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THE

BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG,
PENNSYLVANIA.

KEV. B. S. SCHNECK, D. D.,

AN BTK-WITITESS AND A SrFFERKK.

COEEOBOEATIVB STATEMENTS
FKOM THE
REV. JOSEPH CLAEK, HON. A. K. McCLTJEE, J. HOKE, ESQ.,
AND EEV. S. J. NICCOLLS.

PHILADELPHIA:
LINDSAY & BLAKISTON.
18 64.

i

CAXTON PBEBS OF S H E K M A » 4 CO.

THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.

LETTER L
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 SOth 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 occa
sions, so also during the present one, remained at home,
gives me a right to speak on the subject, without the 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 some statements which have appeared in
print.* Passing by your other remarks, which I may be
permitted to set down as emanating from personal parti
ality, I shall proceed to give you, as perfectly as I can,
and as briefly as the subject will allow, a somewhat de-
* 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 their very enemies themselves. The Tribune, instead
of allowing itself to be corrected by the Hon. A. K. McClure, in the Philadel
phia Press, turns aside from the subject with miserable attempts at joking, as
trivial as they are heartless. And these are OM-c frieTids. This is humanita
rian philanthropy. 2

6 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
tailed account of the terrible disaster, divesting myself as
far as possible from any personal feeling in the matter,
and, avoiding all special pleading and overdrawn state
ments, deal only in simple matters of fact, as far as I
have been able to gather them, either from personal know
ledge or unquestionable authority.
The Military Situation on the Border.
Before proceeding directly to the narration of the terri
ble 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 cavalry (about one hun
dred 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. Several
Pennsylvania regiments which had previously been organ
ized for the defence of the border through the efforts of
our vigilant Governor, had been summoned by the General

TUB BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG. 7
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 for-
wa'rd?" 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 Cham
bersburg. Averill was encamped one mile from Green-
castle (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. Ave
rill only now discovered that he had been flanked on the
left by the enemy, and expressed himself greatly surprised
and chagrined to the messenger at this state of things.
Whether he was to blame or not, 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 citi
zens of the place, most of them without firearms, be ex
pected to make a resistance against such a force, and with
four cannon planted on the hills overlooking the town ?
To ask the question is to answer it.
In reading over the two preceding paragraphs it oc
curred to me that the impression might have been made
on your mind, that I wished to find fault wiih the Gene
ral Government for removing from us all military protec
tion on our border. I have no wish to do so in this letter.

8 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
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 here
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, especi
ally when smarting under severe personal losses or griev
ances, 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 indorse 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 Chambers
burg, 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 whom were
in town, the rest within supporting distance. Johnson's

THE BURNING OF CHAMBJERSEURG. 9
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 plun
der 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 cliem
ready to die, so that two hundred and fifty of these last
could not be taken any farther, but were left here to re
cruit. 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
even then have been made under these circumstances.
But Averill aud 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, in Ful
ton County.
Judge then, dear sir, how keenly we must feel the re
proaches 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 hunr
dred soldiers and a small number of citizens, did not suc
cessfully resist more than three thousand* veteran cavalry
men, with cannon eligibly planted to lay waste the town
* Since the forlgoing 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; u, larger force than that which routed Milroy'.s
whole military force a year ago, cannon and all, at Winchester.

10 THB BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
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.
Keproaches — and from whom and whence f From cer
tain 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 Po
tomac Army brought thither to guard some of the very
newspaper offices from which those reproaches upon a
helpless town in a neighboring State are so unjustly
heaped ; that same New York and those identical news
papers which, because a large portion of their soldiery
who were around and in this place a year ago, were not
treated with f^tes and ovations as our "protectors," 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.* New York is a great State
and counts its noble and good men by hundreds of thou
sands ; but like every large State with large towns and
cities, she also counts her thousands of depraved and
wretched 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 thou
sands who were in this community, from every portion of
the country, since the commencement of this war, none

* Among the many thousands who have been quartered and encamped here,
I have never heard of a single soldier (the New York miUtia of course ex
cepted) 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.

THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG. 11
have left behind them such a bad moral odor as the ma
jority of these very men. Drunkenness, wanton destruc
tion of property, thieving, fighting and stabbing each other
(in some cases to death outright), were almost daily occur
rences. And yet such men are not only allowed to vilify
and abuse the very 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 pro
nounce its verdict.
I would not have troubled you with this dark chapter
if it were not necessary in order to understand the animus
of the splenetic course of the newspapers referred to.
These editors, under the pretext of "defending the citi
zens 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 distinc
tion of nation or State, and among them not a few of this
very New York militia. I speak that which I do know.
" Defending the citizens of New York !" Heaven forefend !
The true citizens of New York do not want such men
to be defended, just as the citizens of Philadelphia do not
want the character of their pickpockets or the denizens of
the State prison to be defended. Not a few of the men
from New York to whom reference has been made, boasted,
whilst here, that they had had some "fine times" in the
Tombs. Fitting place for such " citizens." Whether it

12 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
is less fitting to defend them at the expense of the good
name of others, you yourself may judge. Yours, &c.

L E T T E K 1 1.
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 18d3, 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 har
vest had just commenced, and now the enemy was again
on the border. During the first three weeks of July,
they felt it necessary to remove their most essential per
sonal 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
wore on their way from Harrisburg, which, however, like
many previous assurances, telegrams, and rumors, were

the burning of CHAMBERSBURG. 13
not realized. Our scouts soon reported the near approach
of the rebels, and by three o'clock on the morning of
Saturday, the 80th, 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 a reply, eight hundred and thirty-one of
their number came to town, their skirmishers simul
taneously investing every street and alley, gradually
moving forward, and then halting until the signal or for
ward command was again given. Our town was 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 of entering
into negotiations. To this end the Court-house beil was
rung. The summons to the citizens was very partially
obeyed. It was felt that nothing could be done by nego
tiation, and that they must submit to pillage, — the most
tbey 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, to 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
of 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 impossi
ble to pay the sum named either in gold or currency, and
that the demand could not be made in good faith. They

14 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
further remonstrated, to some extent, against the mon
strosity of burning a whole town of six thousand inhabi
tants, 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 clinch
ing 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 re
moved, and a few prominent citizens had left, but that no
families, women, or children had departed. The burning
was executed in the most ruthless and unrelenting man
ner.* " A squad of men would approach a house, break open
the door, proceed to the most convenient part of the house,
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 corpses of one or two
persons who had recently died, were hastily interred in the
gardens, and children, separated from their parents, ran
* This and several following paragraphs are quoted, with a few slight modi
fications, from a brief and well-written article by the Rev. Joseph Clark, in
the Philadelphia "Presbyterian" of August 6.

THE BURNING QF CHAMBERSBURG. 15
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 des
perate acts, and a few of the incendiaries left their bones
to smoulder in the ruins.
"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, Avith some
four or five exceptions, where the buildings were isolated.
Only the outskirts are left. The Court-house, Bank, Town
Hall, German Eeformed Printing Establishment, every
store and hotel in the town, and every mill and factory
in the space indicated, and two churches, were consumed.
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 des
troyed. The scene of desolation must be seen to be appre
ciated. 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 stir
ring, 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

16 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
perpendicular 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 faihng 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 sim
ultaneously 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 M'sses Denny,
in a somewhat isolated position. This stands in its fresh
ness 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 even, among the number. Pass
ing 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,

THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG. 17
are among the many other 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, warerooms, 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 dwell
ings and stores. Between eleven and twelve squares of
the best part of the town are therefore in ruins, among
them many, very many inhabitants, whom you knew in
former years as among your dearest friends, and in com
fortable 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
extended, although somewhat condensed, 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 :
3

18 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
" It seems inexplicable to persons and journals at a
distance that General Couch, a Major-General command
ing 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,
soDtie twelve hundred strong, expressly for duty in his
department : the men were enlisted under a positive
assurance, based on the order authorizing the organiza
tion, 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 hun
dred 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, assur
ing them that the people were wilhng 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

THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG. 19
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 respon
sibility 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 Eebels 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 get
ting up their whole column, fully three thousand strong.
About 6 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 commaud of Gene
ral 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, silver-ware, and everything of value,
were appropriated from individuals on the streets without
ceremony ; and when a man was met whose appearance

20 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
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 accom
plishments 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
was 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 ran
som. No committee was appointed, and no individuals
attempted to deal with the arch-fiend who had come at
once to rob and destroy. 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.
No sort of effort was made either by individuals singly
or in organized capacities to make terms ; all had resolved
that the freebooter should fulfil his threat rather than
pay tribute. Infuriated at the determination of our peo
ple. Major Gilmore rode up to a gi'oup of citizens, con
sisting of Thomas B. Kennedy, William McLellan, J.
McDowell Sharpe, Dr. J. C. Richards, William H. Mc
Dowell, 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.

THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG. 21
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, or sick, or even the dead. No notice of the
kind was communicated to any one ; but like infuriated
fiends from hell itself the work of destruction was com
menced. They did not have anything to learn in their
horrid trade — they proved themselves experts in their
calling. They divided into squads, and fired every other
house, and often every house, if they presented any pros
pect of plunder. They would beat in the door with iron
bars or heavy plank, smash up any 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 learned of a number of persons, mostly widows,
who paid them sums from twenty-five to two hundred dol
lars, we know of but one case where the property was
saved thereby. Mr. James Kennedy, near town, saved
his buildings by the payment of two hundred dollars.
The main object of the men seemed to be plunder. . Not
a house escaped rifling — all were plundered of everything
that could be carried away. In most cases houses were
entered in the rudest manner, and no time whatever
allowed even for the families to escape, much less to save
anything. Many families had the utmost difficulty to get
3*

22 THE BURNING OP CHAMBERSBURG.
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 build
ing 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 inva
lids 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. So thoroughly were all of them master of the
trade of destruction that there is scarcely a house standing
in Chambersburg to-day that they attempted to burn,
although their stay did not exceed two hours. In that
brief period, the major portion of Chambersbui'g — 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 village, or any of them,
had violated any accepted rule of civilized warfare. Such
is the deliberate, voluntary record made by General Early,

THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG. 23
a corps commander in the insurgent army. The Govern
ment may not take summary vengeance, although it has
abundant power to do so ; but there is- One whose voice is
most terrible in wrath, who has declared, ' Vengeance is
mine ; I will repay ! ' "
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. Tbe house of Mr. James Watson, an old and fee
ble 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 out
side. Her daughters rescued her by bursting in the door
before her clothing took fire. Mrs. Conner, the widow of
a Union soldier, who has no means of support, got on her
knees and begged to save her and her little ones from the fury
of rebel wrath; but while she was thus pleading for mercy,
they fired her little home, and stole ten dollars from her,^
the only money she had in the world. Mr. Wolf kill, a very
old citizen, and prostrated by sickness so that he was ut
terly unable to be out of bed, plead in vain to be spared
a horrible death in the flames of his own house ; but they
laughed at his terror and 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 by the
fiends to be devoured in the flames : but fortunately a rela
tive reached the house in time, and lifting her in a buggy
in the stable 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

24 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
they were shown the dead body, they plied the torch and
burned the house. Mrs. J. K. Shryock was there with
Mrs. Kuss's dying babe in her arms, and plead for the sake
of the dead mother and dying child to spare that house,
but it was unavailing. The body of Mrs. Kuss was hur
riedly buried in the garden, and the work of destruction
went on. The next day it was taken up and interred in the
Catholic graveyard. When the flames drove Mrs. Shryock
out with the child, she went to one of the men and pre
senting the dying babe, said, "/« this revenge stveetf
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 then too late. The babe has ceased to be motherless,
for it shares a mother's sepulchre. The houses of Messrs.
McLellan, Sharpe and Nixon were saved miraculously.
They are located east of the railroad, and out of the busi
ness part of the town. They were not reached until the
rest of the town was in flames, and the roads were stream
ing 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 immedi
ately 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, help
less people and their children ? When you and I and all
of us shall meet before the Q-reat Judge, can you justify
this act?" He made no reply, but ordered his command
away, and that part of the town was saved. Mrs. Louis
Shoemaker rushed up stairs when they fired her house to

THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG. 25 •
save some valuables, and returned with some silver spoons
in her hand. She found the rebels quarrelling over a val
uable breast-pin of hers, several claiming it by right of
discovery, and the dispute was ended, for the time at least,
by one rudely taking the spoons from Mrs. Shoemaker and
dividing them among the squad. Mrs. Denig escaped by
wetting blankets and throwing them around her, thus en
abling her to get out through the burning buildings in the
rear of her house. The residence of Mr. McElwaine was
burned by a squad of rebels, who first demanded and pro
cured their breakfast from him, because he was guilty of
teaching colored children, and he was fired at as he made
his escape. S. M. Royston, bar-keeper at Montgomery's
Hotel, was robbed on his way down stairs of $700, — all the
savings of his life. He was met by a squad of rebels, and
dexterously relieved of his monej' and all valuables. Mr.
Holmes Crawford was taken into an alley while his house
was burning, and his pockets rifled. All he had about him
was $1.60, and that was appropriated. He was thus de
tained 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 burned around him.
Father IMcCullom, Catholic priest of this place, was robbed
of his watch. He was sitting on his porch, and a party of
rebels came up and peremptorily demanded his watch,
which he delivered. He was also robbed of his watch last
year by Jenkins's men, the same command that burned
Chambersburg. 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

26 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
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 pre
sent, 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. Colonel
Boyd's residence, "Federal Hill," was also put under
guard, when Mrs. Boyd informed them who lived there.
They had some recollections of Colonel Boyd occasionally
penetrating the Shenandoah Valley, and it was not deemed
wholesome to burn his property. Mr. John Treher, of
Loudon, was robbed by the rebels of $200 in gold and
silver, and $100 in currency. The money was in a bureau
drawer, but it was most dexterously appropriated by the
scienced light-fingered gentry of McCausland. They also
stole all his liquors. 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.
Burning of Norland,
Soon after the work of destruction had commenced, a
squad was detailed to burn "Norland," the residence of
A. K. McClure. It is situated a mile from the centre of

THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG. 27
the town, and no other building was fired within half a
mile of it, although fifty houses stand between it and the
burnt portion of Chambersburg. The squad was com
manded by Captain Smith, son of Governor Smith (Extra
Billy), of Virginia, whose beautiful residence near War
renton has ever been carefully guarded by Union troops
when within our lines. The mother and sisters of the
officer who fired "Norland" have lived in peace and safety
in their home, under Federal guards, since the war com
menced. With the cry of "retaliation," Captain Smith
proceeded to Mr. McClure's residence. Passing the beau
tiful mansion of Mr. Eyster, he supposed he had reached
the object of his vengeance, and he alighted and met Mr.
Eyster at the door. " Colonel McClure, I presume," said
the chivalrous son of Virginia. " No, sir ; my name is
Eyster," was the reply. " Where is McClure's house?"
was the next interrogatory. As the property was evi
dently doomed, and in sight, Mr. Eyster could only answer
that it was further out the road, and the noble warrior
passed' on. He found Mrs. McClure quite ill, having been
confined to her bed for ten days previous. He informed
her that the house must be burned by way of retaliation,
for what particular wrong, he did not seem anxious to
explain. He magnanimously stated that she should have
ten minutes to get the family out of the house and away ;
and to prove his sincerity he at once fired the house on
each story. To convince Mrs. McClure that he was a
chivalrous foe, he ordered her to open her secretary while
the house was in flames around her, and, evidently ambi
tious to show bis literary taste and acquirements, he com
menced to read her private letters. Mrs. McClure in
formed him that he would doubtless be disappointed in her

28 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
assortment of literature, as her husband had no papers or
letters in the house ; but as he seemed desirous to read
something, she would commend to him a letter she had
just received the day before from a rebel prisoner, invok
ing the blessing of Heaven upon her and hers for kind
ministrations to a foe. The writer had been here with
Lee, in June, 1863, and was on guard at the house, and
was of course treated kindly. The sick of the same com
mand, as well those of McCausland's forces, then under
Jenkins, were all humanely cared for by Mrs. McClure ;
and the author of the letter, having since been captured,
and suffering from sickness and destitution, wrote her some
time before, stating his condition. That she had not
turned a deaf ear even to a foe when suffering, is evidenced
by the acknowledgment presented to Captain Smith, which
was as follows : Peisoners' Camp, Point Lookout, Md.,
July 20, 1804.
Mrs. M. S. McClure.
Madam : It is with feelings of intense gratitude I ac
knowledge the receipt of your letter under date of 21st
June, inclosing  dollars. Words are inadequate to
express my gratitude for so kind, so benevolent, and unex
pected a favor. I can only simply say, many thanks and
may God bless you. I have a mother and sisters ; and your
letter I shall retain and convey to them, in order that they
may see the Christian kindness of one who is against us,
and urge that they may emulate your example, and never
be backward when an opportunity is offered in giving aid
to a needy Federal soldier.
As it may never be in my power to reciprocate the favor
received at your hands, my prayer is that God may re-

THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG. 29
ward you for it  With best wishes for your
health and happiness, and trusting that this dark war-
cloud may soon be dispelled, and peace and happiness and
prosperity once more smile upon us,
I am, madam, with much respect.
Your obedient servant,
James B. Stamp,
Co. C, 9th Division
Such a letter was not just the entertainment to which
the imperious son of the South considered himself invited.
Instead of retaliating for wrongs done, he found himself
about to apply the torch where friend and foe had found
solace in distress, even his own men having been mercifully
ministered to there by the one over whose aching head and
enfeebled limbs he was inviting the fury of the flames.
He read the letter and answered, " This is awful! it is
awful to burn this house!" and in vindication of his con
trition, he left Mrs. McClure to escape from the fire while
he proceeded to the adjoining room, and, in a fit of remorse,
stole Mr. McClure's gold watch and other articles of value.
Fortunately Mrs. McClure had some of her own clothing
in a trunk, and one of the squad kindly aided her in get
ting it out of the house, and it was saved, but nothing
belonging to Mr. McClure was allowed to be removed.
Mrs. Rev. Niccolls, who had rushed to the house, was
caught on the stairs with a coat on her arms, and it was
rudely taken from her, with the remark, " Saving anything
belonging to him is expressly forbidden." In five mi
nutes the house was enveloped in flames, and Mrs. McClure
and the other members of the family at home, started on
foot, in the heat of the day, to escape the vengeance of
4

30 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
the chivalry. The torch was thrust into the large, well-
filled barn, and in half an hour a few charred walls was all
that remained of "Norland." Captain Smith could con
ceal the watch and other articles he purloined at "Nor
land" as trophies of his valor, hut the silver pitcher was
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 gene
rosity. He stopped at Rev. Mr. Kennedy's, and handed
the pitcher to his wife, with the request, " Please deliver
this to Mrs. Colonel McClure, with the compliments of
Captain Smith." The goblets were strapped to the saddle
of one of his squad, and the watch could be pocketed to
prevent the tell-tale qualities of the pitcher, and they were
borne off to the land of heroic warriors and noble blood.
Humane Eebel 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 in
furiated freebooters who were plying the torch and secur
ing plunder. Surgeon 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 cora
mander. He took no part in it whatever, save to aid
some unfortunate ones in escaping from the flames. Cap
tain Baxter, formerly of Baltimore, peremptorily refused
to participate in the burning, but aided many people to

THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG. 31
get some clothing and other articles out of the houses.
He a.sked 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 com
mander !" 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 commis
sion rather than burn out defenceless people ; and other
officers and a number of privates displayed every possible
evidence of their humanity. One whole company was kept
by its captain, name unknown, from burning and pillaging,
and the southeastern portion of Chambersburg stands to
day solely because an officer detailed there kept his men
employed in aiding people out of their burning houses, and
did not apply the torch at all. 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

32 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
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. McCaus
land was greatly incensed at some of his officers, and
threatened them with most summary vengeance if they
refused to obey orders.* Many, however, did openly dis
obey, 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 order of 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 Cham
bersburg had been destroyed. He was brought to Gene
ral Early's headquarters at Williamsport, and there pa
roled to effect his exchange. General Early there informed
him that he had directed Chambersburg to be burned in
* ]Vf cCausland had also insisted upon burning the town in the night, to which
.lohnson and Gilmore persistently objected. Mrs. Greenawalt, a most worthy
and intelligent woman, overheard this consultation of the officers in an ad
joining room. The increased horrors which must have resulted if McCaus
land had not been overruled in his determination, may be imagined. B. S, S.

THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG. 6-j
retaliation for the destruction of property in Virginia by
Grant, Meade, and Hunter, and that the account was now
squared. Eetribution.
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,
Sth 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 thiev
ing propensities, he was isolated. He was captured by
several citizens, in the midst of his brutal work, and was
despatched 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 ih 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.
He was about five feet five inches in height, very stoutly
built, with sandy hair, goatee and mustache, sandy com
plexion, full face, and from thirty-five to forty years of
age. Mr. Thomas H. Doyle, of Loudon, who had served
in Easton's battei'y, followed the retreating rebels toward
Loudon, to capture stragglers. When beyond St. Thomas
he caught Captain Cochran, quartermaster of Ilth Vir
ginia 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.
4*

34 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
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 $1760 of rebel currency. His
sword, belt and pistols were brought to this place by Mr.
Doyle. Scores of McCausland's command were killed on
the retreat by General Averill's forces. Many of them
were intoxicated, and all demoralized by plunder, and they
became an easy prey to our troops who passed through the
burning town in the pursuit of the barbarians.

LETTER III.
My DEAR Friend :
In your last letter, you ask me what are the feelings of
our people, especially the sufferers, under the severe stroke
which has befallen them ; whether- desponding or other
wise, 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 iny life, I have not witnessed such an
.abse|ice 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 devas
tated town. And I leave you to imagine the many cases

THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG. 35
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, manuscripts, the accumula
tions of many years, statuary, paintings, precious and
never to be replaced mementos — more valued than gold or
silver — gone forever. And yet amid all these losses and
the consequent self-denial and adaptation to another and
almost entirely different state of things, to which the great
majority of the people have been 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 and evanescent objects.
But in a general way, the sufferers by this wholesale de
vastation, 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 hum
ble 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 lodg
ing-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 httle all had been burnt before my eyes, I should
not have grace enough to bear up as you and the rest are
enabled to do." And then with an outburst of uncon-

36 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
trolled emotion she added, " And you can yet exhort us to
forgive these our enemies, and not to murmur and repine
under all this, as not only you yourself but others have
said. 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,
r.nd 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 com
forts and many of the luxuries of life. Pleasant and
cheei'ful conversation passed around the board. The visi
tor alone seemed sad. 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, to
hear only lamentations and sighs, and here you are as I
have seen and known you in your bright and happy days,
calm, and even cheerful !" When one of oi\r number re
plied, 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 sink like
precious ointment, deep down into my heart. Oh, what a
commentary on the promised grace of God !" And we

THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG. 37
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 propor
tion 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 opportunity should offer. They have gone
further, and have drawn up a petition in which they ear
nestly 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 the provocation from the other side may be, and
have always condemned the destruction of private pro
perty by our troops in the South, whenever isolated in
stances of the kind were reported. They believe more
over, with our wise and judicious Governor, that retalia
tion " can do no good to our own people, but a great deal
of evil, because we have more towns, villages, flouring and
other mills to be destroyed in three counties, than our ene
mies in the Southern States have in fifteen or twenty coun
ties.'.' Such a wholesale, premeditated and cruel work of de
struction as the burning of Chambersburg, was never per
petrated 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

S8 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
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 overrule principle, mili
tary 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 civi
lized 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 J
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, on both sides of the line, 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 troops from the house, 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. Our troops sometimes, and only sometimes,
enforce the first and milder part of the rule. The rebels
invariably enforce the entire rule relentlessly, and we
have yet to hear of complaint from Northern journals

THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG. 39
because they do so. In Alexandria an accidental fire,
resulting from a party of intoxicated soldiers, threatened
the destruction of the entire town, owing to its inflam
mable 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 (Mis
sissippi) 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 deliberately
^nd wantonly burning and robbing 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. Kil
patriok 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 govern
ment. General Stoneman enforced the same rules rigidly
in all his raids, and so did Grierson. The Union troops

40 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
have captured and occupied hundreds of rebel towns since
the war has commenced, and they have yet 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 IV.
Dear Friend :
After my last letter had been beyond my control, I was
made 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 his 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

the BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG. 41
woman had left to escape the approaching flames of ad
joining 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 hos
pital in this place in the summer of 1863. The man
recognized her, and frankly declared that he could not be
so base as to destrc)y 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 enter
prising merchants, has furnished the following statement
of facts and incidents for publication in the Religious
Telescope, in Dayton, Ohio. As his residence and store
were located in the centre of the town, he had an oppor
tunity 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 seve
ral 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 Chambers
burg, 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 Phila
delphia 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
5

42 THE BURNING OF CHAMBEHSBURG.
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 com
parative security, until on Friday, July 29th, at 12J
o'clock, it was announced that the relffels had crossed in
considerable force at Williamsport, and also at Cherry
Run. No one could depict the scene of excitement that
then occurred. Merchants, and others commenced pack
ing, 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. I think our citizens will vouch for the
truth of what I say, that 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 Aid not leave town
until three o'clock in the morning, is explained by the as
sertion 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 threat
ened in his front by a force of rebels who, it is now evi
dent, were only making a demonstration to hold him until
the other, and heavier, column, under McCausland and
Gilmore, could effect their object in Chambersburg.

THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG. 43
I sat at my window, on the corner of the Diamond, and
saw them enter. Skirmishers, dismounted, led the ad
vance, followed by cavalry. They carae in simultaneously
in all the streets and alleys, and called to each other as a
signal, as they reached the centre of the Diamond. In
five minutes after, a force of about four hundred cavalry
filed around the Public Square, and immediately com
menced 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 it 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 in
formed me he was the chaplain to McCausland's command.
His name he gave as Johnston, born in Fayette County,
Pennsylvania ; said he was a Methodist preacher. During
our conversation, an officer dismounted at my door, tied
his horse, and lisWned to our conversation, where he re
mained 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 pre
sumed they would be safe. They were all burned there,

44 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
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?" Telling him I
did, 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 there as elsewhere.
By this time my wife and two other occupants of the
house came down stairs with each a carpet-bag packed
with clothing. The officer followed us to the door, and en
treated 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 enacting. It was
afterward found among the ruins. At the door I found
the officer, to whom I previously referred, crying bitterly.
The flames were bursting from buildings all around us.
" See," said he, " this is awful work. 0 God ! 0, my God,
has it come to this, that we have to lie 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, with his handkerchief, from his sight, the ap
palling scene, and cry at the top of his voice, " 0 God, 0
mighty God! See, see!"
Reader, imagine the feelings of my family as, but an
hour before this, I read, unintentionally, the 138th Psalm,
in which I found these words : " 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 sur-

THB BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG. 45
rounded the breakfast-table under the conviction that it
was for the last time in that dear home. Then the hasty
snatching of precious relics of dear departed ones, passing
hastily from room to room, leaving clothing, beds, furni
ture, 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 inci
dent we have previously narrated ; and leaving the officer
weeping, we pressed our way 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 dwell
ing-houses, the affrighted occupants of which were running
wildly through the streets, carrying clothing and other ar
ticles, while screams of anguish from lost children in pur
suit 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 of the flames, falling
walls and blinding smoke, all united to form a picture of
the horrible which 'lio pen could describe, no painter por
tray. 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, followed
by nearly four thousand men. Fatigued and hungry, both
men and horses, they could not travel fast, but the sight
of the ruins raised the men to a frenzy, many of whom
shouted, "No quarter to McCausland's men."

46 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
Incidents.
In our flight through the streets, the rebel officer alluded
to, followed us half a square, entreating one of the wo
men 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 Win-
ton, 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. A cavalry
man rode up to a house, and thus addressed the occupant :
" Are you not a school teacher ?" " Yes, sir," replied the
man. "Did you ever teach niggers?" "Yes, sir."
" Damn him, fire his house !" He was not permitted even
to enter to save a single article.
The burning mass appeared to converge toward the Dia
mond, forming fearful whirlwinds, that 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, raising
nearly one hundred yards into the air large feather beds.
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

THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG. 47
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 mi
nutes we will return and fire your house." They did not
return. Our church and parsonage were saved. The
printing establishment of the German Reformed Messen
ger, belonging to that church, was completely destroyed,
with all the valuable presses, &c. Dr. Fisher estimates
the loss to the church at over forty thousand dollars.
Those of our readers -who know the locality, will under
stand 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, but 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, five to 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 Mar
ket, up near the Methodist Church. The Methodist, Ger
man 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

48 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
used as headquarters for drafted men, hence its destruc
tion. The "Bethel," so marked on a stone in the front,
was supposed by the fiends to be a negro church. It was
fired by breaking and gathering together the pews, and
setting them on fire. In most cases fire was kindled in
beds or bureaus, by matches, and in balls of cotton satu
rated 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 profusely made. It appeared as if the
gates of Pandemonium were opened, and its wretched in
mates let loose to scourge the land.
The citizens of Chamsbersburg have been held up to
ridicule by the New York press, as cowards, for not repel
ling these invaders. Be it known that nearly two thou
sand soldiers found it within the purview of their orders
in duty to leave us to our foes, without arms, organiza
tion, or discipline. While not more than eight hundred
destroyed our town, twenty-eight hundred more, with six
pieces of artillery, were enaamped on the hills west of the
town. I have thus hastily sketched the foregoing facts,— for
such they are. The reader will remember they are writ
ten 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 chil
dren, 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. HOKB.
Chajibersbdrg, August 10, 1864.

THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG. 49
I also append to the foregoing the following graphic
letter in the Pittsburg 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 con
cerning the facts connected with the burning of Chambers
burg, 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 Hagers
town, 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

60 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
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 Pennsyl
vania. 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 con
flicting rumors nothing could be learned of the moveraents
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 ChambeVsburg.
We also learned from Mercersburg that the invading force
was three thousand strong, or as it afterwards appeared,
by actual count, twenty-eight 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

THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG. 51
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 4 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 Vir
ginia Regiment, numbering about five hundred men, was
thrown forward into the streets. These were detailed to
burn the place. Johnson, Gilmore, and McCausland, with
a number of officers, breakfasted at the Franklin House,
after which McCausland ordered the Court-house bell to
ring to call the citizens together. There were none, how
ever, who obeyed his call. He then sent out and arrested
six of our prominent citizens, and read to them the order
of General Early. It was in three sections : first, demand
ing five hundred thousand dollars in currency, or one hun
dred thousand in gold ; second, in case this was not com
plied with, the town was to be burned ; third, this was done
in retaliation for the burning of six houses by GeneraL
Hunter's command. The names of the owners were men
tioned in the order. The citizens replied that it was
utterly impossible to comply with his demand, not one-
tenth of that amount of money being in the place : and,
more than that, if it were in their possession, it would
not be given, as they preferred to lose all rather than give
a dollar of ransom.
But while these pretended negotiations were going on,
the incendiaries were already at their work. As McCaus
land released the citizens he had arrested, the smoke was

52 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
rising from the doomed town, and most of these reached
their homes to find them in flames. 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 accom
plish their hellish designs. No time was given the inhabi
tants 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 their
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 (not a strong
breeze prevailing, as some correspondents have stated),
many must have perished in the flames. The conflagra
tion 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

THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG. 58
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 ofthe rebel soldiers during this affair seems
almost incredible. With all their fierce passions unre
strained, they seemed to revel, as if intoxicated, in the work
of destruction. After firing the houses, they shot at the
fleeing citizens, and robbed all who fell into their hands.
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 in
stances, and worse, might be recorded. There were, in
deed, 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 Avay 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.
6

54 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
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 a.t it in detail, by understanding
the peculiar sadness there is in each separate loss, and see
ing 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 milhons
of dollars in property consumed is the outward estimate
of the loss. But who can write the history of two thou
sand people suddenly made homeless, dashed from affluence
to pove^y, 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 five hundred citizens could not have resist
ed successfully twenty-eight hundred 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 this borough capable of bearing arms enrolled them
selves in some organization. General Couch then made
application to the War Department, asking that we might

THE BURNING OP CHAMBERSBURG. 55
be uniformed and enrolled in the general service, so that,
if we were ever overpowered, we would be treated as pri
soners of war and not as guerrillas. This request was de
nied. He then proceeded to organize a cavalry force, from
what was known as the " six months' men," for the de
fence of the border. Many of our citizens enlisted in this
force. It was kept on the border until their term of ser
vice 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 depart
ment." 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 indorsed 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 h€ 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

56 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
in the case. We make no comments on the propriety of
leaving the border thus defenceless. Its security is per
haps 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 faith
ful 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 rebelhon
than Chambersburg. Its quotas have always been filled
by volunteers, and many of its best citizens have fallen
on the field of battle. It is false also that any portion of
the town was saved by paying a ransom. All preferred
to lose everything rather than pay to keep up the accursed
cause of the vandals. Even the women, as they looked
upon the sea of fire that engulfed their loved homes,
said, with tearless eyes, "Well, I am glad the rebels did
not get a dollar." Others, when the incendiaries proposed
to spare their houses for a price, spurned the offer and told
them to burn. Such was and such is the spirit of the in
habitants. The affliction into which they have fallen is
so great that, were it the result of their own neglect, com
mon 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
as he knows to be true, and subscribes his name to them.
S. J. Niccolls.

BUILDINGS BURNED.

The following is a correct list of the buildings burned by the
rebels in Chambersburg :
South Side of Market Street.
Jacob Wolfkill — Two-story frame front and one-story
brick back building, ...... §700
Patrick Campbell's heirs — Two-story brick front and one-
story frame back building, ..... 700
Peter McGaffigan — Two-story log front and one-story
brick back building, ...... 600
James C. Austin — Two-story brick front and back build
ing, new, ........ 5,000
R. Austin — Two-story brick front and back building and
wash-house, ........ 3,000
William H. McDowell — Two-story stone front and brick
back building, wash-house, and brick stable, . . 3,000
James M. Brown — Two-story stone front and brick bac^
building, wash-house, and frame stable, . . . 3,300
Jacob Sellers — Two-story brick front and frame back
building, brick and frame stables, and ice-house, . 4,000
J. W. Douglas — One-story frame front and back building, 600
Martin Brown — One-and-a-half-story frame front and
one-story log back building, ..... 1,000
J. Allison & James C. Eyster — Two-story log front (cased
with brick) and one-and-a-half-story log back building, 1,000
Mrs. Jordan — Two-story brick front and back building, 5,000

58 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
L. S.Clark — Two-story frame front, two-story back build
ing, and frame stable, ...... $1,200
C. M. Duncan — Two-story brick front and back building,
frame law ofiSce, and frame stable, .... 2,000
Edmund Culbertson — Two-story brick front and back
building, brick law office, and two-story stone barn, . 6,000
Mrs. Bard — Two-story brick front and back building,
two-story brick law effice, and row frame law offices, . 6,500
Gehr & Denny — Three-story brick front and two-story
back building, one three-story brick front, and one
two-story front building, ...... 5,500
C. M. Duncan — Three-story brick front and back build
ing, three-story brick arcade, two two-story brick
stables, and one two-story frame stable, . . . 15,000
Aug. Duncan — Three-story brick front building, . . 1,500
Henry Monks — Three-story brick front building, . . 1,500
Edward Aughinbaugh — Three-story brick front building, 1,500
Dr. Willialm H. Boyle — Three-story brick front building, 2,000
Mary Gillan — Three-story brick front building, . . 1,500
T. J. Wright — Three-story brick front and one-story back
building,  1,800
Samuel F. Greenawalt — Two-story brick front and back
building, frame wash-house, brick smoke-house, and
frame stable, ........ 3,000
A. H. McCulloh — Two-story brick front and back build
ing, and stone stable, ...... 2,000
Rev. Mr. Nelson — Two-story brick front and back build
ing, frame building, and stone stable, . . . 2,000
John P. Culbertson — Three two-story brick front, and
one back building and wash-house, .... 5,000
Mrs. Riddle — Two-story brick front and back building,
wash-hou.'e, and frame stable, . . • . . 3,500
E. Finfrock — Two-story front and back building, brick
wash-house, frame wash-house, and frame stable, . 2,000

BUILDINGS BURNED. 59
W. F. Eyster & Bro. — Foundry — Two two-story brick
front and back buildings and stable, .... $4,000
Robert E. Tolbert — Two-story brick front and back build
ing and brick stable, .... . 2,000
Matthew Gillan's heirs — Two three-story brick fronts and
two two-story back buildings, log house, wash-house,
and brick stable, ....... 6,000
Alex. Fritz — Two-story brick front and one-story frame
and log back building,  1,000
Mrs. Frederick Smith — Two-story brick front and back
building,  1,200
Jobn Burkholder's heirs — Two-story brick front and back
building, and log barn, ...... 2,000
Hunter Robison — Two-story brick front and log back
building, and log stable, ...... 1,200
Jacob B. Miller — Two-story brick building, . . . 400
Jobn Bigley — One-and-a-half-story frame and two one-
story log buildings, ....... 500
Thomas Cook — Two-story log front and two one-story
frame back buildings, ...... 600
Nathan Pierce — Two-story log front (roughcast) and two-
story brick back building and wash-house, . . 1,000
Barnet Wolff — Two-story frame building, . . . 600
J. M. Wolfkill — Two-story brick front and two two-story
back buildings, ....... 2,500
Jacob Shafer — Two-story brick front and one-story brick
back building and frame shop, .... 1,000
Richard Woods — Two-story brick front and one-and-a-
half-story log back building and brick wash-house, . 800
John King — Two-story log and one-story brick buildings, 400
Christ. Pisle — Two-story brick building, . . . 500
Mrs. Elizabeth Stouffer — Two-story brick front and one-
story brick back building,  1,800

60 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
Andrew Banker — One-story brick shop, two-story briek
house, and frame barn, ...... $2,000
Mrs. Butler — Two-story log building and frame stable, . 400
Mary Rapp — Two-story log building, .... 400
James Nill's heirs — Two-story brick front and shed, . 500
Josiah Allen — Two-story brick and one-story frame
building,  1,000
North Side Market Street.
C. Stout — Two two-story log buildings and wood-shed, . 800
Samuel Brant — Two-story brick building, . . . 800
John M. McDowell — Two-story brick front and one-story
back building, two-story brick front building, log and
frame barn, hog-pen, wagon-maker shop, and black
smith shop, and hay scales, ..... 3,500
Daniel Trostle — Two-story brick front and back building,
and two-story brick barn, ..... 1,500
Mrs. Radebaugh — Stone and frame barn, . . . 800
Mrs. Jos. Chambers — Two-story brick front and back
building, and brick stable, ..... 5,500
George W. Brewer — Two-story brick front and back
building, two-story brick office, spring and smoke
house, and brick and stone barn, .... 5,500
Mrs. Jacob Smith — Log stable, ..... 100
John Miller (innkeeper) — Two-story brick front and
back building, two-story brick hotel, wash-house, one
brick and two frame stables, brick wagonmaker and
blacksmith shops, ....... 8,000
John B. Cook — Two-story stone (roughcast) and two-
story frame buildings, bark-house and grinding-mill,
bark-shed, and brick stable, ..... 5,000
C. W. Eyster — Two three-story brick mills and two-
story brick building, ...... 15,000

BUILDINGS BURNED. 61
Lambert & Huber — Four-story stone and frame paper-
mill and steam-house, . . ... §15,000
C. W. Eyster — Two-story brick front and back building,
and brick stable,  3,000
S. M. Shillito— Two-story brick building, . . . 1,500
James King — Two-story brick building, frame shop, and
shed,  1,200
Peter Brongh — Three-story brick front and one-story back
building (unfinished), ...... 8,000
John Noel — Three-story stone front and back building
and stone stable, ....... 8,000
Court-house — Three-story brick, ..... 45,000
Engine-house — Two-story brick, . . . . . 1,000
D. 0. Gehr — Two-story brick front and back building,
smoke-house, brick stable, frame wagon-shed, . . 5,500
B. F. Nead — Two-story brick front and back building,
spring and smoke-house, brick stable, . . . 5,000
A. D. Caufman — Three-story brick front and back build
ing, and log stable, ...... 4,000
Mrs. Goettman — Two-story briek front and back building,
two-story log front (roughcast), and brick back build
ing, bake-house, brick wash-house, brick stable, . 5,500
Peiffer's heirs — Two-story stone house (old jail), frame
smith-shop, two-story frame shop, one-and-a-half-story
frame front and one-story brick back building, frame
stable,  2,600
T. B. Kennedy — Two-story brick front and back build
ing, smoke-house, and wash-house, .... 8,000
Rev. B. S. Schneck — Two-story stone front and brick
back building, and wash-house, .... 3,000
Levi Humelshine — Two-story log front and frame back
building, and frame shed, ..... 600
Samuel Etter — Two-story brick front and back building,
and frame bake-house, ...... 3,000

62 THE BURNING OF CHAMBBRSBURq.
Rev. N. Schlosser — Two-story log front and frame back
building, and shed (two familie.s), .... $1,000
Sebastian Eckert — Two-story stone front and brick back
building,  1,000
West Side Main Street to Square.
Benjamin Chambers — Two-story brick cottage and two-
story brick back building, ..... 5,000
William G. Reed — Two-story brick front and back build
ing, and frame and brick stable, .... 5,000
Mrs. C. Snyder — Two-story brick front and back building, 8,000
Allen Smith — Two-story brick front and back building,
small frame stable, ....... 1,600
Christian Flack — Two-story log and weather-boarded
front and one-story frame back building, small frame
stable,  1,000
John Schofield — Two-story log weather-boarded front and
one-story back building, brick shop, and small frame
stable,  1,600
Matthew P. Welsh — Two-story brick front and back
building, brick wash-house, ..... 2,500
Christian Stouffer (machinist) — Two-story brick front
and back building, frame stable, .... 3,000
George Chambers's residence — Two-story brick front and
back building, one-story brick smoke-house, two-story
stone stable, . . . . . . ... 7,000
George Chambers (seminary) — Three-story stone front,
and three-story stone and brick back building, smoke
house,  5,000
George Chambers (millinery shop) — Two-story brick front
and back building, ....... 2,000
A. J. Miller — Two-story stone front and brick back build
ing, one-story brick back building, wash and smoke
house, ......... 4,500

BUILDINGS BURNED. 63
James Watson — Two-story brick front and back building, $4,500
R. Austin — Two-story brick front and two-story briek
back 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 front, and two-story
brick back building and frame stable, . . . 5,500
Dr. Langenheim — Two-story brick front, two-story frame
back building, and frame stable, .... 3,000
Widow Montgomery (hotel) — Three-story brick front and
two-story brick back building, two-story stone front,
and two-story brick back building and brick stable, . 9,000
Daniel Trostle — Two-story brick and stone front and three
two-story stone back buildings, lot of sheds and stone
stable,  7,000
Susan Chambers — One-story brick shop, two-story house,
and stone stable, ....... 2,500
A. P. Frey — Two-story frame and log front and one-story
brick back building, two story brick shop, coachmaker-
shed, and blacksmith shop, and log stable, . . 3,000
A. S. Hull — Two-story brick front and one-story back
building and frame wash-house, .... 2,000
Mrs. Geo. Goettman — Two-story log (weather-boarded),
brick back building, and frame shop, . . • 1,200
West Side Main, from Square to Washington Street.
Chambersburg Bank — Two-story brick front and back
building, smoke and wash-house, stable, . . . 8,000
Mrs. Gilmore — Two-story brick front and back building,
and two frame shops, ...... 5,500
Jacob B. Miller — Two-story frame front (brick-cased),
and two-story back, coal-shed, stove-shed, frame stable, 3,000

64 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
Dr. Richards — Two-story brick front and back building,
smoke-house, stable, ...... $5,500
Christian Burkhart — Three-story brick front and back
building, frame ice-house, stable, .... 4,500
John M. Cooper — Three-story brick front, three-story
brick back, and two-story brick back buildings, stone
stable, &c.,  15,000
James L. Black — Two-story brick front and back build
ing, spring-house, stable, ...... 5,000
Dr. James Hamilton — Three-story brick front and back
building, and stable, ...... 7,000
John A. Grove — Frame shop, ..... 250
Jacob Hutton — Three-story brick front and two two-story
brick back buildings, wash and smoke-houses, . . 4,500
John McClintock — Two-story brick front and back build
ing, hatter-shop and smoke-house, .... 3,500
Lewis Shoemaker — Two-story brick front and back
building, store-room, bake-house, and ice-house, . . 4,200
Samuel Greenawalt — Two-story brick front and back
buildings, and frame shed, ..... 5,500
J. Allison Eyster — Two-story brick front and one-and-a-
half-story back building, ...... 5,000
J. Allison Eyster — Two-story brick front and one-and-a-
half story back building,  1,500
J. Allison Eyster — Three-story brick front and two two-
story back buildings, and brick stable, . . . 5,000
Wm. Heyser's heirs — Two-story brick front and back
buildings, brick bake and smoke-house, and brick
stable,  5,500
Rev. S. R. Fisher— Brick stable,  500
Geo. Lehner — Log stable, ...... 400
George Ludwig — Two-story brick front and four two-
story and one one-and-a-half-story brick back buildings,
frame shed, and one-story brick bake-house, . . 7,000

BUILDINGS BURNED. 65
Charles F. Miller — Two-story brick front and back build
ing, brick wash-house, ...... 14.500
Adam Wolff — Two-story frame and brick front and frame
shed,  1,200
John Forbes — Two-story log front and one-story bsick
back building, frame wash and smoke-house, . . 2,000
John Dittman — Two-story brick front and back building, 2,000
Joseph Deckelmayer — Two-story brick front and back
building, one-story, bakery, ..... 3,000
Samuel Ott — Two two-story brick front and one two-
story brick back building, ..... 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 front and back building, . 2,500
Miss Hetrick — Two-story brick front and one-story brick
back building, ....... 1,500
John A. Lemaster — Two-story brick front and back
building, and frame shed, ..... 1,500
Aug. Reineman — Two-story brick front and back build
ings,  2,500
Samuel M. Perry — Two-story brick front and back build
ing,  2,000
David L. Taylor — Two-story log (weather-boarded) front
and frame back buildings, ..... 1,500
John W. Taylor — Two-story brick front and back build
ing, wash and smoke-house, stable, shed, and hay scales, 7,000
George Ludwig — Two-story brick front and back build
ing, tin-shop, frame sheds, brick stable, . . . 4,000
H. H. Hutz — Two-story brick front and back buildings,
wash and smoke-house, and brick stable, . . . 6,500
7

66 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
Daniel Reisher — Two-and-a-half-story brick front and
two-story back building, frame kitchen', wash, smoke,
and bake-house, and stable, ..... $4,500
Michael Kuss — Two-story brick front and back building,
wash-housfe and stone stable, ..... 2,500
Isaac Hutton — Two-story brick front and two-story brick
back building, wood and wash-house, back shop, and
stone stable, ........ 4,000
John P. Culbertson — One-story frame front and two frame
back shops, ........ 800
Dr. John Lambert — Two-story brick front and two-story
back building, brick stable and carriage house, . . 5,590
Mrs. R. Fisher — Two-story brick front building, . . 5,000
William Wallace (hotel) — Three-story brick front and
three-story back building, and wash-house, . . 9,000
Daniel Reisher — Two-story brick front and two two-story
back buildings and brick stable, .... 6,000
J. Allison Eyster (Nixon's) — Two-story brick front and
two two-story back buildings, brick shed, and two-
story brick shop, ....... 4,500
James Eyster — Two-story brick front and two-story back
building, brick stable, ...... 4,500
Eyster & Bro. — Two-story stone front, brick back build
ing, and one kitchen, ...... 5,500
Eyster & Bro. — Three-story brick front, warehouse,
brick stable,  10,000
Brand & Flack — Two-story stone front and brick back
building, brick warehouse, ..... 6,500
A. J. White — Two-story stone front and brick back
building and kitchen, ...... 4,500
Hiram White — Three-story brick front, and back build
ing and kitchen, ....... 7,500
John Jeffries — Two-story stone front and brick back
building, brick wash-house, and frame stable, . . 3,000

BUILDINGS BURNED. 67
A. B. Hamilton — Two-story stone front-and frame and
brick back buildings, frame wash-house, brick stable, $6,000
Mansion House — Three-story brick front and two-story
brick back building, and stone stable, . . . 10,000
Academy — Two-story brick, ..... 4,000
Queen— South Side.
John W. Reges — Two-story brick front and back build
ing, and wash-house, ...... 4,000
William Cunningham — Two-story brick front and back
building, wash-house, and granary, .... 8,000
John Mull — Two-story brick front and back building, . 2,000
J. T. Hoskinson — Two-story brick front and back build
ing,  2,200
Jacob Flinder — Two-story frame front and one-story back
building, ........ 800
Jacob Flinder — Two-story frame front and one-story back
building and stable, ...... 700
William Wallace — Two-story brick front and back build
ing, wash-house, and wood-work of spring-house, . 4,000
Mrs. John Lindsay — Two-story brick front and back
building,  2,500
Barnard Wolff — Two two-story brick front and back
buildings, one-story frame kitchen, wash-house, ware
house, frame butcher-shop, frame carriage-house, one-
story brick stable, ....... 7,500
J. Allison Eyster — Two-story brick front and back build
ing,  2,200
Mrs. Blood — Two-story brick front and two two-story
brick back buildings, ...... 1,800
Mrs. Clark — Two-story brick front and back building, . 1,800
Mrs. R. Fisher — Two-story brick front and back build
ing,  2,000
Mrs. Sarah Stevenson — Two two-story brick front and
one back building, wash and smoke-house, . . 2,000

68 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
John D. Grier — Two-story brick front and back building, $4,500
Mrs. Susan Nixon — Two-story brick front and one-story
back building,  1,800
Robert Davis — Two-story brick building, . . . 2,000
John Cree — Two-story brick front and back building,
wash and smoke-house, ...... 2,500
Samuel Myers — Two-story brick front, one two-and-a-half
and one two-story back building, .... 3,200
Mrs. Thompson — Two-story log building, . . . 600
Mrs. George S. Eyster — Two-story brick front and back
building,  2,500
Andrew Banker — Two-story log front and back building
(roughcast), and smoke-house, ..... 1,500
ftueen— North Side.
Huber & Co. (edge-tool factory) — Five one-story brick
and one frame building, ...... 8,500
Brick blacksmith shop, ...... 600
"Bethel" (Church)— Brick,  3,000
George Ludwig (brewery) — Two-story stone front and
back building, two-story brick back building, one-story
office and engine-house, frame stable, two-story shed, . 8,000
Widow Grove (of William) — Two-story frame front and
back building, brick smoke-house, .... 1,500
Thomas Carlisle — Two-story brick front building, and
two-story frame front building, .... 3,000
Kindline's heirs — Two-story brick front and two-story
frame back building, two-story log and brick front and
two-story brick back building, ..... 4,000
Widow Grove (of Alexander) — Two-story frame front
and onestory back building, smoke-house, frame stable, 1,200
John Huber — Two-story brick front and back building,
one-story kitchen, frame stable, .... 3,000
Abraham Huber — Two-story brick front building and
brick kitchen, frame stable, ..... 2,000

BUILDINGS BURNED. 69
H. Sierer — Two-story frame front and back building,
two-story frame wareroom, stone stable, shed, one-story
kitchen, adjoining Stevenson's, ..... $3,000
Thomas Carlisle — Two-story brick front and two two-story
back buildings, ....... 2,500
William Wallace — Three three-story brick front, and
three two-story brick back buildings, two one-story
frame shops, and two-and-a-half-story brick stable, . 8,000
Nicholas Snyder — Two-story brick front and back build
ing, two frame wash-houses and frame stable, . . 2,500
Dr. S. D. (vulbertson — Two-and-a-half-story brick front,
and two-story brick back building, brick spring-house,
and brick stable, ....... 4,000
Mrs. Brand — Roof slightly damaged.
J. P. Culbertson — Two-story brick front and back build
ing, smoke and spring-house and stable, . . . 4,500
Second Street.
P. Henry Peiffer — New two-story frame stable, . . 1,900
Associate Reformed Church — One-story brick building,
with end gallery, ....... 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 — One-and-a-half-stqry log building and
frame kitchen, ....... 800
John P. Keefer — Two-story brick building and frame
kitchen,  1,500
John Reasner — One-story log bakery and frame corn-
crib,  150
Jacob S. Brown — Roof and upper floor of front and back
building,  500
John Doebler — Two-story brick front and two-story back
building,  2,000

70 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
Holmes Crawford — Two-story brick front and two-story
back building, ....... $3,000
Samuel Armstrong — Two-story brick front and back
building, kitchen, stable, and frame shed, . . . 4,000
Aug. Reineman — Two one-story frame shops and black
smith shop, ........ 1,000
Franklin.
Martin Cole — Two-story brick front and back, and two-
story log buildings, and wash-house, . . . 1,500
Philip Evans — Two-,story brick front and one-story frame
back 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 — One-and-a-half-story brick wagonmaker
and blacksmith shop, one brick stable, . . . 800
Alley.
Widow Palmer — Frame stable, ..... 150
Nicholas Gerwiok — Frame stable, .... 100
Henry Greenawalt — Brick stable, .... 300
King.
George Chambers — Three two-story brick front and one
one-story brick back buildings, .... 2,500
Upton Washabaugh —Two-story frame front and brick
back building, stone brewery, brick granary, wagon-shed,
two brick stables, and frame shed, .... 8,000
Conrad Harman — Stone and frame butcher-shop, and
dwelling, frame stable, ...... 800
A. K. McClure— House and barn, .... 9,500
Jacob Eby— Barn,  2,500
Andrew McElwaine — House,  400

BUILDINGS BURNED. 71
Recapitulation.
The following is the aggregate of buildings burned :
Residences and places of business, .... 266
Barns and stables, ....... 98
Out-buildings of various kinds, ..... 173

Total buildings burned,  537
The aggregate valuation of the real estate, as made by
a committee of upright and disinterested citizens, consist
ing of Messrs. Wm. McLellan, C. M. Burnet, Rev. Joseph
Clark, D. K. Wunderlich, and John Armstrong, is $783,-
950. We are unable this week to give a full account of
the loss of personal property, but it will greatly exceed
the real estate."
In regard to the estimates, 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
their course — but for the purpose simply of mentioning the
fact, that the actual loss was really 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 and publishing house
of the German Reformed Church), with a stone livery
stable, are 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 $9500, but they could not now be restored
for less than §20,000. And so with most of thf buildings.
A million of dollars will not suffice to restore them, and

72 THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
twice as much more will not cover the losses of such per
sonal property as money can replace.
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 ren
dered impossible, our town will be rebuilt, gradually, but
surely. If, however, no such assurance is given, no evi
dence of a desire on the part of our authorities for border
defence is afforded, if our people are coolly told that the
Cumberland Valley is intended 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 leave, regretfully indeed, but rather than
he in constant dread and apprehension, leave they will,
and allow the ruins of their houses and hearths to remain
behind them, and seek out some more sheltered or seques
tered spot, where they may live and die in " quietness and
in peace."

FINIS.

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