Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1864-08-17


erty aud piilage OF the counties of Mary
land lying on the border. These events
have passed into history and the responsi
bihties will be settled by the jud me- ut of
the people.
At that time, call was made upon
Pennsylvania Tor volunteers to be mustered
into the service Of the United States aud
ITO serve tor one hundred days in the
State of Penusy lvania and Mary land and at
Washington aud Its vicinity" Nutwith-
standing the .mbarrasments which compli-
Gated the orders TOR their organization and
muster, SIX regiments we're enlisted and
organized and battalion of six companies
The regiments were withdrawn from the
Safe, the last leaving on the z9th day of
July
| desired that at least part OF this force
should be confined in their service to the
States OF Pennsylvania aud MARYLAND, and
made such an application to the War De
partment, as the proposition did not meet
their appreciation it was rejected and the
general ore er changed to include the
States named and Washington aud its vi.
cinlty.
No part of the rebel army at that time
had come within the State The people OF
the border counties were warned and re
moved their stock, aud at Chambersburg
and York were organized and armed Tor
their own protection. | was not officially
informed Of the movements of the Federal
armies aud Ci course not ot the strategy Oi
their c''mmanders, but it was stated in the
newspapers that the rebel army was clos, y
pursued alter 1t had CT ssed the Pot, mac
aud was refining up the Valley Vi he
Shenandoah Repeated successes ot our
troops We're also auuvuuced aud the people
OF this State had just Cause to believe that
gate sufficient Federal force had been
thrown forward Tor its protection upon the
line of the Potomac
On Friday, the 10Th OF July, he rebei
brIgades OF johnson and McCausland, con
sistIng OF from 800 to 3,UUO mounted
men, with six guns. crossed th Potomac al
Clear Spring Ford. They commenced
crossing at ~ CLOCK, u. ~, md marcheA
directly on Mercersburg There were tut
45 meu picketed in that direction, under
the command of Lieut.. VI Lean, L. S \.
anu as the enemy succeeded in cutting the
telegraph commun cation, which from that
point had to pass west, by way OF Bentord,
no information could be sent to Uenerai
Couch, by telegraph, who Was then al
Ihamtershnrg. ! he head Of this column
reached Chant er>nurg at ) q clock, III
on Saturday, the Jyth
The reoei hrgades If Nang.n aud J eek
son, mum eJlng about ) 3.UUU mounted u.eu
crossed the Potomac at about The Sums
time at or near Niila,nsport-part Of the
command advanced on Hagerstown-thr
main t0dy moved on the road leading from
WiIiamspOrt to Greeucastle Another
rebel column OF infantry and artillery
crossing the Potomac simultaneously at
Sheppa' dstown, moved towards Lei,
tersDurg. Gen. Averill, who commanded
a force reduced to about 2,6UU men, was
at Hagerstown, and being Threatened i !
front by Vaughn and Jackson, ON his right
10y McCausland and Johnston, who also
threatened his rear, and on his let by the
column which crossed at Sheppardstown
he therefore f. Il back uDou Greencaste.
Gen. AverlIt, 1t Is understood, was under
the orders of Gen. Hunter, but was kept
as fully advised by Geu. Couch as vas poS
Slble, Of the enemy's mpvements on his
right aud 10 his rear. Gen. Couch was 10
Oh ,mbershurg, where his entire force con
sisted o. 90 infantry, 45 cavalry, aud Sec
tIOn OF battery of artillery, in ALL less
than l5U men. The six companies of men
enlisted for one hundred days remaining
in the State, and two companies OF cavalry
had, under orders from Washin ton, as | am
uno6icially inform ed joined Gen Averiil
The town OF Chambersburg was held until
day light, by the small force under Gener
al Couch, during which time the Govern
ment stores and train were saved. I've
batteries were then planted by the enemy
commanding the town, aud it was invested
by the whole command of johnson and
McCansland. AT I clock, a. m. six com
| panles OF dlsmounted men, commanded hy
S"eeny, entered the town, followed hy
! Mounted men under Gilmore. The mai,
force was ~ line OF hattle-a demand was
made Tor lUU,OOU dollars in gold, or $40,
| UUU dollars IN Government funds, as ran.
som, and number of citizens were arrested
! aud hello as hostages Tor its payment. Nc
| offer OF money was made by the citizens Of
/ tue town, and even if they had any nten.
/ ton OF paying a ransom, no time was
( allowed, as the rebels commenced imme.
/ diately to burn and plliage the town, disre.
! gariiug the appeals OF women and children
{ the aged and n6rm. and even the bodies o
the dead were not protected from their
! brutality. l. would have been vain for al
/ the citizens of the town, if armed, to have
! attempted, in connection with Gen Couch
small force, to defend it. Gen Couch with
! drew his command, and did not hnsel
leave until the enemy were actually ia tn,