The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1877-08-16

the. citARnd retag q inia. Tha
proclal tbat thh
I sio6 lSS sh9 dessF6 df pc brs5I
| in Virginia by the orders of General
Hunter, and specified that the houses
of Andrew Hunter, A. r. Boteler, D..
j. Lee, Governor Letcher, j. T. And
orson, the Virginia Military Insti-
tute, and others in Virginia, had
been burned by the orders of General
D. Hunter, a Federal commander, and
that the money demanded from
Chambersburg was to be paid to these
parties as a compensation for their
property. Itappears that the policy
of General Early had been adopted
upon proper reflection; that his ord
crs were distinct and final, and that
what was done on this occasion by
my command was not the result of
inconsiderate action or want Of prop
er authority, as was alleged by many
parties at the North, both at the time
and since the close of the war.
THE DASH OVER TIE BORDER,
On the 10Th of July the two caval'
ry brigades that were to make the
dash into Pennsylvania, by turning
the right of Hunters army, we're as
scmbled at or near TJammond's Mill,
in Bcrkely county, West Virginia.
During the night the Federal pick
cts on the northern side of the Poto-
mac were captured, and the troops
CROSSED just at daylight on the morn
ing of the 30th, and moved out and
formed the line of march on the Ma
tional road. Major Gilmer drove the
Federal cavalry from the small will
age of Clear Spring, and pushed on
toward Hagerstown to'create the i'm
tpTess16n riiar -Cns .tflp troops
we're following. AT cleaHspring we
left the National road and turned
north on the MercerSburg road. We
reached Mercersburr about dark.
and stopped to feed our horses and to
give time for the stragglers to come
up. After this stop the march was
continued all night, Notwithstanding
the opposition made at every ayaila-
bic point by a regiment of Federal
cavalry. Major Sweeney, with his
cavalry battalion, kept the roads clear
and we reached Chambersburg at
daylight on the 9lst. The approach
to the town was defended only by
once piece of artillery and some ir-
regular troops that were soon driven
off, and the advance Of our force took
possession OF the town. The main part
of the two brigadcs was formed in
the high ground overlooking the
town. at once went into the place
with my staff, and requested some of
the citizens to inform the city au-
thorities that | wanted to see them.
| also sent my staff through town to
fndout where the proper oflicialswere
and to inform them that | had pro-
clamation for their consideration
Not one could be found. | then di-
rccted the proclamation to be read to
many of the citizens who were near
me, and requested them to hunt up
their officers, informing them |
would wait until they could either
find them, or by consultation among
themselves determine what they
would do. Finally | informed them
that | would wait six hours, and if
they would comply with the rCquisi'
tion their town would be safe; and in
case they did motif would be destroy
ed in accordance with my orders
from General Early. After few
hours of delay many citizens came
to mc-somc were willing to pay the
money, others were not. l urged
them TO comply with such reasons as
occurred to me at the time, and told
them plainly what they might ex'
poet, ! showed to my own officers
the written instructions of General
Early, and before u single house was
destroyed both the citizens and the
Confederate officers that were present
fully understood why it was done
and by whose orders, After waiting
until the expiration of the six hours
Al - "A.