Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-10-24
THE sURRENDER on CHAMBERS
BTRGI.

l, was matter Of some inquiry, when
Chambersburgh was occupied by the rebels,
vino Col Mcclure was, who was said 10
have surrendered the place,-as It was not
known that there were any Union troops
there. T. seems thai be is a gentleman res
ident there who t3lk the lead by -eques; of
the citiz.ns. \ long aud interesting letter
from him is 20 li-bei il the Philadelphia
Press. IRON which we makes few extracts:
Our people we're oonfoutird with sstoni.hneat
=; tue bal ant suitc o. o. the re0eis peuetrs ius
~ miles in Gen. Nc lellan- reari but however
reckless vr we'll devised on their pare. tl- fic, and
the rebels were both st,rrE our pc PIE IN tire fcr.
The rain vas pouring down in tDrrrn--, and m
little time ciiIEeus were rui ming % and fro. wi
their muskots; hut there Eas no orgsnittti0n, AMI
10 time to eject one, and iu lev MINUTES the rebel
advance va In the centre ot tie tovl. They
stated that they bore iIs 'i truce ana wished %
be taken % the cammandaut cf the post.
Was seut f1r g. meet the distinguished strsng-
trs I w. 10 uq O. toHu O. meet ihe 9 : a truce,
and found % clever-i00bing " butscruut, dripping
~. uit1cu- any max 0f rank. bearing dirty
white 10Th httie stick. lie 70 itey state
that he sought tho commander or authorities Of
msndinc TIE Confederate forces, be demanded the
surrender Of the villsge Ho refused 20 give his
name, or the name of the General commtnding,
and he could not state au what t.rus they would
accept surrender.
As | had no command other than tho scst;sred
and bewldered home guards-ail brave enough.
but entirely without drill or orslnizltion-and
about 800 wounded men IN he bospitlis, I acted
with the citizens as one Of them; and it did not
require protrac cd council 10 determine that Ee
could not successfully resist cavalry and artillery.
- We concluded that the yenerabls vilsge hsd 70
be consigned over 10 rebel keeping-
After travelling mile we-t6srd. We we're brO't
10 q halt by a squad Of mounted men, I'd nfoi med
thst Gen. Hampton one o. tho party. 20 whom
we should sddress ourselves. Il Wa 90 dark thst
| could not dit nguish him iron any OF his men.
Up, beiI Informed that We we're committee Of
citizens, and that there no orga lied force 10
the town, and no military Commander 81 the post,
be stated in a resp ctful and soidier-like manner.
tn he cOmnandyd the advance Of he Conleder-
ate trOOps-ihat be kneE resistance would be VAIN,
and he wished the CT isens 10 be fully advised Of
bis purpose 60 avoid needless loss Of life and
Wsnton destruction OF property.
The cumuittee went through the form of a
grave but brisf consu tation, somewh bat expedited,
perhst p, by the rain, and we then sulemnly and
formally surrendered the town upon the term.
proposed. We asked permission TO % 3 little in
advance of his forces to prepare our people fer
the sudden transition from the stars nd stripes
to the stars and bars.
Messs. Kennedy sni kimzeil proceeded to
town TO get the people 70 retire peaeeab.y ard
prevent any provoking demonstrations and 60
rebel rule began in Chamber-burg. They marched
in very orderly. and most az their force started
out different roads to procure t0-aes, forage, and
provisions.
started in advance Of them Tor my house bat
not in time 70 save the horses. I confidently ex-
pected to be overruu by them, lud to GId the
place one scene OF desolation in the moraing. I
received, however, that the thing should be done
sobeTly, If possible, aud bad just time TO des-
troy all the liquors about The house.
Tlsy were soon GU. upon me in force, and every
horse IN be Larn-ten in all-Was promptly
equipped aud mounted by rebel cavalry man
Ihey passsd on toEaTd saiPPsusbUTg. .cavng a
picket force on the road.
In an hour they returned With al the horses
they could Cad. snd dsmoun,ed to spend the night
on the turnpike front Of my door. They had
my best cornheid beside them. and their horses
fired we'll. IL little shie, ne entered the yard.
came up to ne, and after profound bow, politely
asked for a few Goals 10 start a Ere. | sup lied
hin, Grd icf.rmed him sc blandy possible
where be would fud wood conv.uirItly, as had
dim vi'iO1s Of camp hres made OF ny palings. !
~as thanked in return, and the mid nHnnersd
villain Troct a. once To strip the fence aud
kindle fires. -oon after, = squad came AMI asked
permission 10 get ne water.
About one O'ci ck, half DOZEN officers came 70
the door and asked to have 5Vme c, fse made sor
then, ring 10 pay literally for it il Uonfeder-
ate scrip. After concluding treaty with them
on behalf OF the colYred servants, ,cuse WAS prom
ised then, and they then asked Tor q little bTezd
with il. They were vet and snivsEiBg and seeing
bright open wood Ere in the library. they asked
permission to enter and warm themselves until
their coffee should be ready, ass1Ting that IN
der no cireunstsness should snyt5ing in the house
be disturbed by their men. / bad No tentative
but 20 accept them as ny guests until &. should
! please them TO depart, aud did 81 With as good
grace as possible.
! Iost Of them were CT 1oTe thz1 ordinary
in.elligence and cui,ure, AID their deneanor vaI
| IN all respects enineutiy courteous. took CUP
! Of coffee with them, and Lave se,do.a eeen any
I thing more keeuly relisbe6. They ssii they hrd
not tasted ecfee for weeks before, and thea ttey
had paid from So to $40 per pound 70. 1t. Wsen
| they were through, they asked whether there was
any coffee left, AID finding that there was some,
th=y proposed to bring como more oficers and a
FEW prir.tes rho rero prostrsted By exposure, 70