The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-16
SITUATION ON JULY goth.

the close OF the war.
SITUATION ON JULY goth.
On the Goth of July the two cavalry bri.
| gades that were to mike the dash into
| Pennsylvania, by turning the right OF
| Hunters army, were assembled ut Ham.
inond's Hill, In Berkeley county, ". Va.
During tho night the Federal pickets on
tho opposite side Of the river were cap
turcd and our troops crossed Just rs day
light appeared on the morning Of the 30th
and moved on and formed the line of
march on the National Road. Major Gil.
mer drove the Federal cavalry from the
small village Of Clear Spring and ptshed
or towards Hagerstown to create the
were following. At Clear Spring we left
tho 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
notwithstanding the opposition made at
every available Point by a regiment Of
Federal cavalry. Major Sweeney. with
and we reached Chafnbersburg at day.
light on the 31st.
The approach to the town was defended
OILY by one piece Of artillery and some
irregular troops. who were soon driven
eff, and the advance of our force took
pos session Of tho town. The main part
OF our two brlgades was formed into line
on the high ground overlooking the town.
at once went Into the city with my
staff and requested some of the citizens
to inform the city authorities that l
wanted to see them. also sent my staff
through the town to locate the proper
officials and inform them that had 4
proclamation for their consideration. Not
one could be found I then directed the
proclamation to be- read to as many citl-
zens MS were near me, and asked them to
hunt up their town officers. Informing
them would watfuntil they could either
find the proper authorities. or. by consul
tation among themselves, determine what
they would do. Finally, informed them
that I would wait SIX hours, and II they
would then comply with the requirements
their town would be safe; but II not, 1t
would be destroyed, IN accordance with
my orders from General Early
EVERYTHING WAS EXPLAINED
After few hours of delay many cit
liens cameto see me. Some were willing
to pay the money: others were not. I
Urged them to comply, giving them such
reason as occurred to me at the time, and
told them plainly what they might expect
In the event of their failure to pay the
money demanded. 1 showed to my own
officers and to the citizens who came to-
see me my written authority and orders
Of General Early, and before single
house was burned, both the citizens and
tho Confederate officers fully understood
why 1t was done and by whose orders.
After waiting until tho expiration Of the
six hours. and finding that the proclama-
ton would not be complied with, the de-
lstruction was begun by firing the most
central blocks first, and after the inhab-
itants had been removed from them, Thus
the town was destroyed, and the citizens
were driven to the hills and fields ada
cent thereto. No lives were lost among
the citizens, and only one soldier was
killed, he being killed after the troops
rad left tho place. About noon the troops
were reformed on the high ground over
looking the town. where most Of them had
been posted In the early morning, and the
return to the Potomac was begun. We en-
{camped at N1cConnelshurg that night and
reached tho river the next day at or
near Hancock, Md.
EARLY's ORDER.
In confirmation Of what have here
written, Major Gilmer says In his book,
-Four Years in the Saddle" page 2lo:
"Hc showed mo General Farly's order"
General Early. In his Memoir" page
81, says: "a written demand was sent to
tho municipal authorities, and they were
informed what would be the result of a
failure or refusal to comply with It," On
page 90 General Early says: ION the Both
Of July, McCausland reached Chambers
burg and made the demand as directed,
reading to such OF tho authorities MS pre-
scented themselves tho paper sent by me-"
Colonel w. y. Peters, who commanded
ono of the regiments in Johnston's brl-
gade, when tho burning commenced. came
pnd asked mo II It was being done by my
orders showed him the order OF Cen
eral Early. and he was sntincd and pro-
ceeded to carry out the order, as was
being done by the other regiments OF his
brigade. e
In this expedition our troops passed
through more\ than 100 miles of hostile
territory. executed all orders that were
issued with promptness and regularity.
and never have heard of any complaint
OF acts unauthorized by their superior
ofRcers. OF competent authority to order
It, and, moreover. that 1t was an act OF
retaliation, perfectly justified by tho CIR
cumstances, and was at all times In
keeping with the rules governing civilized
warfare.
A VETERAN KILLED