Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-10-20

I
tics, the war, the different battles, the mer-
its of different Generals in both armies,
&c. They spoke with entire freedom upon
every subject but their movement into
Chamber=burg. Most of them were men
OF more than ordinary intelligence and
culture, and their demeanor was in all res.
poets emiueutly courteous. took q cup
of coffee with them, and have seldom seen
anything more keenly relished. They said
they had not tasted coffee for weeks before
and then they had paid from Sc to $40 per
pound for it. When they we're through,
they asked whether there was any coffee
Left, and finding that there was some, they
proposed to bring some more officers and a
few Privates, who were prostrated by ex.
posure, to get what was left. They were
of course, as welcome as those present, and
on they came in squads of 1--WE or more,
until every grain of Drowned coffee was
exhausted. They then asked tor tea, aud
that was served to some twenty more.
In the meantime, a subordinate officer
had begged of me q little bread for himself
and few men, aud he was supplied in the
kitchen. He was followed by others in
turn, until nearly hundred had been sup
piled with something to eat or drink. All,
however, politely asked permission to en-
ter the house, aud behaved with entire pro-
lucy uA4 uOb LuAhG -
or profane remark. even to the servants.
In the meantime, the officers, who had first
entered the house, had filled their pipes
from the box Of Kilickiniek on the mantle
AFTER being assured that smoking was not
ofeHsive-and We had another hour of u
free talk on matters generalIy.-When told
that was decided Republican, they
thanked me for being candid; but when,
10 reply to their inquiries, told them /
cordially sustained the Presidents emau-
cipatiOu proclamation. they betrayed Q lit
tie nervousness, but did not for q moment
forget their propriety They admitted It to
be the most ssTiOuS danger that haS yet threat
eled them, but they ,cere all hopeful that IL
igoutd not be sustained an the NoTth trith sut-
feieRt undnimify to enforce 1t.
Their conversation on this point bore 9
| striking similarity to the speeches ofFrank
Hughes and Charles ]. Biddle and had you
heard them converse, without seeing them,
you would have supposed that was hav-
| iug friendly eonfsb with little knot of
Pennsylvania Breckenridge politicians. Of
the two, am sure, you would have respect
ed the rebels the most for they are open
foes, aud seal their convictions With their
lives, aud they openly aToH their greater
respect for open, unqualified supporters of
the war over those who oppose every war
measure, profess fraternal sympathy with
the South, aud yet say they are in favor of
preserving the Union. They all declared
themselves heartily sick OF the war, but de-
termiued never to be reunited with the
North.
At four O'Clock in the morning the well
come blast of the bugle was heard, aud
they rose hurriedly to depart. Thanking
me for the hospitality they had received,
We parted mutually expressing the hope
that should we ever meet again it would
be under more pleasant circumstances In
q few minutes they were mounted aud
moved into Ohambersburg. About seven
o'clock went into town, and found that
the first brigade, under General Hampton,
had gone toward Gettysburg. General
Stuart sat on his horse in the centre Of the
town, surrounded by his stat, and his
command was coming in from the country
in large squads, leading their old horses
aud riding the new ones they had found in
the stables hsreabouts. General Stuart is
of medium size, has keen eye, and wears
immense heavy Whiskers and mouStache
| His demeanOr TO our people was that of a
humane soldier. In several Instances his
men commenced to take private property
from stores, bat were arrested by General
Stuarts provost guard. In single in-
Stance only that l have heard of did they
enter a store by intimidating the preprie-
tor. ALI our shops and stores were closed,
and with very few exceptions were not
disturbed.
There were considerable Government
stores here, some two hundred pair Of
shoes, few boxes of clothing, AID large
quantity of ammunition captured recently
from Gen. Longstreet. 1t WAS stored in
the warehouses of Wunderlich Head
Ia. 4
ready to leave, and they notified the citizens
residing near the warehouses 70 remove
their families, as they were going to burn
all public property. The railroad station
house, machine shops, round-house, and
the warehouses filed with ammunition
were then fired, aud the last Of tie rebels
fed the town. 10 a little tine q terrific
explosion told that the flames had reached
the powder, and for hours shells were ex-
plodiug with great rapidity. The FIRE coui-
pAnies came out as soon as the rebels left,
but could not save any of the buildings
dred because Of the shells. They saved
all others, however.
| So ended a day of Rebel rule 10 Cham.
bersburg. They took some 500 horses
| from our people, aud destroyed, perhaps,
100000 worth of property for the Cum
berlaud Valley Railroad Company, prob
ably SIS 900 for Wunderlieh & Head, and
$3.50, 900 for the Government. Our peO-
Pile generally feel that, bad as they are. they
are not as bad as they might be. pre-
sumo that the cavalry With Us are the hOW-
er of the Rebel army. They are made up
mainly of young men Ia Virginia, who
owned fine horses and have had consider
able culture should not like TO risk q
similar experiment with their infantry. /
was among them all the time here, and
was expecting every minute TO be called
upon to report TO General Stuart; but they
did not seem TO have time to look after
prisoners, and luckily escaped. Bat
fIom the fact that I can't fad \ borse
about the barn, and that my fence is
| stripped Of paling TO remind me of the
reality Of the matter, it would seem like