Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-08-01
THE INVASION ev pEsssYLv1r.1.


THE INVASION or PENNsYLvAn,ax
The Tswn Of Chaa Scr I.~x Ds.srs,.s
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ers ke,reating wes,.
HARRlsBuRs, July 90, p. m.-In an a.
dress to the citizens this afternoon, calling up,a
them to respond. the Governor read despateh
from sh'pPensenrg to the effect that the rebel
pickefs are two and half miles this aide OF
Chambersburg, and the rebels in Ohambsrs-
burg had burned Col MeCiure's residence, TIE
court house, the bank, and ali the pubic
buildings ard warehouses.
, 0,p. Cameron addressed the meeting, being
loudly called for. He said that il the n beE
come to HarJieburg " o mnst expect the same
Ieatnen He reported ffon the committee OF
saie'y number OF places for the different com.
pan,es PANE 70 report, and said they would be sup
p.lrc WITH fatione, d c., aHd would not be taken
from Harrisburg Some fifteen com panies re-.
porteo Tor duty At the etips: others are In
process OF fol I'm assop
Ing been revived by the miptarv .n,hor,,ies AZ
this poet, much pews that wou,d he in ntersst,ng
and important to the public, cannot be coSamu.
nieated by telegraph. Ibis caution ON tns nsrt
OF the military authorities must not he nt.rnn
strued, because it is jusufied by circnmstanoas
surrounding The situation in the Cumherisnd
NHiley. end made necessary by the highest "
gard for public safeIy and the military success
There can bs no doubt that the main Object
OF the prt sent bel invasion has been already
Inv ar ed, and hat the rebels themselves vii,
be kei exceedingly busy to extricate them.
selves u ON the position into which their rash
ness led them.
Nine o'clock p. m.-Colonel Mcclure has
the field, few miles this side OF Chambers
burg, 10 the Eft CT that the rebels had fred that
town: After having perpe rated their fisndish
OF the rsbPls in having been foiied In their
hopes of gathering an immense amount of
plunder. they left with increased CELEBRITY, In
comparison to that with which they entered
that Ill fated town ia is morning, and that thew
are now hastily collecting their maraudiue
forces for consolidation in retrea'ipg, instead
OF rendering themselves more successful in
their expressions.
The military au uhorities here are active aud
vigilant. Major General Couch thoroughly
comprehends the situation. and will certainly
use the means at his disposal tor the most
effective and prompt defence OF the people and
property within this district.
All the public buildings in Chambersburg
and Colonel NcClure's residence asd barn
were fired by the rebels and burned The
greater part Of the town is smouldering mass
Of ruins.
General AveriII Attacks the Raiders
LANCASTER. July 30 Ii O'Clock p. h.-The
following information is derived from semi
General Averil has driven the rebel forces,
under the command OF johnson and MsCans-
lin. ont OF Chambersburg, and is following
4
county.
Most Of Chambersburg is said to be- in ashes,
and three thousand people thereby rendered
houseless.
A raid towards Wheeling is intended by
RreckinridRe, who relies upon returning by
the wey Of the Kanawah alley. In the mean
time, Longstreet is to threaten Washington,
while General Earl y holds the Valley.
Our military authorities are In possession OF
these facts and the attempts of the raiders will,
no doubt, be effectually defeated
HARRISBURG, July 30 Most positive tnfor.
nation bas been received that General AverilI
has driven the Rebels ont of Cham bers burg,
and is following them westward toward Lou
don, Franklin county. The best part of Cham
bersburg is said to be in ashes, and three thou
sand people rendered homeless. Ii is stated on
the authority of prisoners that Breckinridge is
making raid towards Wheeling or above TO
return via the Kapawha Valley. 1t seems by
the statement Of these prisoners, that II Is the
intention OF Longstreet to threaten washing
ton, while Brec ckinridge n axes MS raid In the
meantime, Early is holding the valley.
Further Particulars
HARRISBURG, July 3I-Geueral McOaue-
land was in command Of the rebel troops when
they burned Chambersburg He is desperate
and ferocious freebooter, ready at any time to
y,o'ate the usages Of honorable warfare, in
order to crafty his dark and malignant pas
sions. After he had taken formal poe session Of
the town he made proclamation demanding
to comply with such demand-a demand, no
doubt, made in confident expectation OF Its
failure, and as sure OF its affording pretext -
execute the premeditated plan for destroying
Chambersburg. The valuable portion of the
merchandise having been removed, added to
the rage and disappointment of the rebels, and
WHEN thus inspired, the order was iss ued to
hre the courthouse, the town hall, and bank
buildings. A strong breeze prevailing, COM
municated the flames to the surrounding build.
iDgs, and parties OF soldiery having sacked
several drug and chemical stores, had manu-
factured quantity OF turpentine balls, which
they ignited and tnIe w in all directions thus
creating as many different fires in different
c, c,nfiaeration.
Speedily the scene became heart.rendine and
most appalling. The cracking and roaring of
the shrieks OF terrified women, and pauic
stricken and suffering children; pitlful appeals
OF the old and helpless were heard above the
noise OF the con f1as ration, but all to no avail
The citizens bad, without protesting, su omitted
to the plundering Of the stores, and only ap.
peaIed to the mercy Of the foe, but nothing
could appease the butcher and incendiary,
McCauslapd. Two hundred and sixty a We of
the most valuable and prominent public aud
private buildings were destroyed. They fred
the town, as near as can now be AscertaiDed,
at III o'clock q. m, and remains1 just long
enough to see the flames spread and get proper
headw ay, when the alarm was given that hy.
eri'l was approaching the town. Instantly
every eve 1 freebooter was IN n the saddle, and took
Areriil in pursuit. No intelligence has
reached the city concerning the direct effect OF
AVeTlilS atLacR. IL Is OelleyeQ, no W6ver, thdt
he succeeded in Furnishing McOausland very
severely.
train heavily laden with commissary
stores was despatched from this city this
morning for the vicinity of Chambersburg, In
order to relieve the present wants OIL the
houseless women and children OF that town,
who now crowd the woods and fields Of the
suburbs.
The Pursuit of the Raiders
When Gen. Averill reached Chambersburg
the flames had obtained such q head way as
to render it impossible for his men to stay
there. The word "onward' ran along his
lines, and the rebels hurried over the St
Thomas road toward McConneilsburg, M bat the
rear OF their retreating column could not fail
to distinguish the approach of verIll, so they
were prevented from doing any deeds Of vi
olepce.
Averill came laundering after them, enter
ing at one side OF MeConneIlsburg while the
invaders left at the other.
Reported Defeat of the Raiders.
PHILADELPHIA, July Sit is reported here
thai Hen AYe riil has defeated the raiders n