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Chapter 43: the burning of Chambersburg.
On the 26th we moved to
Martinsburg, the cavalry going to the
Potomac.
The 27th and 28th were employed in destroying the railroad, it having been repaired since we passed over it at the beginning of the month.
While at
Martinsburg, it was ascertained that while we were near
Washington, after
Hunter's return to the
Valley, by his orders, a number of private residences had been burned,--among them the homes of
Mr. Alex. R. Boteler, an ex-member of the Confederate Congress, of
Mr. Andrew Hunter, a member of the Virginia Senate, and of
Mr. Edmund I. Lee, a distant relative of
General Lee,--all in
Jefferson County, with their contents, only time enough being given for the ladies to get out of their houses.
A number of towns in the
South, as well as private country houses, had been burned by the
Federal troops.
I came to the conclusion it was time to open the eyes of the people of the
North to this enormity, by an example in the way of retaliation.
I did not select the cases mentioned, as having more merit or greater claims for retaliation than others, but because they had occurred within the limits of the country covered by my command and were brought more immediately to my attention.
The town of
Chambersburg in
Pennsylvania was selected as the one on which retaliation should be made, and
McCausland was ordered to proceed, with his brigade and that of
Johnson and a battery of artillery, to that place, and demand of the municipal authorities the sum of $100,000 in gold or $500,000 in U. S. currency, as a compensation for the destruction of the houses named and their contents; and in default of payment, to lay the town in ashes.
A written demand to that effect was sent to the authorities, and they were informed what would be the result of a failure or refusal to comply with
