Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-08-03
IRURNINe OF CHAMBERsBURa.
Nc oauslanI ResEing With Vengeance -Hor.
ri6Es BdsbaritieS- LntsrestiEg PdrtieuEars
l--Statemsnts Of Eye Witnesses.

From the Pittsburgh Commercial
We yesterday had an hours eonversa-
tion with two Intelligent ladies, who
reached the city on Sunday night from
Harrisburg. They. had been residents of
ChambeFsburg, and were In the town when
the rebel General MeOausland entered and
burned the principal part of the place.
They give us thrilling account of the
| incidents attendant upon the brief stay of
the raiders, and the quiet heroism which
these unprotected females displayed amid
thetrying circumstances which surrounded
them, is worthy of all praise. Although
shorn of all they possessed by the rebel
robbers and rebel torches, yet they bravely
bore up, and after taking last lingering
look at their once happy homes then fall.
ing q prey TO the deVouring element, they
sadly but heroically, at the bidding Of the
iDcendiary raiders, started to walk to Ship.
pensburg, distance Of nine or ten miles.
From previous state of afhuence, COM
fort and contentment, they had become In
an hour, houseless and homeless wanderers
with uanght but the scanty clothing with
which they left their burning homes. In
deed one of them was not even permitted
to take with her q bonnet to shelter her.
head from the burning sun.
With regard to the burning of Chambers
burg by the rebels, we gathered during our
conversation with these ladies, the follow
ing particulars, which, being related by
eye-gitnesses, will be read With interest
It seems that the good people of Chambers
burg, not proiitiDg by the experience of the
past, were, as we are here, almost totally
unprepared for raid, on however small a
scale. 1t is true that Major Genefal Couch
had established his headquarters in the
town, aud had with him body guard Of
some twenty or thirty men, and that one or
two pieces of cannon were planted upon an
eminence near the place TIA beyond this
no preparations had been made TO defend
the town in case of an assault by the enc
my. It was known that the raiders were
in the neighborhood, and the greater part
of the money in bank, and other Valuables,
had been removed to place of safety
still the mass of the people retired on Fri
day night without dreaming of the calami-
ties Saturday morning had in stSre for
them. t.. 90
About Eve o'clock on last Saturday
morning two or three shots were fred from
the cannon before referred to, which par
TALLY aroused the sleepers in the doomed
town to sense of their danger. A gen.
tlemau, atpArticular friend of the ladies
with whom we conversed, informed them
that the enemy were known TO be sdVan-
they approached front window for the
purpose of reconnoitering. Small bodies
of rebels were observed peering cautious
ly round the corners apparently unarmed,
who having seemingly satisfied their curl.
osity, retired to the outskirts of the town.
| It was but short time, however, before
they returned in stronger force, and soon
after commenced their work of destruc-
tion. Mcoausland, who commanded the
raiders, stated that he had come upon his
mission, reekiDg with the vengeance of
hell, and that he had selected his hell
hounds to perform the work, and they
would do it effectually. He demanded Of
the citizens $500, 900 in greenbacks or
$1,000 in gold as the price at which be
would save the town. But whilst the peo-
pie were taking counsel in relation to the
matter, the "hell hounds" commenced
firing the town, regardless of the pledge Of
their commander 70 allow one hours time
before he would begin his work.
The next demand made was for whisky,
which they soon obtained and drank TO
their hearts content. This helped to nerve
the miscEeants, and soon the carnival
of destruction was under full headUay.
Houses were set on fire without giving the
inhabitants the slightest warning, and in
many instances the inmates had barely
4
even time TO remove q single article of
| value, and in some instances with scarce
sufficient clothing, 10 which to make their
escape. The town was fred in numerous
/ places at the same time, and so quietly
and systematically did they go about their
1 work that in some instances the inmates
/ of the burning buildings were not aware of
| the proximity of the danger until made 30
/ by the Kissing flames aroundlthem. The
| dwelling in which our informant resided,
one of the finest in the place, was fred in
the rear, and whilst the ladies were looking
from the window ct the work Of destrue.
tiou going on some distauee from them,
they were warned by friend OF their own
danger. A friend who assisted them out
of the house asserts that when the ladies
unlocked the front door three rebels rush.
ed into the house for the purpose of plum
| der. As soon as the party were safely out
| the gentleman locked the door, and the sup
position is that the men locked in peFished
in the flames. ~
One instance related to us seems so re-
pugnant to all our ideas Of human nature
that had we not the most implicit conf
dence In the veracity of our infOrmantB,
we should hesitate to credit even of rebels.
Il seems thrt one house TO which they set
ere contained the corpse of q dead woman.
This fact was made known to the incedi-
aries, and in the name of our common hu-
manity they were enreAted to spare the
building. They refused, ah after rudely
removing the corpse to q lot near by aP.
4 piled the torch and the house Of the dead
was smouIdsring ruin. Another case was
related to us of young lady lying dan
geFousIy III in her room, aud upon the fact
being made known It was not Bntil Q guard
of the rutians had entered the sick cham
Der and by q personal examination satish-
ed themselves OF the dying girls condition
that they consented 20 forgo burning the
house.
In some instances, firing squads would
desist from their work upon the payment
of stipulated sums Of money! but As soon