Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-08-06
'I'IlEi INVASION.

TIE OCCUPATION OF CHAMBERS
BURG.
HARRISBURG, July 30-A conversation
with gentleman attached to one of the
newspaper establishment at Chambcrsburg,
who left there this morning at o'clock re-
veals the following facts.
The people of Chambersburg received
information yesterday of the approach of
the rebels. At once the merchants and
business men commenced packing their
stocks and before 10 o'clock last night the
most valuable merchandise was sent be
yond the reach of the rebels.
AT o'clock this morning rebel force |
of 500 mounted infantry reached Chambers
burg and encamped on the Fair ground
This force was met short distance IRON
Mercersburg by small party of troops
from Carlisle barracks who fought the adj
vance stubbornly, but were compelled to
withdraw on account of the overwhelming
numbers of the invaders.
The disposition of the rebel forces, as
they left the Potomac is described by our
informant is as follows. One party moved
via Mercersburg another through Waynes-
boro, and the centre by Greencastle
General Avcrill is reported rs having en-
gagged the centre in a hot fight, and is said
The rolling stock of the Cumberland Val
ley Railroad is being removed to this point
Large numbers of fugitive colorcd people
accompany this stock, and present de.
plOrable condition as they are huddled on
the heated sidewalks around the railroad
depot.
1t is reported that the rebels have burned
the Courthouse, Town-hall, and the residence
of Col. A. X. Mcclure at Chambersburg.
Various estimates are made of the num-
Der of the invading rebels, the lowest put
tirg them at so, ,006.
! At 1 o'clock to-day they had made no
advance beyond Chambersburg, and our
forces still held Shppcnsburg. Should
they advance on the latter place the move
ment will devclope an apparent plan to make
demonstrations still further down the valley,
| if not actually to lay siege to Harrisburg.
HARRIsBURG, July 3e.-The censorship
! having been revived by the military au-
thorities at this post much news that would
be interesting and important to the public
cannot be communicated by telegraph
This caution on the part of the military au-
thorities must not be misconstrued, because
it is justified by the circumstances surround.
ing the situation in the Cumberland Valley
aud made necessary by the highest regard
for the public safety and the military sue
cess.
There can be no doubt that the main oh
icct of the present rebel invasion has been
already thwarted, and the rebels themselves
will be kept exceedingly busy to extricatC
themselves from the position into which
their rashness has led them.
Colonel Mcclure received dispatch from
the operator in the field, few miles thi
side of Chambersburg, at 10 o'clock this
evening, to the effect that the rebels haC
fred that town. After having perbetrate'
their tiendish act, the result of their rag
and disappointment in having been unable
to gather an immense amount of plundcr
they left that town this morning. They are
now hastely collecting their maraudins
forces tor consolidation, to defend themseive
| in the retreat.
All the public buildings in Chambers
burg, together with Colonel McClure's resi-
dence and barn. were fred by the rebels
and the greater part OF the town Is a mas
of smOuldering ruins.
Tilc burning Of ClIaInhcrsburG.-
Loss over 81 900, ,O0G.-lin Ap-
peal for Aid.
CHAMBERsBURG' July 31.-Two hundred
and fifty houses in the centre of the tow
have been burned by the rebel Gen. Early
1 !
zens no time to comply with the demand
lie was in command of force OF 500 CO
valry.
! CHAMBERsBURG, July 31.-On the mornin
of the 30th Of July, 1864, the rebels unde
the command of McCausland, with Il fore
, OF about 500 men, entered Chambersburs
;, Pa, and demanded 100000 from the cit
! Zens, under threat of burning the towr
/; This requistion was in writing, and wa
signed by General Jubal Early 1t is no.
established by indisputable proof that tn
!, demand was mere preteXt on the part {
" the maraudcrs to cover up purpose torme
Z before they reached the town, to burn it I
' the ground without giving any time to n
: move private property, and scarcely tin
y enough for the citizens to remove the
u families.
u They fired the houses of our citizens
= perhaps fifty places, and upwards of q
houses in the heart of the town were col
sumed, including all the public building
!, stores and hotels, comprising about tw
Z thirds of a town containing G000 inhabitan!
= Thus large body Of citizens are reduce
4" from comparative wealth to absolute po
V erty.
q Many families have lost all their beddir
u and all their clothing, except such MS the
q had on their person. The loss will
~ largely over 81 100000. Without aid fro
u abroad there will be great suffering in or
&c community. The Rev John l.. Warren,
I Gettysburg, proyidontially with US at th
> time, is the accredited agent Of our cit
~ zens for receiving subscriptions and cont
y buttons for our relief
HARMsBURG, July 31.--Gen. McCausan
10 is now appears certain, was in command
ut the rebel troops when they burned Char
bersburg.
ID After McCausland had taken form
possession of the town he made proclaim
ton to the citizens demanding Sl,OO0,0t
@ in gold. 1t was of course impossible
Il, comply with such a demand, demand
doubt made confident of its failure, an
8 sure of ailording pretext to execute Il
a prcmcditated plan Tor destroying Chamber
burg. The fact that the most valuable pc
tion Of the merchandise of the town hl
, been removed added TO the rage and disa
" pointment Of the rebels, and when thus /
sprrd the order was issued to fire the eouT
house, town-hall and bank building.
4 strong breeze prevailing al the tin
st soon communicated the flames TO the 81
q. rounding buildings Parties of soldic
having sacked several drug aud chemic
4 stores, had manufactured turpetnine bal
!. which they threw in all directions, IA
,e creating as many different danes in III
- trrtnt lDcalitit, ali the tnXn. which Enf