Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-08-13

| we IIleu W SOG AOAoCS IL NAA~J 49,
MIA, but found them removed from the
line of march, and We had no time to
look for them elsewhere.
In July, 1864, cavalry brigade
which l commanded was encamped
near the Potomac river, in the county
of Berkeley, West Virginia. 1t made
the advance post of the army under
General Early that was guarding the
approaches into Virginia through the
Shenandoah Valley. On July %
received an order from General Early
to cross the Potomac with my brigade
and one under Gen. Bradley 7. john
son and proceed to the city of Cham
bersburg. Ny orders were to capture
the city and deliver to the proper
authorities proclamation which Gen
eral Early had issued calling upon
them to furnish me with 100000 in
gold or $5OO,OOO in greenbacks, and
in case the money was not torthcom'
ing l was instructed to burn the city
and return to Virginia. The procla-
nation also stated that this course
had been adopted in retaliation for
the destruction of property in Vir-
ginia by orders of General Hunter,
and specified that the homes OF An
drew Hunter, A. R. Boteler, h. J.
Lee, Governor Letcher, ]. T. Ander-
son, the Virginia Military Institute
and others in Virginia had been burned
by orders of D. Hunter, federal COM
mander, and that this money demand
ed from Chambersburg was to be paid
to the parties specified as compensa-
tion for their loss Of property. ItaP-
pears that General Early adopted this
policy after proper reflection; that lis
orders were distinct aud final, and
that what was done on this occasion
by my command was not the result
of inconsiderate action or want OF
proper authority, as was alleged by
many parties in the North, both at
the time and since the close of the
war.
On the 29th of July the two cavalry
brigades that were to make the dash
into Pennsylvania, by turning the
right of Hunters army, were assem-
bled at Hammond's Hill, in Berkeley
county, West Va. During the night
the Federal pickets on the opposite
side of the river were captured and
our troops crossed just as daylight ap-
peared on the morning Of the Both
and moved out and formed the line
of march on the National road. Ma
| Tor Gilmer drove the Federal cavalry
from the small village of Clear Spring
and pushed on toward Hagerstown to
create the impression that the rest OF
the troops were following. At Clear
Spring we left the National road and
turned into the Mercersburg road to
the north. We reached Mercersburg
about dark and stopped to feed our
horses and give the stragglers time to
catch up. After this stop the march
was continued all night, notwithstand-
ing the opposition made at every avail
able point by regiment of Federal
cavalry. Major Sweeny, with his cav
airy battalion, kept the roads clear,
and we reached Cbambersburg at day
light on the 3lst. The approach to
the town was defended by one piece
of artillery and some irregular troops,
who were soon driven off, and the ad-
vance of our force took possession OF
the town. The main part Of our two
brigades was formed into line on the
high ground overlooking the town.
I at once went into the city with
my staff and requested some Of the
citizens to inform the city authorities
that wanted to see them. also
sent my staff through the town to To-
cate the proper officials and inform
them that l had a proclamation for
their consideration. Not one could
be found. l then directed the proc
lamation to be read to as many clti-
zens as were near me, and asked them
to hunt up their town officers, inform
ing them I would wait until they
could either find the proper suthori-
ties, or, by consultation among them
selves, determine what they would do.
Finally, informed them that l would
wait six hours, and if they would then
comply with the requirements their
town would be safe; but if not, it
would be destroyed, in accordance
with my orders from General Early.
After q few hours of delay many
citizens came to see ms-some were
willing to pay the money, others were
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