Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-08-01
BY TELEGRAPH.



HARRISBURG, July 5l.-Gen. McCausland
was In command the rebel troops when they
burned Chambersburg. He is a desperate,
reroelous, and untamed freebooter, ready at an '
time 10 violate the usages Of honorable var
fare In order to crafty his dark and malignant
passions. Amer Nc Causiaud had taken formal
possession OF the town, he Issued proclama.
zion demanding sl00, 900 in gold. It was, of
course, impossible to comply with such de-
mand-a demand, no doubt, made confident
Of its failure, and sure of its afIordng protext
to execute the premeditated plan for destroying
Chambersburg''
Tho valuable portion of the merchandise
having been removed added to the rage and
disappointment OF the rebels, and, when thus
Inspired, an order was Issued to fire the court.
house, town hall, and bank buildings. A
strong breeze prevailing, the flames communi.
Gated to the surrounding buildings. Parties
Of soldiers, having sacked several drug and
chemical stores, had manufactured turpentlne
balls, which they threw In all directions, thus
creating as many different flames In many diff
ferent localities, which soon united In one
general confagratlon. The scene speedily be-
came heart-rendlng and appalling. The crack
ing and roaring OF the hames as they leaped
from house to house. the shrieks OF the terrified
women, panic-stricken and suffering children,
and the pitiful appeals Of the old and helpless
HtTo uuuIu hUuNO buO uOlbO VI hut
ton.
Tho citizens, unprotected, had submitted to
their plunder, but had even, as 1t were, APP
pealed TO their mercy; but nothing could APP
pease the butcher and inceRdlary, McCausland.
Two hundred and sixty-fve OF the most valu-
able and prominent public and private build
ings have been destroyed. They fired the
town, as near as can be how asccrtained, at IL
q. m, and remained juet long enough TO see
Q ha ga m avlSpad mud aaft ha.
when the alarm was given that Averill was
approaching the town. Instantly every free
bootcr was In his saddle, and they hurriedly
took the 81. Thomas road, with Averill In pur-
suit.
No intelligence has been received In this city
concerning the direct effect OF Averill's attack.
1t is believed, however, that he succeeded In
Furnishing McCausland very severely.
A train heavily laden with commissary stores
was dispatched from this city this morning to
theyicinity of fChsmbersburg, In order to relieve
the present wants Of the houseless women and
children OF that town who now crowd the. fields
and woods Of the suburbs.
An APPEAL.
CHAmB TRBBuRG, July 81.
An appeal 10 The Beneroltm Citizens Of Tie
Worth: On the morning of the 5Oth of ,Tuly,
1864, the rebels, under the command OF Gen.
McCausland, with force OF about 500 men,
entered Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and dc.
manded $500, 900 from the citizens, under a
threat of burning the town. This requsltion
was In writing, and was signed by Gen. Jubal
Early.
II is now established by indisputable proof
that this demand was q mere pretext on the
part Of the marauders TO cover up a purpose
formed before they reached the town, to burn
it to the ground, without giving any time "a
remove the private property, and scarcely
time enough for tho citizens TO remove tn ell
families.
They fred the houses OF our citizens In per.
haps any places. Upwards of two hundred
and fifty houses In the heart Of the town were
consumed, including all the public buildings,
stores, and hotels, comprising about two-thirdf
of town containing six thousand inhabitants
Thus large body Of citizens are reduced from
comparative wealth to absolute poverty. These
families have lost all their bedding and all
their clothing, except what they had on their
persons.
The loss will be largely over one million Of
dollars. Without aid from abroad there will De
great suffering in our community.
The Rev. John X. Warner, OF Gettysburg,
proyidentially with us at this time, is the ac.
credited agent of the citizens for receiving sub.
scriptions and contributions for our relief.
]. NJ. KIMMELL,
BERNARD WOLFE,
And many others.