Confederates Approach the Town
On July 28, General Early decided he wanted revenge and gave orders to General John McCausland to take his two brigades of cavalry and one artillery battery north into Pennsylvania to the town of Chambersburg. There, he was to demand payment from the residents of either $100,000 in gold or $500,000 in greenbacks; if the sum was not paid, he was ordered to put the town to the torch.[1] Although personally repulsed by the order, McCausland agreed to conduct the
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raid and crossed into Pennsylvania with roughly 3000 men the next day.[2]
Unfortunately for Chambersburg, Union forces in the area were in no position to stop McCausland’s raiders. The best chance the town had was a Union cavalry division under General William Averell positioned nearby at Greencastle; however, it was preoccupied by numerous feints Early’s men were conducting to cover the raid, and was hemorrhaging it’s supply of horses from overuse.[3] The only troops directly available to defend the town were those of General Couch’s Department of the Susquehanna, a command that consisted of 100 infantry and 2 cannons. Of these troops 45 men and 1 cannon were directly available to defend the town. Commanded by Lieutenant H. T. McClean, they conducted a fighting retreat throughout the night of July 29. The Confederates were held back from 3:30am to 5:30am until daylight revealed the true strength of McClean’s troops and they were forced to abandon the town, “…being careful not to fire a shot within its limits, in order that there should be no excuse for firing buildings or committing any barbarities upon the people.”[4] 831 of McCausland’s raiders, led by a Captain Fitzhugh, entered the town on July 30.[5]
Unfortunately for Chambersburg, Union forces in the area were in no position to stop McCausland’s raiders. The best chance the town had was a Union cavalry division under General William Averell positioned nearby at Greencastle; however, it was preoccupied by numerous feints Early’s men were conducting to cover the raid, and was hemorrhaging it’s supply of horses from overuse.[3] The only troops directly available to defend the town were those of General Couch’s Department of the Susquehanna, a command that consisted of 100 infantry and 2 cannons. Of these troops 45 men and 1 cannon were directly available to defend the town. Commanded by Lieutenant H. T. McClean, they conducted a fighting retreat throughout the night of July 29. The Confederates were held back from 3:30am to 5:30am until daylight revealed the true strength of McClean’s troops and they were forced to abandon the town, “…being careful not to fire a shot within its limits, in order that there should be no excuse for firing buildings or committing any barbarities upon the people.”[4] 831 of McCausland’s raiders, led by a Captain Fitzhugh, entered the town on July 30.[5]
Chambersburg Burns
After entering the town, the raiders rang the courthouse bell to summon the citizens (of which few responded) and demanded the ransom General Early had specified in his orders. It was not long before it became clear that the ransom could not be paid, and Captain Fitzhugh ordered the raiders to commence burning the town.[6] Squads of Confederate troops began entering homes and setting fires with little to no warning given to the inhabitants. Along with the arson, Confederates looted homes before burning them
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and even robbed citizens at gunpoint. In one instance, Confederates intentionally locked an old woman named Mrs. Watson in the room they had set the fire in. Fortunately, her daughters were able to break down the door and rescue her before the flames reached her. In another, Confederates entered the home of Mrs. Kuss, who had just died at childbirth that morning. The raiders fired the house anyways, forcing Mrs. Kuss’ family to bury her in a shallow grave in their back garden.[7] Reverend Joseph Clark described the burning:
Citations
Cover Image: "Southern Revenge" (Courtesy of Explore PA History)
[1] Smith, 435.
[2] Patchan, 276.
[3] Message from General WM. W. Averell to Captain P. G. Bier, August 3, 1864, OR, ser. 1, vol. 37, pt. 1, 329-330.
[4] Message from General D. N. Couch to General Henry Halleck, Union Army Chief of Staff, August 8, 1864, OR, ser. 1, vol. 37, pt. 1, 331-333.
[5] Patchan, 277-281; Benjamin Schroder Schneck, The Burning of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, (Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston, 1864), 7-14.
[6] Schneck, 14-15.
[7] Alexander Kelly McClure, quoted in Schneck, 20-27; Smith, 435-438; Patchan, 282-283.
[8] Reverend Joseph Clark, quoted in Schneck, 16-17.
[1] Smith, 435.
[2] Patchan, 276.
[3] Message from General WM. W. Averell to Captain P. G. Bier, August 3, 1864, OR, ser. 1, vol. 37, pt. 1, 329-330.
[4] Message from General D. N. Couch to General Henry Halleck, Union Army Chief of Staff, August 8, 1864, OR, ser. 1, vol. 37, pt. 1, 331-333.
[5] Patchan, 277-281; Benjamin Schroder Schneck, The Burning of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, (Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston, 1864), 7-14.
[6] Schneck, 14-15.
[7] Alexander Kelly McClure, quoted in Schneck, 20-27; Smith, 435-438; Patchan, 282-283.
[8] Reverend Joseph Clark, quoted in Schneck, 16-17.