The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1864-08-18

ClO0 Oh calamlCy, IHd1 mere dIeiidi diu
1t is unnecessary to refer to the ap
proach of the Rebel army up the Shenan
doah valley, or the Sd day of July last
to the defeat of Gen. Wallace on the Mo
nocacy, their approach to and threatening
of the Capital, or their destruction o
property and pilage of the counties o
Maryland lying on her borders. Thes'
events have passed into history, and th'
responsibilities will be settled by th'
judgment of the people.
At that time call was made upot
Pennsylvania for volunteers, to be mus
tered into the service of the United
States, and to serve for one hundred days
in the States of Pennsylvania and Mary
land, and at Washington and its vicinity
/ Notwithstanding the embarrassment
which complicated the orders for their or
ganization and muster, six regiments were
enlisted and organized, and battalion Of
six companies. The regiments We're with
drawn from the State, the last leaving the
29th of July.
[ desired that at least part of this force
should be confined in this service to the
States of Pennsylvania and Maryland, and
made such an application to the War De.
partment As this proposition did not
meet its appreciation, it was rejected, and
the general order changed to include the
States named aud Washington and vicin-
ity. No part of the Rebel army at that
time had come within the State The
people of the border counties were warn.
ed, and removed their stock, and at Cham.
bersburg and York were organized and
armed for their own protection.
| was not officially informed of the
movements of the Federal armies, and Of
the strategy of their commanders but ii
was stated in the newspapers that the
Rebel army was closely pursued after il
had croSsct The Potomac, and was retiring
Up the valley of the Shenandoah.
Repeated successes of our troops were
also announced, and the people of the
State had just cause to believe that quite
sufficient Federal force had been thrown
forward for its protection upon the line of
the Potomac.
On Friday, the 29th of July, the Reb-
ell brigades Of johnson and McCausland,
consisting Of from twenty five hundred to
three thousand mounted men, with six
guns, crossed the Potomac at Clear Spring
They commenced crossing at 10 O'Clock
y. ", and marched directly into Mer-
cersburg.
There were but forty FIVE men picketed
in that direction, under the command of
Lieutenant Mclean, United States Army,
and as the enemy succeeded in cutting
telegraph communication, which from
that point had to pass west by way of
Bedford, no information could be sent to
General Couch, who Was then at Cham
bersburg.
The head of this column reached Cham
bersburg at 8 o'clock 4. NJ, on Saturday,
the Both ult.
The Rebel brigades of Voughn and
Jackson, numbering about three thousand
men crossed the Potomac at or about the
same time, at or near Wiilliamsport.
Part of the command advanced on Ha-
gerstown; the main body moved on the
road leading from Williamsport to Green
castle another Rebel column Of infantry
and artillery crossed the Potomac simulta-
neously at Sheppardstown, and moved
towards Leitersburg.
General Averill, who commanded a
force reduced to about twenty-six hun
dred men, was at Hagerstown, and being
threatened in front by Vaughn and Jack
son on his rightly McCausland and John
son, who also threatened his rear, and or
his left by the column which crossed al
Sheppardstown, he therefore fell back up
on Greene castle.
General Averill, it is understood, wa.
under the orders of General Hunter, bu
was kept as fully advised by Genera
Couch as was possible, of the enemy,
movements on his right and to his rear
General Couch was in Chanbersburg
where his entire force consisted of sixty
infantry, forty-fve cavalry, and section
ofa battery of artillery in all less thar
one hundred and fifty men.
The six companies of men enlisted fo
one hundred days remaining in the State
and two companies of cavalry, had, unde
orders from Washington, as | am unof
ficially advised, joined Averill. Tn
town of Chambersburg was held unit
daylight by the small force under Gener
al Couch, during which the Governmen
stores and train were saved.
| Two batteries were then planted by th
enemy, commanding the town, and it wa
invested by the whole command of John
son and McCausland. At A. NJ. 81,
companies of dismounted men, command
ed by Sweeney, entered the town, follow
ed by mounted men under Gilmor.
The main force was in line of battle
and demand was made for one hundre'
thousand dollars in gold, or five hundre'
thousand dollars in Government funds, a
ransom and number of citizens were ar
rested and held as hostages for its pay
ment.
The offer of money was made by tn
citizens of the town; and even if. the,
bad anv intention of pavino n ransom M