Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1899-04-27
THE BURNING OF cHAmBERsBuRG.
An Interesting Piece of History Which Is
of Interest to Oar Readers.

" rot ~ OEI nCduCtSs
q SUMMERDEAN, VA, April II, '9e
Editor Spectator and Vindicator:-l
friend has sent to my address a cop
y OF the Rockbridge County News, con
> tanning "a graphic account of tn
: "Burning Of Cham bers burg by Genera
McCaueland in 1861" written by ]
Scott Moore, 14th Va. Cavalry.
Whilst correct in the main, SON,
incidents have been omitted, among
which is the heroism of Capt. JOSEPH
A. Wilson, commanding Co. 1, OF th,
14th Va. Cavalry, and the embarrass
ing position in which McCausland was
placed when in the vicinity of Cum
berland, Md.
Capt. Wilson's modesty is equal, d
only by his bravery, and his empty
sleeve will attest the accuracy of facts
which l would like to place upon record
before TAPS" are sounded.
| Arrived at Cumberland, ION which
McCausland had some designs, on his
return from Chambersburg, he found
the town guarded by strong force of
Infantry and artillery in his front,
while on his left flank the B. & o. rail-
road furnished train of cars ironclad
within and bullet proof, while block
house garrisoned with federal infantry
supported the ironclads. On the out
skirts of Cumberland an artillery duel
was kept up between McCausland's
guns and the federal battery, and night
coming on, John Tiger" as the boys
had dubbed Nc Causland, found himself
between the Gevil and the deep sea-. !"
In the meantime, bad feeling existed
between the two Generals, caused, it
was rumored, by the desire of johnson
to rank McCasland. But this may have
been camp gossip only. The question
to be solved was how to hold in check
the force guarding Cumberland, keep
an eye out for Averill in the rear, and |
cross the B. q o. railroad en- route to
Dixie, in face OF a strong fire from iron.
clads and block-house aforesaid There
was but one road over which the col
umns must pass, and the Yankees had
guns trained upon the point of exit.
The tired men and horses slept in fence
corners or amid the brush by the wav-
side, while the wag of the regiment
would bum, soto yoce, 'Old John
Tiger can you git out the. wilderness.
The weary hours wore away, and at
lawn the advanced guard reported a
trong force in front, the ironclad cars
team up, and like the Horse of Troy,
esonant and bristling with rifemen.
after some skirmishing rifed gun of
he Baltimore battery was ordered to ,
he front. A flash, and one solid shot
vent through the machinery of the :
locomotive. and the dreaded steam car
ronclads were at the mercy of our ,
annon. A blue stream OF Yanks flow
d from the cars, and fell over each
ther i'll the rush for the block-house
lear by.
In thirty minutes John Tiger had 4
he block-house surrounded, and a
White flag went up instantly at the
ommand Of surrender, and was waved L
IS vigorously as was the bloody shirt u
u later days. Several hundred pris- l.
'ners were parO'ed, and the column I
marched leisurely sourthWard to B
looreield. Here was grass in abun- p
ance, and generals and men seemed
o possess only contempt for the Yam.
zee forces with whom they had come
q contact On the retreat.
Gen. McCausland established his b
eadquarters in the village of Moore e
leld, a mile away. while some say that G
zen. johnson went to a dance, (rumor e
gain). it
Capt. Joseph A. Wilson. who always n
ad an ''eye for bees and snakes" re-
uested his Orderly Sergeant to have
be men of bis company ready to
lOunt at II O'Clock, night. Just at
aylight pandemonium seemed to a.
reak loose in Juhnson's camp across
be river, and hatless men, upon horses
nth halters only, were seen scurryingl :
elter SHELTER up the broad and level \
MEADOW, and the Yankees after them
hOoting like mad. Capt. Wilson was
eady to mount, and in two minutes I
e met the enemy at the river emp
led his revolver in their faces, while
is men followed suit, and Averill was
hecked. While thus holding the
nemy minnie ball, fired from across
be river shattered his left arm near
be shoulder, and the Chevalier Bayard
f MOorefield was done for. He rode
o the village, his arm dangling by his
ide, and federal surgeon of the ..
Iasonic fraternity amputated his arm
nd treated him with the greatest
ourtesy.
l wish to make this point, that Will :
On's heroism alone saved the brigade
# Gen. John McCausland from ire
rout and perhaps capture.
AS we fell back from the river 1 saw
lieut.. Alfred Mackey in command of
be Rockbridge Dragons, and the last
words heard him utter were to his
ompany, STEADY, men, steady!'' .
Mr.. Moore, in his communication
ublished in the Rockbridge County
1ews says: Il had an opportunity to
ee the awful destruction our battery (
i'd when Averill attempted to force
be ford. In five minutes the water
vas blue with floating corpses." Ger
ain it is that Wilson had no support
rom the artillery, and am almost
ertain that the Yankees captured it
Ill save one caison. l trust that Mr..
Moore will set me straight upon this
,oint if am mistaken, as 1 wieh to
tate nothing but facts. :