The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-16
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BURNING OF
.CHAMBERSB'C
An Account Of 1t Given by
Gen. John MGCausland.
HE ACTED UNDER ORDERS
Done in Retaliation for the Destruction
by Hunter Of Private Houses in the
Valley Of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
y "reminiscences, Anecdotes

~ ~. e. i .
The New Orleans Picayune contains the
following article by General John Nc
81 Causland, with regard to the burning of
Chambersburg Pa, by the Confederate
forces during the civil war:
5$ The wanton destruction OF the private
property Of citizens of Virginia by or
ders of General Hunter, Federal army
81 officer, may be considered as ono of the
strongest reasons for the retaliation by
5Early's orders uron the city Of Cham
bersburg. Andrew Hunter lived n the
county Of Jefferson, near Harper's Ferry,
and was relative Of General Hunter. A.
r. Boteler and E. ]. Lee also lived in the
came vicinity. No reasons that hare
b ever heard have been given for the burn
ing Of their houses. Governor Letcher's
property was in Lexington. Va. and the
VI military institute was also near Lexing-
ton. l. do not think any better reasons
can be given for the destruction Of these
houses than could have been given II Cen
# eral Hunter had destroyed every house
mi
4 barn or other building that was standing
and in good order upon his line Of march
from Stanton to Lynchburg. The prop
erty of j. T. Anderson was In the county
6b of Botetourt, and located near the banks
VI of the James River at Buchanan, Mrs.
Anderson and a lady relative were the
4 only occupants at the time. destroyed
n the bridge across tho James to retard
Hunter In his march, and 1t did dctnin
Z him for two days, durlnS which time liz
3 occupied this house as his headquarters.
+ He promised the ladies protection; and
after his departure an officer and some
soldiers returned With n written order
from him to destroy everything about the
K premises. A few days later, ms General
Hunter was passing another Virginia
mansion, lady asked him why he had
destroyed the magnificent home of Colo
& mel Anderson.
Il He replied that virginia women were
worse traitors than their husbands, and
e he would burn the houses over their heads
in order to make them personally and i'm
1nediately experience some punishment
gisfor their treasoN' :: and!' ON another occa-
sion. he said"to i Virginia lady that no
would humble the Virginia women be.
fore he left the State"
35 could enumerate many other acts OF
actual destruction, threats and wanton
violence on the part Of Hunter. all OF
4 which make up public sentiment that pre-
vailed at that time in Virginia. and which
required steps on tho part of the military
authorities to prevent their recurrence
. In the future. as we'll as to stop the ucless
e destruction then going on; but what
have given Ia considered sufficient to ex-
plain the reason why the city OF Cham
bersburg. in PENNSYLVANIA. was burned
LOCATION oFAFORcEs.
IT may be cohstdered Indispensable 10
give the locations ut the force composing
the Federal and Confederate armies dur
+ Ing the latter part oEf the month OF July,
1864. In order to understand properly the
p raid that was made into the State OF
4 PENNSYLVANIA, which resulted in the de-
struction OF Chambersb,vg.
Hunters army was scattered along the
northern bank OF the Potomac River. in
Maryland, from near Hancock to IIar.
pers Ferry. the main body being near tho
latter place. Early was located on the
opposite side of the same river. Ny
command was OF the left of Early's
army, and I think that Averill's cavalry
was located opposite to meat least a
portion Of 1t was there.
When ] speak OF cavalry in the course
OF this sketch. I am aware that the term
4 - NOT properly applied, Ior 80 far as the
Confederate troops. which commanded
were concerned. they were badly armed,
badly mounted and worse equlpped--in
fact, they were mostly mounted militia
The men would have made good soldiers
y there had been time to discipline them
and arms and equipments to furnisl,
them. Tho horses were nearly worn out
and there was no supply to draw from.
We tried TO get horses in Pennsylvania
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
commanded. was encAmped near the
Potomac River, In the county of Berk-
eley, w. Va. II made the advance post of
The army under General Early that was
guarding the approaches into Virginia
through the Shenandoah Valley. on July
2sth ] received an order from General
Early TO cross the Potomac with my brl-
gade and one under General Bradley r.
Johnson and proceed 10 the city Of Cham
bersburg My orders were TO capture
the city and deliver II to the porper sli-
thorities, proclamation which General
Early had Issued calling upon them To
furnish me with 10000 in gold or $4,000
In greebacks, and in case the money was
not forthcoming was Instructed to burn
The city and return to Virginia.
The proclamation also stated thai this
course had been adopted In retaliation
for the destruction OF property In Yir-
ginia by orders of General Hunter. and
speefed that the homes of Andrew
Hunter, A. r. Boteler. Il. ], Lee, Gov
einor Letcber. j r. Anderson, the yir-
Efnia Military Institute ard others In