The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-08-12
THE REBEL F0RAy INTO PENN
SYlvAMIA.
A Troop Of Rebel Raiders Burn
Chambersburs~FuIl Details
Of the Atrocity.
The Best Part Of the City in
Ashes---Loss One Million
Dollars.


PIrrsBURG. Pa. July 30-At two O'Clock
this morn ny the rebels entered Chambersburg
with q large force, commanded by General
Early They took possession of the town
without firing gun, there being no troops to
oppose them.
They have destroyed the telegraph wires.
and stolen all horses they can find. Reports
say they are so ono strong.
Gen. Couch is 1t c iriisle, with force ready
to oppose them, in case they move in that d.
rectiOn
Gov. Curtin has issued q proclamation call.
ing the citizens to organize Immediately for
the defence Of the State.
1t is not known where they intend going
next.
PHILADELPHIA. July SO.-The excitement is
very great here over the news of the capture
of Chambersburg and the invasion of the State.
an the vicinity of the newspaper Offices Is
crowded by citizens. anxious for more details
which are mOmentarily expected from Harris
burg.
HARRISBURG, July 80 A gentleman at
tached to one Of the newspapers at Chambers
burg, who eft there at eight O'Clock this morn
ing. reports the following facs:
The people of Chambersburg received tnfor-
nation Yesterday of the approach of the rebels.
At once the merchants and business men com
menced pack NJ up their stocks. and before ten
o'clock last evening the most was sent far be-
yond the reach of the rebels. At three O'Clock
infantry reached Chambersburg and encamped
on the Fair ground. This force was met a
short distance from Mercersburg by q small
party of troops from Carlisle Barracks who Op-
posed the advance stubbOrnly, but were COM
PEELED to withdraw on account of the over
whelming numbers of the Inv aders.
The disposition of the rebel forces as they
od tho ia nv in.
formant as follows: neparty moved through
Mercersburg another through Waynesbo,o o.
and another by Greencastle. General Averill is
reported as having engaged their center, and is
said to be falling back on Chamberst urg. II
this be SO. his position must be perilOus and
he 10 likely to be surrounded at any moment,
should the rebels leave Chambersburg to meet
him, and then. moving from Waynesboro, also
join in the assault. .-t
The rolling stock of the Cumberland Valley
Railroad is being removed to this point. Large
numbers OF fugitives and colored people accom-
pany this stock, and present q deplorable con-
dition as they ale huddled on the hearth and
side walks around the railroad depot.
It is reported that the rebels have burned the
Court House, Town Hall. and residence of Col
A. K. Mcclure, a. Cnambersburg.
= Various estimates are made of the number
of the Invading rebels, the lowest putting
them at 80 600. ....
AT O'CLOCK 10 Gay tuey Eau tuauo 10 AZ
vance beyond Chambersburg, and our forces
still hold Shippinsburg, eleven miles east Of
Chambersburg Should the rebels advance on
Shippinsburg the movement would develop
the apparent intention to make demonstrations
still further down the Valley, and if not, to lay
siege to Harrisburg.
FROM PHILADELPHIA.
PHILADELPHIA Sunday, midnight, July 81.
The supposition which telegraphed as like
ly to follow the uncovering of the fords of the
Potomac, Is now matter of history. The
rebels have again invaded Pennsylvania. and
made considerable smoke at the copperhPad
town of Chambersburg. 1t is also stated that
they made an effort to reach Bedford Springs,
as it is well known the copperheads of this
State had cOngregated there to arrange the
coming Presidential campaign. As far as Penn.
eylvania is concerned, it is surmised that Early
& Co. only want to act as consolidating men,
beers of the conclaye, and also to shake Blu
chanan by the hand. The burning OF Cham
bersburg has excited great indignation here.
1t is estimated that 5000 persons are rem
dered penniless by this fendish act. This Is
most probably an exaggeration. Allowing an
average of five persons to house, the number
of sufferers cannot exceed 1880 persons, some
of whom have lost hard earnings accumulated
during many years of toll.
Gov. Curtin is anxious to call out the State
militia, but Gen. Couch does not seem to see
the need of such 8 step. Curtin is persistent,
and would call them out at once over his own
name, but the militia laws of the State cripple
him SO that he can't do it. COppeihead legis-
lation arranged the militia just to suit Early
and company.
Curtin thinks he will call an extra session of
the legislature to have the militia laws so
amended that he can put the State on war
footing, and prevent future rebel raids.
Di patches from Harrisburg arc cOntradicto-
nv as to the whereabouts OF the rebels. Some
say they are out of the State, while others ae-
sert the contrary.
Harrisburg is in communication with Nc
Connelsburg and Bedford. Averill intercepted
McCauslard OF McConnelsburg this morning.
on his way to Bedford, driving them out OF
the town before they had chance of iDjuring
any property. The rebels were driven out to
Hancock.
Tt is now asce-tained that the rebels have no
heavy force coming up in their rear as was
suppOsed, This was all scare to uncover
Washington Breckenridge is supposed to be
moving west toward Wheeling.
FROM CHAMBEesBURG.
CuAMBERsRURG, Sunday. July 3l.-Om the
morning of Saturday, the 3Oth OF duly, 1861,
the rebels, under the command OF McCausiand,
with force of about 800 men, entered Cham-
bershurg, Pennsylvania. and demanded TooO,
900 from the citizens, under threat OF burn
ing the town. This requisition was III writing,
and was signed by Jubil Early. 1t il now es'
tablished by indubitable proof that this de-
maud was mere preteXt on the part OF the
marauderrs to cover up purpose formed De
fore they reached the town to burn it to the
ground without giving any time to remove
private property, and scarcely time enough fol
the citizens to remove their families. They
fired houses of our citizens in perhaps tittl
nlaces. Over 200 houses in the heart of thu
consumed including all the p sb
tw1-:hirds of a town containing 5000 iuhabit
ants. Thus large budy Of citizens are reduced
from comparative wealth to absolute poverty
Many families have lost all their b, dding ant
clothing except such as they had on their per
sons.
The lose will be largely over 81 600 coo
Without aid from abroad, there Will bc grea
suffering in our community.
ef. FROM HARRISBURG.
SpcciI Dispatch to the Chic 60 Tribune.
=. HARRISBURG Pa. Sunday. July 81, 1854 -
No LAT dIspatch gave NIL ttic news 10 tie plac