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


The New Orleans Picayune con-
tains the following article by Gen.
John McCausland, with regard to the
burning of Chsmbersburg, Pa, by the
Confederate forces during the Civil
War:
The wanton destruction Of the pr-
vate property of the citizens of Vir-
ginia by orders Of Gen. Hunter, Fed
eral Army officer, may be considered
as one of the strongest reasons for the
retaliation by Early's orders upon the
city Of Chambersburg. Andrew Hun
tel lived in the county of Jefferson,
near Harper's Ferry. and was rela-
tive of General Hunter. A. R. Bote-
ler and E. ]. Lee also lived in the
same vicinity. No reasons that have
ever heard have ever been given for
the burning of their houses. Cover
nor Letcher's property was in Lexing-
ton, Va, aud the Military Institute
was also near Lexington, l do not
think any better reasons can be given
for the destruction of these houses
than could have been given if General
Hunter had destroyed every house,
barn or other building that was stand
ing and in good order upon his line
of march from Staunton to Lynch
burg. The property of j. T. Ander-
son was in the county of Botetourt
and located near the banks Of the
James river, at Buchanan. Mrs. An
derson and lady relative were the
only occupants at the time. 1 de-
stroyed the bridge across the James
to retard Hunter in his march, and it
did detain him for two days, during
which time he occupied this house as
his headquarters. He promised the
ladies protection, and after his de-
parture an officer and some soldiers
returned with written order from
him to destroy everything about the
premises. A few days later, as Gen.
eral Hunter was passing another Vir-
ginia mansion, a lady asked him why
he mad destroyed the magnificent
home of Colonel Anderson. He re-
piled that Virginia women were worse
traitors than their husbands, and be
would burn the houses over their
heads in order to make them person
ally and Immediately experience some
punishment for their treason" and,
on another occasion, he said to Vir-
ginia lady that he would humble the
Virginia women before he left the
State" l could enumerate many 9TH
er acts of destruction, threats and wan
ton violence on the part of Hunter,
all of which make up public sentiment
that prevailed at that time in Virgin
la and which required steps on the
part of the military authorities to pre-
vent their recurrence in the future, as
well as to stop the useless destruction
then going on; but what l have given
is considered sufficient to explain the
reason why the city Of Chambersburg,
in Pennsylvania, was burned.
1t may be considered indispensable
to give the location of the force COM
posing the Federal and Confederate
armies during the latter part of the
month of July, 1864, in order to prop
erly understand the raid that was
made into the State Of Pennsylvania
which resulted in the destruction of
Chsmbersburg.
Hunters army was scattered along
the northern bank of the Potomac riv-
er, in Maryland, from near Hancock
to Harper's Ferry, the main body be-
ing near the latter place. Early was
located on the opposite side of the
same river. Ny command was on the
left of Early's army, and 1 think that
Averill's cavalry was located opposite
to meat least portion of it was
there.
When 1 speak Of cavalry in the
course of this sketch, l am aware that
the term is not properly applied, for
so far as the Confederate troops which
l commanded were concerned, they
were badly armed, badly mounted and
worse equipped-in fact, they were
mostly mounted militia. The men
would have made good soldiers if there
had been time to discipline them and
arms and equipments 10 furnish them.
The horses were nearly worn out and
here was no snnnly to draw from.