Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-10-22
Correspondence of the Philadelphia Inquirer
The Rebel Raid Into Pennsylvania.

Try into Pennsylvania as far rs FIVE mile
north of Chambersburg, and from thence
toward Gettysburg. to which point cannO
yet be definitely asCertained. is withou
exception the holdest act of the war. an,
far surpasSes in audacitv and daring th'
celebrated raid on the White House. at al
earlier period of the war. 1t is difficult
to conceive that the feat would he attempt
ed without positive previous knowledge o
lJust where they were going and just the
amount of oppositiOn likely to he mel
with. 1t is believed hereabouts thai
\ guides accompanied them, who knew a
| n IN about the condition of affairs al
i Mercersburg and Chambersburg as the
citizens of these towns themselves, and
perhaps more.
PARTICULARS or THE RAID.
proceed to furnish you with the follow
ing particulars regarding the occurrence
the main points OF which have already
been telegraphed TO you
. The cavalry, about three thousand IA
number (although accounts differ as t.
their strength, some parties insisting there
were not more than seven hundred oi
them, and six pieces OF artillery, crossed
the Potomac at Hancock or Clear Spring
on Friday morning and proceeded at once
to Mercersburg. without committing any
tdepredations, or IN the least degree inter
ierIng with the inhabitants along the
froute, 1t evidently being their intention
at the outset, TO spare the persons and
property ofpriyate citizens, horses except
ed. In fact this was communicated by
some of them to parties in Chambersburg
They entered Mercersburg about noon, tC
the great astonishment of the citizens
who at first thought it was u body Oi
Union troops. No damage was done al
Mercersburg, with the exception of press.
ing u number of horses, there being nc
railroad depot, public workshops or tiov.
ernment stores al the town. They pass
ed through the town, and took the Pitts.
hurg pike Tor Chambersburg, arriving
near the town just before dark.
IIne of their first acts was to plant three
pieces of artillery on a hill back of the
town; after which a detachment of fifteen
men were sent in:O the town, bearing 4
flag of truce, and requesting to see the
clnef peIsonages or authorities, stating
that they had an ample force at hand, and
that the town must be surrendered or
Eshelled, at the same time that guns were
IN position for that purpose. Hon. A. X.
Mcclure and Provost Marshal Stimmel
then accompanied them to the officer in
command; all resistance being impossible
the town was surrendered and soon after
ward fully occupied. Previous to their
entrance, however, a number of the mill
tia of Chambersburg proceeded to arm
themselves and made show of resistance,
but the project was abandoned as entirely
futile. One of the first acts ON entering,
was to plant two pieces of artillery in the
square of the town commanding the prin-
cipal thoroughfares, and placing gnards at
different points.
OCCUPATION OF CHANBERSgURG.
The town was fairly occupied about
seven o'clock in the evening. Shortly
afterward large portion OF them made
directly for the warehouse and cars, in
which were stored great quantity OF
Government goods, consisting principally
of uniforms and a small quantity of boots.
Not long afterward, the whole town was
converted into one vast dressing room.
On every hotel porch, at every corner,
ON the great portion of the street door
steps, in fact, all over town might be seen
rebel cavalry donning Yankee uniforms,
and throwing their own wOrn-out and
faded garments into the street. In many
instances, one man would ensconce his
pedestals in two or three new pair of
pants, as many coats, and with the same
number of caps hanging about hin. The
streets became full OF dirty rebel clothing.
1t is noticeable fact that many CT them
had on Union uniforms when they entered
the town, and a number of their horses
were marked ~. )"
CAPTURE OF HORSES, &C
During the night, until day break, a por-
tion of them secured the country around
in quest of horses, and captured about six
hundred. Ten of the number belonged to
the Hon. A. K. Mcclure, and were fine
animals. Among the horses taken was
celebrated black stallion, owned by sJme
gentlemen in Chambersburg and Valued
at 81, 200. It is remarkably large and
fine animal, and had quite reputation in
the surrounding country. The rebels fed
their own horses at the corn-felds around
Chambersburg. The road for five or six
miles toward Harrisburg is strewn with
corn-stalks that were gathered in the
fields and brought to the edge of the road
for the horses.
CONDUCT OF THE REBELS IN CHAMBERSAURC,
The horses of those that remained in
the town were ranged along the streets.
facing the sidewalks, and remained there
for the night, the riders lying around in
different directions 1t is not known that
they made any attempt TO enter single
private house. The taverns were all
visited directly after they arrived, and
considerable quantity of whisky was pun
ished, for which payment was generally
proffered in Confederate scrip. The men
were, as general thing. friendly, and
even socially disposed toward the inhab
itants, entering into conversation with
the citizens in the tayerns, barber shops,
&c. In one instance one of them entered
q tavern in which were several citizens,
and slightly hesitated at the door. Some
one remarked-''Come in, we won't hurt
YOU" Where-upon he entered, remark
ing, well, perhaps not; but some of you
Yankees lie so"
With the exception of the occurrences
above related, the night was quietly spent.
Preparations for leaving the town were
commenced about daylight. Combusti-
bles were placed in the railroad depot,
luc III hhiSh
stores were kept, the machine shop, and
a train laid to the powder magazine at the
warehouse. The stolen horses were got
together, a large Government wagon with
four horses and two or three ambulances,
found in the town, were well filled with
military clothing, &C., and each cavalry
man had quantity of clothing piled up
before and behind him, on his horses, in
many instances the pile reaching up to
his chin.
Three locomotives and the same num-
Der of passenger cars belonging to the
Valley Railroad were then
utterly destroyed, the buildings stated
above were fired and totally consumed.
They waited long enough to see that the
destruction would be complete, and at 8
o'clock in the morning the whole party
left the town, each man and horse a small
sized clothing establishment.
TRUE THEORY OF LOyE.-Love pure and
- .