Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-10-18
How the Rebels Behaved az Chambersburs
Col. McClnrela EEnerienee.

How the Rebels Behaved AZ Chambersburg
-@COl. McCluFe's Experience
From very interesting personal nara
tive Of Col. Mcclure, Of Chambersburg,
whose blooded horses we're stolen BY Stu
art in his late raid, we publish a few par
agraphs. Col Mcclure had gone out to
meet the rebsl flag Of truce, and was di-
rected to pilot the rebel forces ints town.
he says
WHIsKT BOUT SPOILED.
l started in advance of them for my
house, but not in time to save the horses.
I confidently expected 10 be overrun by
them, and to find the place one scene of
desolation in the morning l resolved,
however that the thing should be done So
berly, if possible, and had just time to
destroy all the liquors about the house.
As their pickets were all around me, I could
not get it off. a barrel of the best old rye,
which Senator Finney had sent me to
prove the superiority of the Crawford
county article over that of Franklin, was
quietly rolled out of cellar side door, and
a good sized hole bored into it. A keg of
OberholtEer's best, sent me several years
ago, and never tapped. followed Finney's
testimonial to Crawford county distillationi
and couple Of cases Of Presbury's best
Girard House importation, had the necks
of the BEETLES taken off summarily and the
contents confded to the angry storm.
finished Just in time, for they were soon out
upon me in force, and every horse in the
barn-ten in all-was promptly equipped
and mounted by q rebel cavalryman. They
passed on toward ShiPpensburg leaving
picket force in the road. In an hour they
returned with all the horses they could
find, and dismounted to spend the night
on the turnpike in front of my door. 1t
was now midnight, and | sat on the porch
obseryinp their movements. They had my
best cUInh6Iu oeSIue Tueu, anu IneIr nOrses
Jared well. In o little while one entered
the yard, came up TO me, and after pro-
found bow, asked for few Goals to start
fire. supplied him, and informed him as
blandly as possible where he would find
wood conveniently, as had dim visions of
camp fires made of my palings. was
thanked in return, and the mild hammered
villain proceeded at once to strip the fence
and kindle fires. Soon after a squad came
and asked permission to get some water.
lNIAODbLHD ~ a EOAEs
pilOted them to the pump, and again
received profusion of thanks. Commu-
nication having thus been opened between
us, squads followed each other closely for
water, but each called and asked permits
sion before getting it, and promptly left
the yard. I was somewhat beWildered at
this uniform courtesy, and supposed it but
a prelude to a general movement upon
everything eatabIe in the morning. 1t
was not a grateful reflection that my beau
tiful mountain trout, from twelve to TWEEN
ty inches long, sporting in the spring,
would probably grace the rebel breakfast
table, that the blooded calves in the yard
beside them would most likely 60 with the
trout; and the dwarf pears had, felt
assured, abundant promise Of early relief
from their golden burdens. About one
o'clock half dozen officers came to the
door and asked to have some coffee made
for them, offering to pay literally for 1t
in Confederate scrip. After concluding
treaty with them on behalf Of the cOlored
servants, coffee was promised them, and
they then asked for little bread with it.
They were wet and shivering, and seeing
q bright open wood fire in the library,
they asked permission to enter and warm
themselves until their coffee should be
ready, assuring me that under no circum-
stances should anything in the house be
disturbed By their men. l had no alter
native but to accept them as my guests
until it should please them to depart, and
did so with as good grace as possible.
HEARTS WARNED AND MOUTHS OPENED.
III
seemed to be forgotten on their part, and
they opened a general conversation on
politics, the war, the different battles, the
merits Of generals in both armies, 60
They spoke with entire freedom upon eY-
0Iy subject but EteIr movement into Cham
bersburg. Most of them were men of
more than ordinary intelligence and oul-
ture, and their demeanor was in all res
poets eminently courteous. 1 took a cup
of coffee with them, and have seldom seen
more keenly relished. They said
Jhey had not tasted coffee for weeks be- |
fore, and then they had paid from Sc to |
$40 per pound for 1t. When they were |
through they asked whether there was any |
coffee left, and finding that there was
some they proposed to bring some more
officers and u few privates who were pros
rrsted by exposure to get what they left. |
They were OF course, as welcome as those |
present, and on they came in squads of |
Eve or more, until every grain of Drowned |
coffee were exhausted. They then asked |
for tea, and that was served to some twenty
more.
on THEIR GOOD BEHAVIOR.
In the meantime, subordinate officer
, 4 - l1tt1a hir,aa1F 4