The New York herald., 1864-08-07

several abusive anonymous communications, we
have received one or two from apparently re-
sponsible sources at Chambersburg in reference
TO the late disastrous rebel raid into that town
which deserve a passing notice. The first of
these, signed Vim. J. Cook, WILL however,
serve our present purpose.
Mr.. Cook says that every account Of this
Chambersburg misfortune falls short of the
reality; that scarce an adequate idea can be
formed of what helish wickedpess has been
perpetrated upon us without actual observa-
tion;" that twenty-five hundred OF the people
OF the town are homeless and house ess; that
''tbree millions of dollars will not replace the
property destroyed;" that the town and neigh
borhood have contributed their full share in
men, money and materials for the war; that
they had the right to expect the protection Of
the government, and that they cannot be held
accountable for their late calamity.
In support Of this opinion Mr.. Cook further
says that on Saturday last, at early morn
nearly three thousand Of the very worst Of
rebel scoundrels, with six pieces of artillery
under the command of Bradley johnson and
the wretch McCausland. appeared within six
miles Of the town." that their shells at day
break announced thei: near approach; and
that although only some Eve hundred of them
entered the town, the main body being conve-
niently near, resistance would have been mad
ness, had the citizens been armed and organ
lied; but, as they were not, what could they
do!
We answer that had the State authorities Of
Pennsylvania and the people Of Chambers
burg taken the,proper warning from the rebel
incursions into their borders of 1862 and 1868
they would not have trusted to the protection
Of the blundering administration at Washing
ton In 1864. The citizens Of Chambersburg
would have fortified their town and organized
home guard for its defence equal to proper
reception Of three thousand OF ten thousand Of
the every worst rebel scoundrels." That dar-
ing rebel rough rider, John Morgan, with five
thousand mounted men from Kentucky, at
tempted grand raid on the north side of the
Ohio river last summer; but the way in which
he was driven from Indiana into Ohio, and
through Ohio till be and his whole force were
captured or destroyed, we would commend as
border. Thus far they have not done their
duty towards their own protection, and they
must therefore bear the burden of the re-
sponsibility for their late disasters.
Mr.. Cook next charges that the New York
militia behaved very badly last summer at
Chambersburg, notwithstanding their hospita-
BILE welcome; that on hearing that the "rebsu
we're coming they skedaddled before daybreak
one morning, "leaving all their camp equipage,
Individual property, sardnes sand Scotch ale
by the gross and dainties in every Variety
and that "the people Of the town thanked the
Lord for their deliverance." We confess that ali
this is news to us, as we have no doubt it will
be to the soldiers directly concerned. We hold
to the opinion that had the State authorities
and the people Of the Pennsylvania border de-
pended little more upon themselves and q
little less upon the government for their own
protection at this crisis they would have es-
capped the ravages Of these late rebel raids and
earned the applause of the whole country The
destitute sufferers at Chambersburg, especially
the helpless women and children among them,
are still entitled to the general relief. They,
calamity which has fallen so heavily upon them.
Let them be generously relieved; but let not
the people of Pennsylvania cry again to Her
cules until they have put their own shoulders
to the wheel.
Gross &IMPosITIoNs UPON CITIZENS AND EMI-