Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-10-13
THE DARING REREL RAID INTO
.s PENNSYLyANIi.
Destruction of Government Propertr-
Clothing and Horses Captured


RI rom Correspondence Philadelphia Inc uirSrI
CARLISLE. PA. Oct. l0.-The recent raid Of
Stuart's Rebel Cavalry into Pennsylvania. as
lar as five miles north Of Chambersburg, aud
from thence towards Gettysbarg, TO which
point cannot vet be definitely ascprtained. n
without exception the boldest act OF the war.
ind far surpasses in audaciiy and daring the
celebrated raid on the White House, At an car
lie nCriod OF the war.
The cavalry, about 5000 i'm nnlnier. although
accounts differ as 10 their strength. some par
ties insisting there WAS NOT more than 30 OF
TIE m,) and six pieces o. artillery, snEered
NercersbuTg on Friday about noon, 20 iite great
astonishmento ofthe ctizrfs. Uho a. first thoug ght
ii was a bodyOI Union troops. No damage
was Gone at Mercersburg. with the exception
o. pressing a number OF horSes, there being 10
railroad depot, public workshops or Govern
mGnt stores in the town, and took The Pittsburg
Pike for Chambersburg. arriving before the
town Jnst before dark
Cne OF their first acts was 10 plant three
pieces Of artillery on q Hill back Of the town
Sffer which detachment OF fifteen men were
sent into the town hearing a flag Of truce, and
requesting 10 the chief personageS or au-
iEoriiies, stating thar they had an ample force
~ hand and that the town must be surrendered
CI shcilcd. at the same time stating that guns
y'Ie in position for that purpose. Hon A. X.
Mcclure and Provost Marshal Ssimnsef tlaeR
accompanied them 10 the officers In command,
and all resistance being impossible the town
Was snrrendered and soen afterwards fRlly
occupied. Previous to their entrance, how
ever, Il number of the militia Of Chamberst1ltrg
proceeded 10 arm themselves anG made a how
Cf resist nee, but the project was abandoned as
cnIely fntile. One OF the r first acts. ON enter
ing, Was 10 plant two pieces OF artillery m the
81 uaIe OF the tow n commanding The principal
thoEouehiaics, and placing guards az dfIsrelIt
points. ErSEH
The town was fairly ose upi.-el- about seven
c'Clcck iE tke evening. Shortly afterwards. n
large rCIticn OF them made directly for The
warehouse and cars, in which were stored a
ertat quantity Of GoKtmmeni goods, consist
ing principally OF uniforms and a small guam
tity of roots. Not loa'g afterwards, the whole
town Was converted into one vast ssing
room. On every hotel porch, al every corner,
Oh The greater portion OF the street dcer steps,
in f3cI all OVER TOW "A, miglitbe seen rebel cav
ally donning Yankee uniforms. and throwing
their own worn-out and faded garments iaso
thc street la many instances, one man would
CsconCe his pedestals in two or three new pair
OF pants. Us many oats, and with tie scTne
iumber OF caps hans ing aboui him. The streess
hec2r>a fItll OF dirty rebel clothing II IL no.
ticeable fact that many of them had on Union
uniforms when tne! entered the town, and a
| number of their horses were marked . u. So
DUIing the night. until daybreak a portion
. secured thR country around in quest of horse
AID captured about six hundred OF them.
OF thoset hat remained i'm the town. the horses
We're ranged along the streets. facing Tie side
walls, end remained there for the night. IN
riders lying around in different directions. Z
Is rot known that they made any attempt 10
enter q single private house The tayeTns wer'
considerable quantity of whisky was punished
for which payne nj was generally proaered in
Confederate scrip. The men Were. a. genera
thing, friendly, and even socially disposed TO-
wards the inhabitants, entering into con versa
lion with the citizens I'm the taverns, barbcr
shops, &c. In one instance one Of them en-
tered a tavern i'm which were several citizens,
and slightly hesitated al the door. Some one
remarked, ssCome IN we won't hurt vou.'
Whereupon he entered, renarlng . WelL per-
haps not; but some Of you Yankees lie so.'
Preparations for leaving the town were COM
menced about daylight. Combustibles Were
placed In the railroad depot, the warehouse IN
Which Government stores were kept. the ma
chine shop, and train laid 10 the pow der mag
| aZine al the warehouse. The stolen horses were
| got together, large Government wagon with
/ four horses. and two or three ambulances
| found i'm the town, were well flied with mill
tary clothing, &c, and each cayalryman had a
quantity OF clothing piled mp before and behind
him, ON his horse, in many instances the pile
reaching 10 his chin. H-t4f-
1 Z Three Locomotives and the same number OF
passenger cars belonging 10 the Cumberland
Valley Railroad were then utterly DESTROYED,
the buidin &c stated above were fired and totally
consumed They waited long enough 10 see
that the destruction would be complete, and az
The tovn-each man and horse q small sized
cloihing establishment. s-aas ,.41 80 n g
The train que al Chambersburg, from Hagers-
town, about the time of the advent OF ths.
Rebels, was met about two miles from the town
by citizens who ran 70 warn IL not TO approach
The engine was at once reversed and retraced
its course 20 Hagerstown. Had IL not been for
several cars would have been added TO the list
OF those destroyed, and several oficerS who
were on the train, would have been captured,
10 say nothing of pretty considerable fright
Tie remainder, Of the passengers would have
experienced. $500 ..f..frF .lFsa.l..