BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.

MERE words are inadequate to depict the scene of desolation that reigns on every side at this place; and the visitor, as he carefully threads his way through the main and cross streets, at many points, confronting the heaped-up debris of scores of fallen buildings, cannot fail to give the fullest expression of condemnation regarding the act of vandalism on the part of the rebels in thus laying in ruins the beautiful village of Chambersburg, while his heart goes out in involuntary sympathy with the hundreds of women and children, who have not only been for the time rendered houseless and homeless, but, in many instances, bereft of all their earthly possessions. To-night I grope my way through the smouldering ruins, and pause, in sad dismay, at the fearful picture of destruction and desolation that surround me, imagination summoning to my "mind's eye" the many peaceful firesides, from whose home-altars the Lares and Penates had so lately fled, affrighted by the rude glare of those flaming brands suddenly and pitilessly assaulting their happy domains. In the centre of the town, on the main street, is an open space called "The Diamond," on one side of which stand four marble columns, all that remains of the bank building. Opposite, appear the bare and blackened walls of the county court-house, with its heavy. white columns and portico. On every side are the ruins of stores, warehouses, and elegant mansions, the greater portion of their stone and brick walls still standing, while heaps of ashes, with a few charred timbers, alone mark the sites of less pretentious dwellings. The rich and the poor suffered alike at the hands of the filthy horde, led by that prince of modern

freebooters, McCausland, and that aristocratic but degenerate scion of Maryland's soil, Harry Gilmore.

Much has already been said respecting the destruction of this picturesque valley-town, and much remains to be recorded. The people and press of the North generally, who have so freely condemned the citizens of Chambersburg, reflecting upon their non-resistance of the armed force which sacked and burned their very homes, would, I believe, modify this verdict, and, it may be, retract their insinuations, could they, in this quiet burgh-tenfold more eloquent itself in the abomination of desolation which reigns arcund-hearken to the tales of the sufferers.

Dr. Richards, a prominent resident of the town, who, with his family, escaped as they "stood," saving nothing, stated to me the fact that the entire valley had been completely sifted as wheat, to give its best to the army of the republic, and that Chambersburg had not a score of able-bodied fighting men. The women, even, had been forced to work to till the fields. No military organization existed there-no leader to command-no men to rally around his standard, had a head been found. No arms were at hand, except those in private possession; we were ignorant of the forces to confront; all was confusion; we knew too well the ferocious character of the rebel band, and those who led them-and any show of resistance on our part, would have only resulted in our being slaughtered indiscriminately, thereby heightening the catastrophe. The few troops that were here, had been ordered away on Friday night, in search of the rebels. Two pieces of cannon were left. These were taken out at an early hour on Saturday morning, and fired at the advancing foe twice, and then removed to a place of safety. This firing was done more with a view

of giving Averill, should he be in the vicinity, notice of the approach of the enemy, than with a view of repulsing them.

When McCausland and Gilmore, with their detachments, numbering altogether four or five hundred men, came into the town, we could plainly see their main column in line of battle on the hill beyond, with two pieces of cannon. We were powerless in their hands. I indignantly refused, he said, to comply with their demand for money, and told them they might sack and burn my property, but I would not give them a cent.

Dr. Richards told Gilmore, whom he knew by sight, that the money was a mere farce, and made only as an apparent pretext. Gilmore's reply was, "I tell you what it is, we came here out of our regular route with the sole purpose of burning your d-d town, in retaliation for Hunter's raid in the Shenandoah Valley."

From conversations with a few other prominent citi. zens, who still remained in the place, I learned that rumors had prevailed several days that the rebels were crossing the Potomac in force, but no one seemed to know - where they were. About four o'clock, on Saturday morning, it was reported that they were approaching, when Lieutenant McLain, with one piece of artillery, took a position on New England Hill, and commenced shelling the enemy. As subsequently learned, the few shots that he fired were very effective, one officer being killed and five men wounded. Having no infantry support, he was obliged to retire. The rebels advanced, however, cautiously; their skirmishers entered the town by the side streets about six o'clock, and scattering in every direction.

McCausland and Gilmore presently rode in, and went to the Franklin House, where they ordered breakfast. The morning meal hastily disposed of, and a quantity

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of the landlord's Bourbon freely discussed, they sallied. forth, and after riding through several of the streets, drew rein in front of the County Court-House, McCausland ordering the bell to be rung for a town meeting. -There was no general response to the call, but to the few persons who were gathered in knots near by, anxiously watching the movements of the rebels. McCausland read the following order :

(No date or place.)

A demand is hereby made upon the citizens of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for five hundred thousand dollars in United States Treasury. notes, or one hundred thousand dollars in coin. General McCausland is authorized, on behalf of the Southern Confederacy, to receive the amount named. Should the demand not be complied with the town will be destroyed.

JUBAL EARLY,
General Commanding.

One of the citizens asked McCausland if he had any positive orders to burn the town, when he replied that he had, and, at the same time, pulled from his pocket a dirty slip of paper-part of which was subsequently picked up in the street-and read as follows:

In the Field (no date).

General Orders.-General McCausland is hereby ordered to burn the town of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, in retaliation for Hunter's raid in the Shenandoah Valley. By order. JUBAL EARLY, General Commanding.

While this farce was being enacted, the men who accompanied McCausland and Gilmore were sacking private houses and stores, taking only money, jewelry,

and such valuables as they could carry in their pockets. Dr. Richards, and a few other citizens who had been arrested, were discharged upon peremptorily refusing to give the freebooters any money. Orders were then issued by McCausland and Gilmore to burn the d-m town. The torch was first applied to the Bank and County Court-House, and in a few minutes both buildings were enveloped in flames. The rebel soldiers, maddened by frequent potations of whiskey and other liquors, which they had found in the hotels and saloons, entered upon the work of destruction with evident delight. In some instances, women were driven out of their houses before the premises were fired, and in others, no notice whatever was given. Many persons lived over their stores, and were only made aware of their peril by the smoke and crackling flames beneath their feet. The prominent public buildings destroyed were the CourtHouse, Bank, German Reformed Church, where the German Reformed Messenger and another German paper were printed, office of The Franklin Repository, owned by McClure & Storer, the office of the Valley Spirit (Copperhead), Franklin House, and other hotels. Fires were kindled in over fifty different places, and the total number of houses laid in ruins is calculated at two hundred and sixty-three. Women were ordered by the drunken soldiers to throw away small packages of clothing.

The residence of Colonel Alexander K. McClure, half a mile from the town, was visited by a rebel guard, and fired in several places. His barn and out-houses were also destroyed, and the place left desolate. Mrs. McClure, though sick, was driven from the house, and not permitted to save any of her clothing. Gilmore, who was attired in citizen's dress, rode carelessly about the town,