Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1899-03-01
A SOUTHERN ACCOUNT OF THE
BURNING OF CHAMBERS
BURG, PA.
written for the Dispatch.)
Continued from FIRST Page.

may in ,identally mention that we
had orders to arrest and bring Colonel
Ak, Mcclure, of he Philadelphia Times
who ut that time we'd at Chambers
burg, Within our lines, but his hospit
ality completely captured those COM
missioned to do SO, and he was never
informed OF t order.
From the the time we left the Po-
tomac until we began to retreat from
the burning city not gun. was fired
by our men, except the few shells
thrown over the town during its oc-
cupancy by us. Several OF Our men
struggled and were killed by citizens
or soldiers of the Federal army. who
probably were at home.
About noon we abandoned Chambers
burg and turned our faces toward the
Potomac. Just ON the outskirts OF the
city saw large bank barn, fllel
with hay, or some very combustsble
material, on fire, probably the work OF
some of our soldiers, 1t was an un-
warranted piece of deviltry, as our
officers did everything they could to
prevent such things. Tie orders OF oui
chief had been obeyed- to bring $780,
600 il geld hack with Us, or burn the
town. The latter, having been effect
uallJ done. fire should have stopped
there.
| We crossed small mountain that
evening wet o.. ChambersbuIg, and
were not an tbe road we came, By
noon next day we were at Hancock,
Md. A terrific tbunder-s torn was
prevailing, and we did not go into the
town. We rocrossed the Potomac that
nj hit at Old Town, following the North
Branch, and went into camp about two
miles bci' NJ orefeld, in Hardy
county. he YANKEES under Averill
had been cIrse after us, and OCCASION
ally small brushes would take plac. ce-
tween our rear guard and their lvance
our object being only TO check them
uutil the brigade could set further on.
The many days OF weary and exhaus
tive march ng had nearly worn out tue
men aud horses-no sl"ep or stop for |
three nj hts-and Il hon es we're un-
saddled and turned.out graze-not
dreaming OF mole, tation by tie Yam
KEGS But in this We we're i ceivel.
They bad kept close up to us, and to-
wards morning they captured our out
posts by disguizing themselves as Con-
rederates and stating they were sen. to
relieve them.
FIGHT AND FLIGHT.
This left the road open and clear to
our camp. Just as daylight began to
show Itself over the mountain the
sleeping camp was aroused by yo'ley
after volley in quick Succession, and
the whistle OF thousands of bullets
greeted the ear. Averll's $500 cavalry
were i'll our camp, AS soon as our
men understood what was the matter q |
general fgh. commenced, the horses
and scene of confusion
took place ret ca lly described. The
Fsderals had As the war-cry. Rsmem
Der Chamte's -.
1t was Prev ent story ip camp /
hat Averill's men were instructel to
axe no prisoners, We los 10 men
" capture and large numb kl!e C
how many 1 don't know. l w.s d
leeping neal the battery, and al 81
pportnnity 10 see the awful destrne- Il
lon it did when Averill attempted % II
ores the ford. In five minutes the q
'ater was blue with floating corpses. Il
Lieutenant Alfred Maekey, of Rock fl
ridge, was killed instantly; a brave
nd good man, who refused to sur "
'nder, and was shot through, the ball OF
'tering ander his armpit. I was Il
ore fortunate than many; l rode a al
orse that could not be turned out to al
raze, as it was difieult to catch him. al
had picketsd him, and about FIVE ST
inutes before the attack he woke me to-
} by stepping over me, habit he had on
oticing that he had consumed all the tn
ass in reach, I thought I would move 10
m where he could get more. While ex
ling this 1 heard the first shot. and fai
en- number in quick succession. 1 de
derstood ths situation at once. In wa
o minutes men and horse were run gu
ng in every direction. Ing
After The Yankees had covered sac
out half IF tho camn I cow oop,at