an ardent +hope that it might stand, from which the American flag might wave, even +over the ruins of the town. At noon we returned to the uninjured house of +a friend, and spent the night in gazing upon the ruins of our once happy +and beautiful town. + +"The conduct of the rebel soldiery was barbarous in the extreme, though +there were many honorable exceptions. Bundles were tired upon women's +backs; ladies were forced to carry back into the houses articles of +clothing they had saved from the flames; drunken wretches danced upon the +furniture and articles of value and ornament; women's persons were +searched in the most indecent manner; oaths and foul language abounded; +aged women were locked in their rooms while their houses were on fire; +trunks were rifled after being dragged by the owners from the ruins; +promises of protection were made to be instantly broken. Everything was +done to add to the terror and confusion of the panic-stricken women and +children. Soon the hunger of the little ones added new horror to the +scene. Families were separated, and distracted fathers and mothers could +be seen everywhere, seeking amid the confusion for those that were +missing. And yet no selfishness was apparent; every one was willing to aid +and sympathize with his neighbor. No one complained, no one lost hope. A +rebel officer stopped me, saying: 'Sir, cannot a little money be raised to +satisfy that brute, McCausland; a very little money would save this end of +the town.' My answer was: 'If ten cents would do it, it would not be +forthcoming.' One rebel came running towards me, wringing his hands, +saying, 'Horrible, horrible! I did not think it could be so bad as this!' +Another told me that they had received orders, before they entered the +town, _to burn every house in it_; and yet another informed me that their +object was to effect an entrance during the night, and then burn it. In +some cases the women attempted to extinguish the fire, and were prevented +by threats and personal violence. Some were thrust from their houses, +others were struck, and in some instances pistols were drawn upon them. +One lady had a bucket of water, which she had brought to extinguish the +fire, thrown in her face. In almost every case the sick and the infirm +were _hindered_ from leaving their homes. There appeared to be a desire to +have some burned, if possible, _by accident_! One rebel, who helped a lady +to save some of her clothing, was seen led out of the town handcuffed. An +officer who suffered himself to be persuaded to save some property, said, +as he left the house he refused to fire, 'Madam, you have saved your +house, but have cost me my commission, and perhaps my life.' A negro saved +his life by dressing himself in woman's clothes, and carrying on his head +a feather bed, thereby hiding his face and hands. Little children cried to +'go home'--the home that was destroyed; old men wept over the town in +which they had lived for three-quarters of a century; citizens looked on +with dismay upon the destruction of their life-long labor and industry. +Many fled to the cemetery for refuge, and there, in the midst of death, +was one little life added to the wretched throng. The words of our +Saviour, with regard to the destruction of Jerusalem, were forced upon us: +'Let him which is on the house-top not come down to take anything out of +his house; neither let him which is in the field return back to take his +clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck +in those days!' + +"The town soon became one mass of smoke and flame, which ascended straight +up to heaven, as if to call down the vengeance of God upon the +incendiaries. Here and there whirlwinds went up like gigantic corkscrews, +carrying paper and clothing high into the air, and miles into the +surrounding country, as if to bear witness of the foul outrage. I saw +more than one rebel soldier weeping like a child over the desolation he +had made. Hardened as they were to the horrors of war, this was too +terrible even for them to bear. One cried out to me in an agony of +remorse: 'Oh, I never enlisted for this!' + +"For miles around, the frightened inhabitants fled, they knew not whither; +some continuing their flight until they dropped to the ground with +exhaustion. Pocket-books and watches were taken by wholesale; bundles, +shawls and valises were snatched out of women's and children's hands to be +thrown away. Cows and dogs and cats were burned to death, and the +death-cries of the poor dumb brutes sounded like the groans of human +beings. It is a picture that may be misrepresented, but cannot be +heightened. One young girl was crying; but, meeting a squad of the +marauders she controlled her tears, saying: '_They_ shan't see me cry!' +Full grown men, forgetful of themselves, sobbed over the destitution of +those they loved, and self-sacrificing women strove to comfort those of +weaker hearts, who had lost no more than themselves. We know of instances +where persons had saved money and valuables of others, with which they +had, in the excitement, been entrusted, to the exclusion of their own. In +the midst of this awful scene, the _sympathy_ and _encouragement_ we had +all along received from our loyal friends of a sister State, through the +columns of the Tribune, Times and Independent, arose before us like a +dense cloud, and, for the time, we hesitated which was most our +enemy,--New York or Virginia. Five hundred of the enemy in our streets, +two hundred as guard outside, three thousand within supporting distance; +this, too, with more than two thousand effective _United States_ cavalry +only _nine_ miles off, for hours. Oh, for one-half of the brave Franklin +County boys, that were then far away from their homes, fighting the +battles of the Union! We blame no one. Our loyalty, as strong as ever, +forbids us; but there is an awful responsibility SOMEWHERE. + +"One scoundrel accepted five dollars from a frightened female, to carry +her trunk to a place of safety, _where he coolly broke it open, and helped +himself to the most valuable part of the contents_. A little dead child +was enclosed in a chest, and buried by the terrified parents in their +garden, for fear it would be burned in their house. + +"A lady in delicate health was watched by one of the robbers, and allowed +to drag her trunk outside of the town; after which he searched it, and +appropriated the valuables it contained. She asked, whether that was +Southern chivalry, and received for reply: "Take that back, or I'll blow +your brains out." She did _not_ retract, and did _not_ have her brains +blown out. It was sad to see ladies escaping from their houses with +nothing but a few photographs or an album. + +"In the evening of that dreadful day, it was overpowering to witness the +change in circumstances. One of our prominent citizens went with his +family to the house of his hostler; another to the residence of his negro +servant. On the next day it was a still more sorrowful sight to see +refined ladies flock to the church to draw Government rations, and receive +articles of second-hand clothing, sent up by the spontaneous charity of +persons residing along the line of the Cumberland Valley Railroad. It was +hard to eat the bitter bread of charity, but this mortification was borne +with the same heroism with which they looked upon the sacking and burning +of the dear old town. To see the grey-haired men and women, the +middle-aged, the youthful, and childhood, all represented in the destitute +but uncomplaining throng, was one of the most solemn sights the world ever +saw. Wyoming and Chambersburg will live in the history of Pennsylvania, +and the infamous names of Butler and McCausland, will be handed down to +posterity, as the types of savage barbarity. + +"At 2 P. M., the Union forces advanced through the town. The citizens +cheered the dusty and jaded warriors, but no soldierly huzzas came from +_their_ parched and suffocated throats, as they rode through smoke and +flame and the intense heat of the smouldering ruins. One repeated +exclamation of, 'My God!' was all that was heard, and then, as they passed +the flag-staff, each one shouted, 'Remember Chambersburg!' And so they +exclaimed, and so they shouted, as they dashed at a trot through the town. +I may live to be an old man, but never, never shall I see such sights +again, as I saw that day in the stricken town of Chambersburg. + +J. K. SHRYOCK." + +Aug. 6, 1864. + + + + +BUILDINGS BURNED. + + +The following is a correct list of the buildings burned by the rebels in +Chambersburg, with their estimated value by a committee of disinterested +gentlemen appointed for that purpose: + + +South side of Market Street. + + Jacob Wolfkill--Two-story frame and brick building, $700 + Patrick Campbell's heirs--Two-story brick building, 700 + Peter McGaffigan--Two-story building, 600 + James C. Austin--Two-story brick building, new, 5,000 + R. Austin--Two-story brick building, 3,000 + William H. McDowell--Two-story stone front and brick back + building, brick stable, 3,000 + James M. Brown--Two-story stone front and brick back building, + stable, 3,300 + Jacob Sellers--Two-story brick front and back building, stables, + and ice-house, (hotel,) 4,000 + J. W. Douglas--One-story frame building, 600 + Martin Brown--Frame front and log building, 1,000 + J. A. and J. C. Eyster--Log front and back building, 1,000 + Mrs. Jordan--Two-story brick front and back building, 5,000 + L. S. Clark--Two-story frame building and stable, 1,200 + C. M. Duncan--Two-story building, law-office, stable, 2,000 + E. Culbertson--Two-story brick building, office, stone barn, 6,000 + Mrs. Bard--Two-story brick building, and row of law offices, 6,500 + Gehr & Denny--Two three-story brick buildings, and one two-story, + (dwellings and "Franklin Repository" office,) 5,500 + C. M. Duncan--Three-story building, (Franklin Hotel,) three-story + brick arcade, brick stables, &c., 15,000 + Aug. Duncan--Three-story brick building, 1,500 + Henry Monks--Three-story brick building, 1,500 + Edward Aughinbaugh--Three-story brick building, 1,500 + Dr. William H. Boyle--Three-story brick building, 2,000 + Mary Gillan--Three-story brick building, 1,500 + T. J. Wright--Three-story brick building, 1,800 + S. F. Greenawalt--Two-story brick building, stable, 3,000 + A. H. McCulloh--Two-story brick building, stone stable, 2,000 + Rev. Mr. Nelson--Two-story building, stable, 2,000 + J. P. Culbertson--Three brick buildings, 5,000 + Mrs. Riddle--Two-story brick building, stable, 3,500 + E. Finfrock--Two-story building, stable, 2,000 + W. F. Eyster & Bro.--Two buildings, (foundry,) stable, 4,000 + R. E. Tolbert--Two-story brick building, stable, 2,000 + M. Gillan's heirs--Two three-story brick buildings, log house, + brick stable, 6,000 + Alex. Fritz--Two-story brick building, 1,000 + Mrs. Frederick Smith--Two-story brick building, 1,200 + J. Burkholder's heirs--Two-story brick building, barn, 2,000 + Hunter Robison--Two-story brick building, stable, 1,200 + Jacob B. Miller--Two-story brick building, 400 + John Bigley--Three small dwellings, 500 + Thomas Cook--Three wooden buildings, 600 + N. Pierce--Two-story building, 1,000 + Barnet Wolff--Two-story frame building, 600 + J. M. Wolfkill--Two-story brick front and two back buildings, 2,500 + Jacob Shafer--Two-story brick building, 1,000 + Richard Woods--Two-story brick building, 800 + John King--Two-story buildings, 400 + Christ. Pisle--Two-story brick building, 500 + Mrs. Elizabeth Stouffer--Two-story brick building, 1,800 + A. Banker--Brick shop, house and barn, 2,000 + Mrs. Butler--Two-story building and stable, 400 + Mary Rapp--Two-story log building, 400 + James Nill's heirs--Two-story brick front, 500 + Josiah Allen--Two-story brick building, 1,000 + + +North side of Market Street. + + C. Stauth--Two two-story log buildings, $800 + Samuel Brant--Two-story brick building, 800 + John M. McDowell--Two two-story brick buildings, (hotel,) + barn, shop, etc., 3,500 + D. Trostle--Two-story brick building, and brick barn, 1,500 + Mrs. Radebaugh--Stone and frame barn, 800 + Mrs. Jos. Chambers--Two-story brick building, stable, 5,500 + G. W. Brewer--Two-story brick building, barn, 5,500 + Mrs. Jacob Smith--Log stable, 100 + John Miller--Two-story brick building, hotel, stables, shops, 8,000 + J. B. Cook--Two-story stone and four two-story buildings, + bark-house, stable, etc., 5,000 + C. W. Eyster--Two three-story brick flouring mills and two-story + brick dwelling, 15,000 + Lambert & Huber--Four-story stone and frame paper-mill and + steam-house, 15,000 + C. W. Eyster--Two-story brick building, stable, 3,000 + S. M. Shillito--Two-story brick building, 1,500 + James King--Two-story brick building, frame shop, 1,200 + P. Brough--Three-story brick building, 3,000 + John Noel--Three-story stone building, stable, 8,000 + Court House--Three-story brick, 45,000 + Engine-house--Two-story brick, 1,000 + D. O. Gehr--Two-story brick building, and brick stable, 5,500 + B. F. Nead--Two-story brick building, brick stable, 5,000 + A. D. Caufman--Three-story brick building and stable, 4,000 + Mrs. Goettman--Two-story brick building, brick stable, etc., 5,500 + Peiffer's heirs--Two-story stone house, (old jail,) smith-shop, + frame shop, stable, 2,600 + T. B. Kennedy--Large two-story brick building, etc., 8,000 + Rev. B. S. Schneck--Two-story stone and brick building, 3,000 + L. Humelshine--Two-story building, 600 + S. Etter--Two-story brick building, 3,000 + Dr. N. Schlosser--Two-story building, 1,000 + S. Eckert--Two-story stone and brick building, 1,000 + + +West side Main Street to Square. + + Benj. Chambers--Two-story brick building, $5,000 + W. G. Reed--Two-story brick building, stable, 5,000 + Mrs. C. Snyder--Two-story brick building, 3,000 + Allen Smith--Two-story brick building, stable, 1,600 + C. Flack--Two-story building, stable, 1,000 + J. Schofield--Two-story building, brick shop, stable, 1,600 + M. P. Welsh--Two-story brick building, 2,500 + C. Stouffer (machinist)--Two-story brick building, stable, 3,000 + Geo. Chambers (residence)--Two-story brick building, stable, 7,000 + G. Chambers (Female Seminary)--Three-story stone building, 5,000 + G. Chambers--Two-story brick building, law office, &c., 2,000 + A. J. Miller--Two-story stone building, &c., 4,500 + James Watson--Two-story brick building, 4,500 + R. Austin--Two-story brick building, 2,500 + + +East side Main, from Square to King Street. + + Franklin Hall--Three-story brick building, $20,000 + Jacob Hoke & Co.--Two-story brick building, stable, 5,500 + Dr. Langenheim--Two-story brick building, stable, 3,000 + Widow Montgomery (hotel)--Three story brick building, stable, 9,000 + Daniel Trostle (hotel)--Two-story brick and stone buildings, + sheds and stable, 7,000 + Miss Susan B. Chambers--Brick shop, house and stable, 2,500 + A. P. Frey--Two-story building, coachmaker-shed, shop, stable, 3,000 + A. S. Hull--Two-story brick building, 2,000 + Mrs. Geo. Goettman--Two-story building, shop, 1,200 + + +West side Main, from Square to Washington Street. + + Chambersburg Bank--Two-story brick building, stable, $8,000 + Mrs. Gilmore--Two-story brick building and shops, 5,500 + Jacob B. Miller--Two-story brick building, etc., 3,000 + Dr. Richards--Two-story brick building, stable, 5,500 + C. Burkhart--Three-story brick building, ice-house, stable, 4,500 + J. M. Cooper--Three-story brick buildings, ("Valley Spirit" + office,) stone stable, etc., 15,000 + James L. Black--Two-story brick building, stable, 5,000 + Dr. J. Hamilton--Three-story brick building and stable, 7,000 + John A. Grove--Frame shop, 250 + Jacob Hutton--Three-story brick and two brick back buildings, 4,500 + John McClintock--Two-story brick building, shop, etc., 3,500 + Lewis Shoemaker--Two-story brick building, etc., 4,200 + Samuel Greenawalt--Two-story brick buildings, 5,500 + J. Allison Eyster--Two-story brick building, 5,000 + J. Allison Eyster--Two-story brick building, 1,500 + J. Allison Eyster--Three-story brick buildings, brick stable, 5,000 + Wm. Heyser's heirs--Two story brick buildings, brick stable, 5,500 + Rev. S. R. Fisher--Brick stable, 500 + Geo. Lehner--Log stable, 400 + George Ludwig--Two-story brick front and five back buildings, 7,000 + C. F. Miller--Two-story brick building, &c., 4,500 + Adam Wolff--Two-story frame and brick building, 1,200 + John Forbes--Two-story building, &c., 2,000 + John Dittman--Two-story brick building, 2,000 + J. Deckelmayer--Two-story brick building and bakery, 3,000 + Samuel Ott--Two two-story brick buildings, 4,000 + B. Radebaugh--One-story frame shop, 150 + Samuel Ott--One-story frame shop, 200 + B. Radebaugh--Two-story brick front building, 600 + + +East side Main, from Washington to Square. + + F. Spahr--Two-story brick building, $2,500 + Miss Hetrick--Two-story brick building, 1,500 + John A. Lemaster--Two-story brick building, 2,500 + Aug. Reineman--Two-story brick building, 1,500 + Samuel M. Perry--Two-story brick front and back building, 2,000 + David L. Taylor--Two-story log (weather-boarded) front and + frame back buildings, 1,500 + J. W. Taylor--Two-story brick building, stable, hay scales, + (hotel), 7,000 + George Ludwig--Two-story brick building, tin-shop, stable, 4,000 + H. H. Hutz--Two-story brick building, stable, 6,500 + D. Reisher--Two-and-a-half story brick building, bake-house, + stable, 4,500 + M. Kuss--Two-story brick building, stone stable, 2,500 + I. Hutton--Two-story brick building, brick shop, stable, 4,000 + John P. Culbertson--One-story frame shops, 800 + Dr. J. Lambert--Two-story brick building, stable, 5,500 + Mrs. R. Fisher--Two-story brick front building, 5,000 + William Wallace (hotel)--Three-story brick building, 9,000 + D. Reisher--Two-story brick buildings, stable, 6,000 + J. A. Eyster (Nixon's drugstore)--Two-story brick building, + &c., 4,500 + James Eyster--Two-story brick building, brick stable, 4,500 + Eyster & Bro.--Two-story stone and brick building, 5,500 + Eyster & Bro.--Three-story brick warehouse, stable, 10,000 + Brand & Flack--Two-story stone and brick building, warehouse, 6,500 + A. J. White--Two-story stone and brick building, 4,500 + Hiram White--Three-story brick front, and back building, + (new), 7,500 + John Jeffries--Two-story stone and brick building, &c., stable, 3,000 + A. B. Hamilton--Two-story stone and brick buildings, stable, 6,000 + Mansion House (German Reformed Publication House)--Three-story + brick front and back building, livery stable, &c., 10,000 + Academy--Large three-story brick, 4,000 + + +Queen--South Side. + + J. W. Reges--Two-story brick building, $3,000 + W. Cunningham--Two-story brick building and granary, 3,000 + John Mull--Two-story brick front and back building, 2,000 + J. T. Hoskinson--Two-story brick building, 2,200 + Jacob Flinder--Two-story frame building, 800 + Jacob Flinder--Two-story frame building, stable, 700 + W. Wallace--Two-story brick building, spring-house, &c., 4,000 + Mrs. John Lindsay--Two-story brick building, 2,500 + Barnard Wolff--Two two-story brick buildings, warehouse, + shop, brick stable, &c., 7,500 + J. Allison Eyster--Two-story brick building, 2,200 + Mrs. Blood--Two-story brick and two back buildings, 1,800 + Mrs. Clark--Two-story brick front and back building, 1,800 + Mrs. R. Fisher--Two-story brick building, 2,000 + Mrs. Sarah Stevenson--Two two-story brick buildings, 2,000 + J. D. Grier--Two-story brick building, 4,500 + Mrs. Susan Nixon--Two-story brick building, 1,800 + Robert Davis--Two-story brick building, 2,000 + John Cree--Two-story brick building, 2,500 + Samuel Myers--Two-story brick front, two back buildings, 3,200 + Mrs. Porter Thompson--Two-story log building, 600 + Mrs. George S. Eyster--Two-story brick building, 2,500 + Andrew Banker--Two-story log building and smoke-house, 1,500 + + +Queen--North Side. + + Huber & Co. (edge-tool factory)--Five brick and frame buildings, $3,500 + Brick blacksmith shop, 600 + "Bethel" (church)--brick, 3,000 + G. Ludwig (brewery)--Two-story stone and brick building, &c., 8,000 + Widow Grove (of William)--Two-story building, smoke-house, 1,500 + Thos. Carlisle--Two-story brick, and one frame building, 3,000 + Kindline's heirs--Two-story brick, two-story log and brick back + buildings, 4,000 + Widow Grove (of Alex.)--Two-story building, stable, 1,200 + John Huber--Two-story brick building, stable, 3,000 + Abraham Huber--Two-story brick, and frame stable, 2,000 + H. Sierer--Two-story building, wareroom, stable, &c., 3,000 + Thos. Carlisle--Two-story brick front, and back buildings, 2,500 + W. Wallace--Three three-story brick buildings, brick stable, 8,000 + N. Snyder--Two-story brick building, wash-houses, stable, 2,500 + Dr. S. D. Culbertson--Two-and-a-half-story brick building, + stable, 4,000 + Mrs. Samuel Brand--roof slightly damaged. + J. P. Culbertson--Two-story brick building, stable, 4,500 + + +Second Street. + + P. Henry Peiffer--New two-story frame stable, $1,900 + Associate Reformed Church--One-story brick building, 3,000 + Benjamin Rhodes--Two-story log front and one-story brick back + building, 1,200 + J. Allison Eyster--One-story log shop, 100 + Charles Croft--Log building and frame kitchen, 800 + J. P. Keefer--Two-story brick building and kitchen, 1,500 + John Reasner--One-story log bakery, 150 + J. S. Brown--Roof and upper floor (hotel) 500 + John Doebler--Two-story brick building, 2,000 + Holmes Crawford--Two-story brick building, 3,000 + S. F. Armstrong--Two-story brick building, stable, 4,000 + Aug. Reineman--Three one-story frame shops, &c., 1,000 + + +Franklin. + + Martin Cole--Two-story brick and log buildings, $1,500 + Philip Evans--Two-story brick building, 1,200 + + +Wolfstown. + + Dr. A. H. Senseny--Two one-story log buildings, $200 + N. Uglow--Three one-story log buildings, 250 + + +Water. + + George Kindline--Brick wagonmaker and blacksmith shop, brick + stable, $800 + + +Alley. + + Widow Palmer--Frame stable, $150 + Nicholas Gerwig--Frame stable, 100 + Henry Greenawalt--Brick stable, 300 + + +King. + + George Chambers--Three two-story brick buildings, $2,500 + Upton Washabaugh--Two-story building, stone brewery, granary, + brick stables, and shed, 8,000 + C. Herman--Stone shop, dwelling, and stable, 800 + A. K. McClure--House and barn ("Norland"), 9,500 + Jacob Eby--Large brick barn, 2,500 + Andrew McElwaine--House, 400 + + +Recapitulation. + +The following is the aggregate of buildings burned: + + Residences and places of business, $278 + Barns and stables, 98 + Out-buildings of various kinds, 173 + ---- + Total buildings burned, 559 + + +The aggregate valuation of the real estate, as made by a committee of +upright and disinterested citizens, consisting of Messrs. Wm. McLellan, +C. M. Burnet, Rev. Joseph Clark, D. K. Wunderlich, and John Armstrong, is +$783,950. The loss in personal property greatly exceeds that of the real +estate, but it is difficult, if not impossible, even to approach to +anything like a satisfactory estimate. + +In regard to the foregoing estimates of real property, I will merely add +that they are low, generally speaking, very low. I say this, not because I +find any fault with the judicious committee of gentlemen who made those +estimates. I rather commend them for it; but for the purpose simply of +mentioning the fact that the actual loss was much greater than the figures +indicate. Thus, for instance, the Court-House is put down at $45,000, +whereas an experienced builder has stated to me it could not be rebuilt +for less than $80,000. The Mansion House (the printing establishment of +the German Reformed Church), with a stone livery stable in the rear, is +put down at $10,000, whereas $15,000 would not replace them as they were. +Colonel McClure's large and beautiful residence, with his spacious model +barn, are put down at $9,500, but they could not be restored for less than +$20,000. The banking house is put down at $8,000, but not less than +$20,000 would be required to replace it. And so with most of the +buildings. A million dollars will not suffice to restore them, and twice +as much more will not cover the losses of such personal property as money +can replace. + +Many heavy sufferers are among those who had no real property, and hence +their names do not appear in the above list. Some of the large business +shops were in the front rooms of houses belonging to other persons. Thus +the Mansion House, besides containing the printing and binding +establishments of the Reformed Church, was occupied by Shryock's large +bookstore, Mr. Metcalf's dry goods store, dentists' rooms, saddler's shop, +&c. In many instances there were two, three, and even four private +families living in one house. Many families also, whose dwellings were not +burned, were nevertheless very heavy sufferers, having been plundered and +robbed of their most valuable articles of plate, jewelry, clothing, &c. +Hence it is perhaps not too much to say that the number of families who +are sufferers is more than double the number of houses, as well as that +the loss is double the amount in value, as compared with the loss of the +houses enumerated in the list. + +In conclusion permit me to add, that if our border is protected hereafter, +and some reasonable assurance is given to our people that incursions by +the enemy will be rendered impossible, our town will be +rebuilt--gradually, but surely. If, however, no such assurance is given, +and no effective aid for border defence is afforded; if our people are +coolly told that the Cumberland Valley is to be "a trap in which to catch +the rebels, and which must therefore be left open," then, alas! there will +be no heart to remain and rebuild the town; but, imitating many of our +disheartened farmers, our citizens will sell out their realty and leave, +regretfully indeed; but rather than be in constant dread and apprehension, +leave they will, and allow the ruins of their houses and hearths to remain +behind them, seeking some more sheltered or sequestered spot, where they +may live and die in "quietness and peace," though it be away from the +graves of their fathers and their childhood's "sweet home." + +Very sincerely yours, + +B. S. S. + + + + +MISS M'KEEVER'S NEW STORY, + +NOW READY. + +WOODCLIFF. + +BY MISS HARRIET B. McKEEVER, + +AUTHOR OF "EDITH'S MINISTRY," "SUNSHINE," "THE FLOUNCED ROBE," ETC., ETC. + +IN ONE VOLUME, 12mo., PRICE $2.00. + +The scene of Miss McKeever's new story is laid principally in New England. +The hero, a Scotch boy, taken from the humbler walks of life, is a type of +that struggling class that thrive best in our country. By his moral and +intellectual worth, sustained by an unfaltering trust in God, he rises +step by step, triumphing over every difficulty, until he attains a +commanding position among his fellow men. The power of personal influence +is illustrated by the acts of his daily life, moulding a peculiarly +untutored child of noble impulses, and guiding her aspirations after the +good and true. Roland Bruce and Madeline, or Madcap Hamilton, as she is +sometimes familiarly called, the hero and heroine of the story, give a +freshness and vigor to it, which, with the high moral inculcated, commend +it to the favorable attention of all classes of readers. + + +ALSO, JUST READY, + +New Editions of + +EDITH'S MINISTRY. 12mo., cloth, price $1.50. + + "We have already noticed, and always favorably, some of the earlier + productions of this authoress, and take pleasure in commending the + present volume to the public. It shows how blessed and happy may be + the ministry of a single life, and how such a life, well employed, + brings with it its own reward."--_Episcopal Recorder, Phila._ + +SUNSHINE, OR KATE VINTON. 16mo., cloth, price $1. + +THE FLOUNCED ROBE, AND WHAT IT COST. 16mo., cloth, price 75 cents. + + "The authoress is favorably known to the reading community by her + works. They all sustain a high moral and religious tone, and are not + only safe but salutary in their influence in every + family.--_Christian Chronicle._ + +SINGLE COPIES sent by mail free of postage, upon receipt of the retail +price. + +LIBERAL DISCOUNTS given to Agents, or others buying to sell again. +Address, + +LINDSAY & BLAKISTON, Publishers, + +PHILADELPHIA. + + + +THE REV. SAMUEL A. PHILIPS' NEW BOOK, + +THE VOICE OF BLOOD, IN THE SPHERE OF NATURE AND OF THE SPIRIT WORLD. + +BY THE + +REV. SAMUEL A. PHILIPS, A. M., + +PASTOR OF THE REFORMED CHURCH, CARLISLE, AND AUTHOR OF "GETHSEMANE AND THE +CROSS," "THE CHRISTIAN HOME," ETC. + +IN ONE VOLUME, DEMY 8vo., PRICE $2.00. + + "No reader of the Bible can have failed to discover the prominent + place occupied by blood-shedding in the Levitical services, and in + the grand fundamentals of Christianity. The blood typical was the + precursor of the blood shed on the cross. While some of the 'voices + of blood' considered by the author, may be considered as only + remotely bearing on the great subject of atonement, yet they are all + designed to illustrate it. The atonement by blood is the marked + feature of the gospel, without the shedding of which there could be + no remission of sin, and the vitality of the gospel is lost where it + does not stand forth prominently. It is the author's design to + illustrate this blessed truth, and he does it Scripturally and + practically, that all may see the harmony between the voice of blood + from the altar, and the voice of blood from the cross. The volume + comprises much precious truth in various respects, and may be + profitably read."--_Presbyterian._ + + "In this work, the author first analyzes the voice, its structure, + functions, capabilities, as a material organ of the spirit; then the + blood in which is the life; then blood as the voice which utters + mighty truths and testimonies; then 'the voice of accusing blood from + the ground,' beginning with the blood of Abel; the 'voice of typical + blood from the altar' comprehending the Jewish sacrifices; 'the voice + of atoning blood from the cross;' 'the voice of martyr-blood from the + church;' of 'sacramental blood from the Christian altar;' of + 'pleading blood from the mercy-seat;' of 'witnessing blood from the + judgment throne;' of 'avenging blood from hell;' and, finally, of + 'glorifying blood in heaven.' These topics are treated in a fervid + and impassioned style which seldom flags. The reader is never wearied + by dulness. Without endorsing every sentiment, we find the work + evangelical, earnest, and quickening."--_Biblical Repertory and + Princeton Review._ + +SINGLE COPIES sent by mail free of postage, upon receipt of the retail +price. + +AGENTS WANTED to sell the work, to whom a liberal discount will be given. +Address, + +LINDSAY & BLAKISTON, Publishers, + +PHILADELPHIA. + + + + +Footnotes: + +[1] I take great pleasure in this connection to direct attention to a +large photographic view of the Ruins of Chambersburg, by Mr. C. L. +Lochman, of Carlisle, as the most satisfactory picture I have yet seen. +The same artist has also prepared a number of smaller pictures and a +series of _stereoscopic views_, embracing general views and the most +prominent local objects of the town. + +[2] Reference is here made chiefly to the New York Herald and the Tribune, +both of which sheets have manifested a spirit towards our deeply afflicted +sufferers akin to that of our worst enemies. The Tribune, instead of +allowing itself to be corrected by the Hon. A. K. McClure, in the +Philadelphia Press, turns aside from the subject with miserable jokes, as +trivial as they are heartless. And these are our _friends_! + +[3] Since the foregoing was written it has been ascertained to a +certainty, that there were three thousand men, exclusive of the eight +hundred and thirty-one who were in the town; almost as large a force as +that which, one year ago, routed Milroy's whole military force, cannon and +all, at Winchester. + +[4] Among the many thousands who have been quartered and encamped here, I +have never heard of a single soldier who did not speak in the most +grateful terms of the universally kind treatment towards them from our +citizens. For proof I appeal to these thousands among the living, wherever +they may now be found. + +[5] This and several following paragraphs are quoted, with a few slight +modifications, from a brief and well-written article by the Rev. Joseph +Clark, in the Philadelphia "Presbyterian" of August 6. + +[6] McCausland had also insisted upon burning the town in the _night_, to +which Johnson persistently objected. Mrs. Greenawalt, a most worthy and +intelligent woman, overheard this consultation of the officers in an +adjoining room. The increased horrors which must have resulted if +McCausland had not been overruled in his determination, may be imagined. + +B. S. S. + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_. + +The following misprints have been corrected: + "geting" corrected to "getting" (page 20) + "sacrified" corrected to "sacrificed" (page 23) + "guerillas" corrected to "guerrillas" (page 57) + +Unmatched quotation marks were left as they were in the original. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG, +PENNSYLVANIA*** + + +******* This file should be named 32268.txt or 32268.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/2/2/6/32268 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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