Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1862-10-16
Scenes in Chambersburg. Pa.

brro. Franklin county, to friend III Phladel-
mia, who has furnished it for publications.
CHANBERsBURG, October-lS62
Ahoet one @ clock half dozen officers came
- the door and asked 80 have some coffee made
fnr them. offering TO pay literally TOR il III Con
s:.derate scrip. After concluding treaty with
then, on behalf Of the coIored servants, coffee
yas promised them, and they then asked tor
little bread with it. They were wet and shy
erioc. and seeing bright open wood fire IN the
library, they asked permission TO enter and
varm themselves until their coffee should be
ready, assuring me that under no clrcumstan--
ces should anything IN The house be disturbed
10 their men. I had no alter" ative but to ac-
cent them as my guests until 1t might please
Them to depart, and did 50 With as good grace
as possible.
Once seated around the fire, all reserve seena-
ed TO be forgotten ca their part; and they open
e1 general conversation on politics, the war,
the different battles, the merits OF Generals IN
both armies, &c They spoke with entire tree
dom upon every subject but their movement
into Chambersburg. Most Of them were men
Of more than ordinary intelligence and culture,
aud their demeanor was in allrcspects eminent
" com ceous. [ took cup Of coffee with
them, aud have seldom seen anything more
coffee for weeks before, and then they had paid
from Sc 20 $40 per pound for it. When they
were through they asked whether there was
any coffee LETT, and fuling there was some: they
proposed TO bring some more officers aud few
privates who were Frustrated by exposure to
get what was LETT. They were, OF course, as
welcome as those present, and On they came IN
squads Of five or more, until every grain OF
brown coffee was exhausted They then asked
for tea. aud that was served to some twenty
more
In the meantime, subordinate officer had
begged Of me a little bread for himself and
few luen and was supplied il thekitchen: He
was followed by others IN turn, until nearly one
hundred had been supplied with something to
eat or drink. All, however, politely asked
permission to enter the house, and behaved
with entire propriety. They did not make
single rude CT protane remark, even TO the
servants. In the meantime, the othcerS, VINO
had first entered the house, had hled their
pipes FROM the box of Kilckinick on the mantle
after being assured that smoking was not
offensive-and we had another hour. OF tree
talk on matters generally. When told that l.
was decided Republican, they thanked me tor
being candid; but when ia reply to their IN
Qliries, told them that cordially sustained
the Presidents emancipation proclamation,
they betrayed little nervousness; but did not,
for moment forget theirproprety. They admit
ed it to be the most serious danger that mas
yet threatened them, but they were all hopeful
shat it would not be sustained ia the North
with sufficient unanimity to enforce It.
Their conversation on this point bore ., str1-
king similarity to the speeches OF Frank
Hughes aud Charles j. Biddle and had you
heard them converse, without seeing them:
you would have supposed that I was having
trie adv confab with li;tle knot of Pennsylva-
MA Breckinridge politicians OF the two, l
am sure, YOU would have respected the Rebels
the most; for they are open foes. and seal tbe 1