The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1948-08-19
HORSE AND
BUGGY DAYS
by
Ida 10 Martin


story of the burning of Chambers
burg and how the city OF Freder-
lex had to pay ransom; and all TINS
happened during the Civil War. Yet
a few days before the disaster Oh
Chambersburg, our own city OF Ha-
gerstown was in danger of being
burned. 1t all happened thus:
On July /, 1864, Hagerstown was
occupied by Brigadier General Az
Grill and his 5000 United States
troops. About noon on July b,
Brigadier Gen. John McCausland,
with 1900 Confederates, entered
the town by the way of the Sharps-
burg turnpike. General Averill was
not aware of the size of McCaus-
lands troops, so he decided to leave
town while the going was good, tax
ing with him a great throng OF retu-
gees. including every official OF the
town with the single exception OF
Matthew S. Barber, a MEMBER OF
the Council and treasurer OF the
town. Averill retired up the Green
astle pike about three miles and
there remained until the Confed-
crates had departed.
McCausland and his troops emit
cred Hagerstown and marched up
Potomac street and across the public
square to the Market House, where
the General established his head
quarters. Because of the closeness
of the Federal troops, McCausland
kept his men under arms and on the
alert, drawn up on the street. These
men had the reputation OF being
the toughest, most ragged and dis
reputable trCcns that had ever been
seen in Hagerstown. AS soon as
McCausland had established himself
a summons was sent to Mr.. Bar
Der to come to the Market House, he
being the only representative of the
town government who had not fled.
Mr. Barber was standing in front
of the Hagerstown Bank, talking to
John H. Kausler, when the mesSeng-
er found him, and Mr. Kausler said
he may as well walk along with him.
Both thought Mr.. Barber was to be
arrested.
They found McCausland in By
ers' drug store and in his shirt
sleeves Barber soon found that
nothing so simple as an arrest was
to take place. He was handed a
written requisition upon Hagers-
town for $4,000 in money and 1,50C
outfits of clothing, from the skin
out" Mr.. Barber said it was i'm
possible to get the clothing as the
merchants had either removed OF
hidden their goods, and asked what
the penalty would be for failure to
get the clothing. Destruction OF
the town by fire" was the prompt
answer. How long will you give
LOT tIlG ISlllONdl VI Ll1C WO4AACAAs
Barber asked. Zone hour" was
the reply. Mr.. Barber left, saying
he would like to consult with some
of the leading citizens and find out
what could be done.
Shortly after, he returned witt
George w. Smith, ST., Isaac Mes
bitt and William T. Hamilton, anc
they decided that J. Dixon Roman
the president of the Hagerstowr
Bank, should take charge of the ne
gotiations, but he was in veal
health and could not get to the Mar
ket House After much discussion
and persuasion McCausland was in
duced to go to the clerks office t.
meet Mr.. Roman, who got that ia,
on crutches, his home being OF
Washington street half block ives
of the Court House.
Mr.. Roman managed the affai
skillfully, saying that the none.
could be raised without difficult.
but that it would be next to impos
sibe to get that much clothing a
there was not that much in tn
whole town.
1--WE will get all the clothing tina
we can," he said. If you burn tn
town for failure to do what canno
be done, you will be destroying tn
property of many of the warn
friends of the Southern cause.
McCausland was finally convince
and agreed to take the money an
all the clothing they could ge
stipulating, however, that they mus
not let the people know, but lie
them think the town would b
burned unless the entire amount wa
procured.
Three hours was allowed for col
lecting the clothing and if in thu
time a considerable amount Wa
brought in the town would escap
being burned.
All kinds of raiment, old and nev