horses, and have had considerable culture. I should not like to risk a similar experiment with their infantry. I was among them all the time here, and was expecting every minute to be called upon to report to Gen. Stuart; but they did not seem to have time to look after prisoners, and I luckily escaped. But from the fact that I can't find a horse about the barn, and that my fence is stripped of paling to remind me of the reality of the matter, it would seem like a dream. It was so unexpected-so soon over-that our people had hardly time to appreciate it.

surrender, or shall we not? Many said, surrender, and others, no, not on any terms. The matter was considered. What could we do? There were not more than five hundred muskets distributed among the citizens. Some had a small quantity of ammunition, and others had none. There was no way of arriving at a fair estimate of the enemy's forces. Numerous inquiries crowded upon the mind, each of some importance, and all demanding a decision. A committee of three was sent with the bearer of the flag of truce to confer with the officer in command. It was They crossed the South-Mountain about eleven agreed that the town surrender, but that the eneto-day, on the Gettysburgh pike, but where they my protect the families of our citizens, private will go from there is hard to conjecture. They property, and respect the men. The citizens are evidently aiming to recross the Potomac at or went to their homes feeling much humiliated at near Edwards's Ferry; and, if so, Gettysburgh what the stern hand of necessity required them may escape, as they may go by Millerstown to to do. To surrender to the rebels without strikEmmettsburgh. If they should recross below ing a single blow in self-defence was indeed hard; Harper's Ferry, they will owe their escape to the but when the cannon's gaping mouth pictured stupidity or want of energy of our military lead-bloodshed, devastation, and ruin before us, prudence dictated what course to pursue.

ers, for they were advised in due season of the

rebel route.

But a few moments elapsed until the clattering of hoofs announced that Stuart's cavalry were taking possession of our town. In they came, without any noisy demonstration whatever. Occasionally some one would whisper a little loud: "Hurrah for Southern Rights." Another would ask: "Have you ever heard of Stuart's cavalry? This is it." Another would ride up and ask for a drink of whisky, and offer "the silver for it."

They halted in the principal streets, and stood for some time, but the object of this waiting soon became apparent. Here came one out of an alley with a valuable horse of a neighbor's; here came another with a few more horses, and thus it continued until the stables of our citizens had been broken open and their horses stolen. They then went out of town and quartered for the night. No houses were broken open, and none of the families of our citizens disturbed. We were treated much better than we had expected we would be. But one of our business men had

CHAMBERSBURGH, October 11, 1862. There are doubtless many vague rumors afloat respecting the recent raid of Stuart's cavalry into Pennsylvania. To the citizens of Chambersburgh, it became a stern reality before they had time to become much frightened or panic-stricken. It was rumored on the streets at five o'clock P.M., on Friday last that the rebels were in St. Thomas, a village seven miles west on the Pittsburgh turnpike. The rumor seemed to attract but little attention. All believed that such could not be the case, since the Potomac River in that direction was occupied by Union troops. The tale soon changed, however, and our citizens found that instead of enjoying wonted peace and security, gentlemen of known respectability came his store broken open-a shoe-store. They took dashing into town at full speed, bringing the un- from it ladies' and children's shoes to the value welcome news. The court-house bell was rung, of three or four hundred dollars. On Saturday the drums were beat, and the home guards called. morning, they commenced plundering the wareThe citizens seemed reluctant about shouldering houses, etc. They destroyed considerable protheir guns. They consulted about the propriety perty of some of our forwarding and commission of resistance, and conjectured as to the probable men. They discovered arms, ammunition, and force of the enemy. Some seemed to think they army clothing in some of these buildings. They would not attack Chambersburgh before morning, took the clothing, threw their old sabres away and that during the night forces could be pro- and took new ones, exchanged pistols, and took cured from abroad. It was concluded, however, as much ammunition as they could conveniently to throw out pickets, and while the home guards carry. They then set fire to the dépôt, several were marched out to be distributed for this pur- warehouses, a large machine-shop, and burned pose, a flag of truce by the enemy was brought them to the ground. The consternation this into town, demanding its surrender. The officer created was no little. The citizens all knew of accompanying the flag of truce reported their the large quantities of ammunition these houses forces at one thousand five hundred cavalry, with contained, and much of it was shell. The frea full battery of artillery. They reported their quent explosion of these deadly missiles kept the guns planted and ready for action, in case there citizens in their houses, and thus prevented them should not be an immediate surrender. This, to from doing any thing that might check the progthe citizens of Chambersburgh, was quite as sur-ress of the fire. It had rained the day and prising as a most terrible earthquake would have night before, and the buildings were wet, consebeen. What to do was the question, Shall we quently no other buildings were destroyed, ex

cept several stables in the immediate neighbor- port, and recrossed at White's Ford, making the hood of the dépôt and warehouses. After these entire circuit, cutting the enemy's communicabuildings were enveloped in flames, our rebel tion, destroying arms, etc., and obtaining many visitors departed in the direction of Gettysburgh. recruits. R. E. LEE, There was not a farmer within miles of their course that they did not visit, robbing every farmer of all his horses. The horses they took from our county, the property they destroyed, and buildings they burned, we think can reasonably be estimated at two hundred and fifty thousand. We conversed with two or three of them upon the street, and they candidly acknowledged that Lincoln's last proclamation was more to be dreaded by them than any other steps yet taken by our Government. Several of them are men of education, and converse freely upon the great is

cers) to the commander of the scout, which satisfied me that our whereabouts was still a problem to the enemy.

Before reaching Frederick I crossed the Mono

sisted of six regiments of Ohio troops and two batteries, under Gen. Cox, and were en route via Cumberland for the Kanawha. I sent back this intelligence at once to the Commanding General. Striking directly across the National road, I pro-cacy, continued the march through the night, via ceeded in the direction of Mercersburgh, Pennsylvania, which point was reached about twelve M. I was extremely anxious to reach Hagerstown, where large supplies were stored; but was satisfied from reliable information that the notice the enemy had of my approach and the proximity of his forces, would enable him to prevent my capturing it. I therefore turned toward Chambersburgh. I did not reach this point till after dark, in a rain. I did not deem it safe to defer the attack till morning, nor was it proper to attack a place full of women and children without summoning it first to surrender.

Liberty, New-Market, Monrovia, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, where we cut the telegraphwires and obstructed the railroad. We reached at daylight Hyattstown, on McClellan's line of wagon communication with Washington, but we found only a few wagons to capture, and we pushed on to Barnsville, which we found just vacated by a company of the enemy's cavalry. We had here corroborated what we had heard before, that Stoneman had between four and five thousand troops about Poolesville and guarding the river fords. I started directly for Poolesville, but instead of marching upon that point avoided it by a march through the woods, leaving it two or three miles to my left, and getting into the road from Poolesville to the mouth of the Monocacy. Guarding well my flanks and rear, I pushed boldly forward, meeting the head of the enemy's column going toward Poolesville.

I accordingly sent in a flag of truce, and found no military or civil authority in the place; but some prominent citizens who met the officer were notified that the place would be occupied, and if any resistance were made the place would be shelled in three minutes. Brig.-General Wade Hampton's command being in advance, took pos- I ordered the charge, which was responded to session of the place, and I appointed him military in handsome style by the advance squadron (Irvgovernor of the city. No incidents occurred during's) of Lee's brigade, which drove back the eneing the night, during which it rained continuously. my's cavalry upon the column of infantry advanc The officials all fled the town on our approach, ing to occupy the crest from which the cavalry and no one could be found who would admit that were driven. Quick as thought Lee's sharp-shoothe held office in the place. About two hundred ers sprang to the ground, and, engaging the inand seventy-five sick and wounded in hospital fantry skirmishers, held them in check till the arwere paroled. During the day a large number of tillery in advance came up, which, under the galhorses of citizens were seized and brought along.lant Pelham, drove back the enemy's force to his The wires were cut, and railroads were obstructed. Next morning it was ascertained that a large number of small arms and munitions of war were stored about the railroad buildings, all of which that could not be easily brought away were destroyed-consisting of about five thousand new muskets, pistols, sabres, ammunition, also a large assortment of army clothing. The extensive machine-shops and dépôt buildings of the railroad and several trains of loaded cars were entirely destroyed.

batteries beyond the Monocacy, between which and our solitary gun quite a spirited fire continued for some time. This answered, in connection with the high crest occupied by our piece, to screen entirely my real movement quickly to the left, making a bold and rapid strike for White's Ford, to make my way across before the enemy at Poolesville and Monocacy could be aware of my design. Although delayed somewhat by about two hundred infantry, strongly posted in the cliffs over the ford, yet they yielded to the moral effect of a few shells before engaging our sharp-shooters, and the crossing of the canal (now dry) and river was effected with all the precision of passing a defile on drill.

The

From Chambersbugh I decided, after mature consideration, to strike for the vicinity of Leesburgh as the best route of return, particularly as Cox's command would have rendered the direction of Cumberland, full of mountain gorges, particu- A section of artillery being sent with the adlarly hazardous. The route selected was through vance and placed in position on the Loudon side, an open country. Of course I left nothing undone another piece on the Maryland height, while Pelto prevent the inhabitants from detecting my real ham continued to occupy the attention of the eneroute and object. I started directly towards Get- my with the other, withdrawing from position to tysburgh, but having passed the Blue Ridge, position until his piece was ordered to cross. turned back towards Hagerstown for six or eight enemy was marching from Poolesville in the mean miles, and then crossed to Maryland by Emmetts- time, but came up in line of battle on the Maryburgh, when, as we passed, we were hailed by land bank only to receive a thundering salutation, the inhabitants with the most enthusiastic demon- with evident effect from our guns on this side. strations of joy. A scouting-party of one hun- I lost not a man killed on the expedition, and dred and fifty lancers had just passed toward only a few slight wounds. The enemy's loss is Gettysburgh, and I regret exceedingly that my not known, but Pelham's one gun compelled the march did not admit of the delay necessary to enemy's battery to change its position three times. catch them. Taking the road toward Frederick, The remainder of the march was destitute of inwe intercepted despatches from Col. Rush (Lan-terest. The conduct of the command and their

behavior toward the inhabitants is worthy of the highest praise; a few individual cases only were exceptions in this particular.

Brig. Gen. Hampton and Colonels Lee, Jones, Wickham, and Butler, and the officers and men under their command, are entitled to my lasting gratitude for their coolness in danger and cheerful obedience to orders. Unoffending persons were treated with civility, and the inhabitants were generous in proffers of provisions on the march. We seized and brought over a large number of horses, the property of citizens of the United States.

Upon this line the main body of the army with all its trains was moved, Heintzelman's corps crossing the Chickahominy at Jones's Bridge, and covering by its march the movement of the main column. The passage of the Lower Chickahominy was effected by means of a batteau bridge two thousand feet in length. The transfer of the army to Yorktown was completed by the nineteenth of August. The embarkation of the troops and material at Yorktown and Fortress Monroe was at once commenced, and as rapidly as the means of transportation admitted, every thing was sent forward to Acquia Creek and The valuable information obtained in this recon- Alexandria. No mere sketch of an undertaking noissance as to the distribution of the enemy's of such magnitude and yet so delicate a military force was communicated orally to the Command- character will suffice to do justice. I must now, ing General, and need not here be repeated. A however, content myself with a simple notice of number of public functionaries and prominent it, deferring a full description for my official report citizens were taken captives and brought over as of the campaign before Richmond-a labor which hostages for our own unoffending citizens whom I propose to undertake as soon as events will the enemy has torn from their homes and confined afford me the necessary time. Justice to the in dungeons in the North. One or two of my achievements of the Army of the Potomac, and men lost their way, and are probably in the hands the brave men who composed it, requires that of the enemy. the official record of that campaign should be prepared with more care than circumstances have hitherto permitted me to bestow upon it. The delay will not have been felt as injurious to the public interest, inasmuch as by frequent reports from time to time I have kept the Department advised of events as they occurred.

The results of this expedition in a moral and political point of view can hardly be estimated, and the consternation among property-holders in Pennsylvania beggars description.

I am especially indebted to Capt. B. S. White, South-Carolina cavalry, and to Mr. and Mr. whose skilful guidance was of immense service to me. My staff are entitled to my thanks for untiring energy in the discharge of their duties. I enclose a map of the expedition, drawn by Captain W. W. Blackford, to accompany this report. Also, a copy of orders enforced during the

march.

Believing that the hand of God was clearly manifested in the signal deliverance of my command from danger, and the crowning success at tending it, I ascribe to Him the praise, the honor, and the glory.

I have the honor to be, most respectfully, your
obedient servant,
J. E. B. STUART,
Major-General Commanding Cavalry.

Doc. 2.

GENERAL MCCLELLAN'S REPORT
OF THE OPERATIONS AFTER THE EVACUATION OF

HARRISON'S LANDING.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
October 15, 1862.

I reached Acquia Creek with my staff on the twenty-fourth of August, reported my arrival, and asked for orders. On the twenty-seventh of August I received from the General in-Chief permission to proceed to Alexandria, where I at once fixed my headquarters. The troops composing the army of the Potomac were meanwhile ordered forward to reenforce the army under Gen. Pope. So completely was this order carried out, that on the thirtieth of August I had remaining under my command only a camp-guard of about one hundred men. Every thing else had been sent to reënforce Gen. Pope. In addition, I exhausted all the means at my disposal to forward supplies to that officer, my own headquarter teams even being used for that purpose.

Upon the unfortunate issue of that campaign I received an intimation from the General-inChief that my services were desired for the purpose of arranging for the defence of the capital. They were at once cheerfully given, although, while awaiting definite instructions at Alexandria, I had endeavored, as just seen, to promote a favorable result in the operations then pending, and had thus contributed, though indirectly, yet as far as I could, to the defence of Washington. On the second of September the formal order of the War Department placed me in command of the fortifications of Washington, "and of all the troops for the defence of the capital." On the The measure directed by the General-in-Chief first of September I had been instructed that I was executed successfully with entire safety to had nothing to do with the troops engaged in my command and its material, between the four- active operations under Gen. Pope, but that my teenth and nineteenth of August. The line of command was limited to the immediate garrison withdrawal selected was that of the mouth of of Washington. On the next day, however, I the Chickahominy, Williamsburgh, and Yorktown. I was verbally instructed by the President and

GENERAL: I have the honor to submit a prefiminary report of the military operations under my charge since the evacuation of Harrison's Landing.