THE BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG. (continued 2)

“The town soon became one mass of smoke and flame, which ascended straight up to heaven, as if to call down the vengeance of God upon the incendiaries. Here and there whirlwinds went up like gigantic corkscrews, carrying paper and clothing high into the air, and miles into the surrounding country, as if to bear witness of the foul outrage. I saw more than one rebel soldier weeping like a child over the desolation he had made. Hardened as they were to the horrors of war, this was too terrible even for them to bear. One cried out to me in an agony of remorse: ‘Oh, I never enlisted for this!’

“For miles around, the frightened inhabitants fled, they knew not whither; some continuing their flight until they dropped to the ground with exhaustion. Pocket-books and watches were taken by wholesale; bundles, shawls and valises were snatched out of women’s and children’s hands to be thrown away. Cows and dogs and cats were burned to death, and the death-cries of the poor dumb brutes sounded like the groans of human beings. It is a picture that may be misrepresented, but cannot be heightened. One young girl was crying; but, meeting a squad of the marauders she controlled her tears, saying: ‘They shan’t see me cry!’ Full grown men, forgetful of themselves, sobbed over the destitution of those they loved, and self-sacrificing women strove to comfort those of weaker hearts, who had lost no more than themselves. We know of instances where persons had saved money and valuables of others, with which they had, in the excitement, been entrusted, to the exclusion of their own. In the midst of this awful scene, the sympathy and encouragement we had all along received from our loyal friends of a sister State, through the columns of the Tribune, Times and Independent, arose before us like a dense cloud, and, for the time, we hesitated which was most our enemy,—New York or Virginia. Five hundred of the enemy in our streets, two hundred as guard outside, three thousand within supporting distance; this, too, with more than two thousand effective United States cavalry only nine miles off, for hours. Oh, for one-half of the brave Franklin County boys, that were then far away from their homes, fighting the battles of the Union! We blame no one. Our loyalty, as strong as ever, forbids us; but there is an awful responsibility SOMEWHERE.

“One scoundrel accepted five dollars from a frightened female, to carry her trunk to a place of safety, where he coolly broke it open, and helped himself to the most valuable part of the contents. A little dead child was enclosed in a chest, and buried by the terrified parents in their garden, for fear it would be burned in their house.

“A lady in delicate health was watched by one of the robbers, and allowed to drag her trunk outside of the town; after which he searched it, and appropriated the valuables it contained. She asked, whether that was Southern chivalry, and received for reply: “Take that back, or I’ll blow your brains out.” She did not retract, and did not have her brains blown out. It was sad to see ladies escaping from their houses with nothing but a few photographs or an album.

“In the evening of that dreadful day, it was overpowering to witness the change in circumstances. One of our prominent citizens went with his family to the house of his hostler; another to the residence of his negro servant. On the next day it was a still more sorrowful sight to see refined ladies flock to the church to draw Government rations, and receive articles of second-hand clothing, sent up by the spontaneous charity of persons residing along the line of the Cumberland Valley Railroad. It was hard to eat the bitter bread of charity, but this mortification was borne with the same heroism with which they looked upon the sacking and burning of the dear old town. To see the grey-haired men and women, the middle-aged, the youthful, and childhood, all represented in the destitute but uncomplaining throng, was one of the most solemn sights the world ever saw. Wyoming and Chambersburg will live in the history of Pennsylvania, and the infamous names of Butler and McCausland, will be handed down to posterity, as the types of savage barbarity.

“At 2 P. M., the Union forces advanced through the town. The citizens cheered the dusty and jaded warriors, but no soldierly huzzas came from their parched and suffocated throats, as they rode through smoke and flame and the intense heat of the smouldering ruins. One repeated exclamation of, ‘My God!’ was all that was heard, and then, as they passed the flag-staff, each one shouted, ‘Remember Chambersburg!’ And so they exclaimed, and so they shouted, as they dashed at a trot through the town. I may live to be an old man, but never, never shall I see such sights again, as I saw that day in the stricken town of Chambersburg.

J. K. Shryock.”

Aug. 6, 1864.

BUILDINGS BURNED.

The following is a correct list of the buildings burned by the rebels in Chambersburg, with their estimated value by a committee of disinterested gentlemen appointed for that purpose:

South side of Market Street.

Jacob Wolfkill—Two-story frame and brick building, $700

Patrick Campbell’s heirs—Two-story brick building, 700

Peter McGaffigan—Two-story building, 600

James C. Austin—Two-story brick building, new, 5,000

R. Austin—Two-story brick building, 3,000

William H. McDowell—Two-story stone front and brick back building, brick stable, 3,000

James M. Brown—Two-story stone front and brick back building, stable, 3,300

Jacob Sellers—Two-story brick front and back building, stables, and ice-house, (hotel,) 4,000

J. W. Douglas—One-story frame building, 600

Martin Brown—Frame front and log building, 1,000

J. A. and J. C. Eyster—Log front and back building, 1,000

Mrs. Jordan—Two-story brick front and back building, 5,000

L. S. Clark—Two-story frame building and stable, 1,200

C. M. Duncan—Two-story building, law-office, stable, 2,000

E. Culbertson—Two-story brick building, office, stone barn, 6,000

Mrs. Bard—Two-story brick building, and row of law offices, 6,500

Gehr & Denny—Two three-story brick buildings, and one two-story, (dwellings and “Franklin Repository” office,) 5,500

C. M. Duncan—Three-story building, (Franklin Hotel,) three-story brick arcade, brick stables, &c., 15,000

Aug. Duncan—Three-story brick building, 1,500

Henry Monks—Three-story brick building, 1,500

Edward Aughinbaugh—Three-story brick building, 1,500

Dr. William H. Boyle—Three-story brick building, 2,000

Mary Gillan—Three-story brick building, 1,500

T. J. Wright—Three-story brick building, 1,800

S. F. Greenawalt—Two-story brick building, stable, 3,000

A. H. McCulloh—Two-story brick building, stone stable, 2,000

Rev. Mr. Nelson—Two-story building, stable, 2,000

J. P. Culbertson—Three brick buildings, 5,000

Mrs. Riddle—Two-story brick building, stable, 3,500

E. Finfrock—Two-story building, stable, 2,000

W. F. Eyster & Bro.—Two buildings, (foundry,) stable, 4,000

R. E. Tolbert—Two-story brick building, stable, 2,000

M. Gillan’s heirs—Two three-story brick buildings, log house, brick stable, 6,000

Alex. Fritz—Two-story brick building, 1,000

Mrs. Frederick Smith—Two-story brick building, 1,200

J. Burkholder’s heirs—Two-story brick building, barn, 2,000

Hunter Robison—Two-story brick building, stable, 1,200

Jacob B. Miller—Two-story brick building, 400

John Bigley—Three small dwellings, 500

Thomas Cook—Three wooden buildings, 600

N. Pierce—Two-story building, 1,000

Barnet Wolff—Two-story frame building, 600

J. M. Wolfkill—Two-story brick front and two back buildings, 2,500

Jacob Shafer—Two-story brick building, 1,000

Richard Woods—Two-story brick building, 800

John King—Two-story buildings, 400

Christ. Pisle—Two-story brick building, 500

Mrs. Elizabeth Stouffer—Two-story brick building, 1,800

A. Banker—Brick shop, house and barn, 2,000

Mrs. Butler—Two-story building and stable, 400

Mary Rapp—Two-story log building, 400

James Nill’s heirs—Two-story brick front, 500

Josiah Allen—Two-story brick building, 1,000

North side of Market Street.

C. Stauth—Two two-story log buildings, $800

Samuel Brant—Two-story brick building, 800

John M. McDowell—Two two-story brick buildings, (hotel,) barn, shop, etc., 3,500

D. Trostle—Two-story brick building, and brick barn, 1,500

Mrs. Radebaugh—Stone and frame barn, 800

Mrs. Jos. Chambers—Two-story brick building, stable, 5,500

G. W. Brewer—Two-story brick building, barn, 5,500

Mrs. Jacob Smith—Log stable, 100

John Miller—Two-story brick building, hotel, stables, shops, 8,000

J. B. Cook—Two-story stone and four two-story buildings, bark-house, stable, etc., 5,000

C. W. Eyster—Two three-story brick flouring mills and two-story brick dwelling, 15,000

Lambert & Huber—Four-story stone and frame paper-mill and steam-house, 15,000

C. W. Eyster—Two-story brick building, stable, 3,000

S. M. Shillito—Two-story brick building, 1,500

James King—Two-story brick building, frame shop, 1,200

P. Brough—Three-story brick building, 3,000

John Noel—Three-story stone building, stable, 8,000

Court House—Three-story brick, 45,000

Engine-house—Two-story brick, 1,000

D. O. Gehr—Two-story brick building, and brick stable, 5,500

B. F. Nead—Two-story brick building, brick stable, 5,000

A. D. Caufman—Three-story brick building and stable, 4,000

Mrs. Goettman—Two-story brick building, brick stable, etc., 5,500

Peiffer’s heirs—Two-story stone house, (old jail,) smith-shop, frame shop, stable, 2,600

T. B. Kennedy—Large two-story brick building, etc., 8,000

Rev. B. S. Schneck—Two-story stone and brick building, 3,000

L. Humelshine—Two-story building, 600

S. Etter—Two-story brick building, 3,000

Dr. N. Schlosser—Two-story building, 1,000

S. Eckert—Two-story stone and brick building, 1,000

West side Main Street to Square.

Benj. Chambers—Two-story brick building, $5,000

W. G. Reed—Two-story brick building, stable, 5,000

Mrs. C. Snyder—Two-story brick building, 3,000

Allen Smith—Two-story brick building, stable, 1,600

C. Flack—Two-story building, stable, 1,000

J. Schofield—Two-story building, brick shop, stable, 1,600

M. P. Welsh—Two-story brick building, 2,500

C. Stouffer (machinist)—Two-story brick building, stable, 3,000

Geo. Chambers (residence)—Two-story brick building, stable, 7,000

G. Chambers (Female Seminary)—Three-story stone building, 5,000

G. Chambers—Two-story brick building, law office, &c., 2,000

A. J. Miller—Two-story stone building, &c., 4,500

James Watson—Two-story brick building, 4,500

R. Austin—Two-story brick building, 2,500

East side Main, from Square to King Street.

Franklin Hall—Three-story brick building, $20,000

Jacob Hoke & Co.—Two-story brick building, stable, 5,500

Dr. Langenheim—Two-story brick building, stable, 3,000

Widow Montgomery (hotel)—Three story brick building, stable, 9,000

Daniel Trostle (hotel)—Two-story brick and stone buildings, sheds and stable, 7,000

Miss Susan B. Chambers—Brick shop, house and stable, 2,500

A. P. Frey—Two-story building, coachmaker-shed, shop, stable, 3,000

A. S. Hull—Two-story brick building, 2,000

Mrs. Geo. Goettman—Two-story building, shop, 1,200

West side Main, from Square to Washington Street.

Chambersburg Bank—Two-story brick building, stable, $8,000

Mrs. Gilmore—Two-story brick building and shops, 5,500

Jacob B. Miller—Two-story brick building, etc., 3,000

Dr. Richards—Two-story brick building, stable, 5,500

C. Burkhart—Three-story brick building, ice-house, stable, 4,500

J. M. Cooper—Three-story brick buildings, (“Valley Spirit” office,) stone stable, etc., 15,000

James L. Black—Two-story brick building, stable, 5,000

Dr. J. Hamilton—Three-story brick building and stable, 7,000

John A. Grove—Frame shop, 250

Jacob Hutton—Three-story brick and two brick back buildings, 4,500

John McClintock—Two-story brick building, shop, etc., 3,500

Lewis Shoemaker—Two-story brick building, etc., 4,200

Samuel Greenawalt—Two-story brick buildings, 5,500

J. Allison Eyster—Two-story brick building, 5,000

J. Allison Eyster—Two-story brick building, 1,500

J. Allison Eyster—Three-story brick buildings, brick stable, 5,000

Wm. Heyser’s heirs—Two story brick buildings, brick stable, 5,500

Rev. S. R. Fisher—Brick stable, 500

Geo. Lehner—Log stable, 400

George Ludwig—Two-story brick front and five back buildings, 7,000

C. F. Miller—Two-story brick building, &c., 4,500

Adam Wolff—Two-story frame and brick building, 1,200

John Forbes—Two-story building, &c., 2,000

John Dittman—Two-story brick building, 2,000

J. Deckelmayer—Two-story brick building and bakery, 3,000

Samuel Ott—Two two-story brick buildings, 4,000

B. Radebaugh—One-story frame shop, 150

Samuel Ott—One-story frame shop, 200

B. Radebaugh—Two-story brick front building, 600

East side Main, from Washington to Square.

F. Spahr—Two-story brick building, $2,500

Miss Hetrick—Two-story brick building, 1,500

John A. Lemaster—Two-story brick building, 2,500

Aug. Reineman—Two-story brick building, 1,500

Samuel M. Perry—Two-story brick front and back building, 2,000

David L. Taylor—Two-story log (weather-boarded) front and frame back buildings, 1,500

J. W. Taylor—Two-story brick building, stable, hay scales, (hotel), 7,000

George Ludwig—Two-story brick building, tin-shop, stable, 4,000

H. H. Hutz—Two-story brick building, stable, 6,500

D. Reisher—Two-and-a-half story brick building, bake-house, stable, 4,500

M. Kuss—Two-story brick building, stone stable, 2,500

I. Hutton—Two-story brick building, brick shop, stable, 4,000

John P. Culbertson—One-story frame shops, 800

Dr. J. Lambert—Two-story brick building, stable, 5,500

Mrs. R. Fisher—Two-story brick front building, 5,000

William Wallace (hotel)—Three-story brick building, 9,000

D. Reisher—Two-story brick buildings, stable, 6,000

J. A. Eyster (Nixon’s drugstore)—Two-story brick building, &c., 4,500

James Eyster—Two-story brick building, brick stable, 4,500

Eyster & Bro.—Two-story stone and brick building, 5,500

Eyster & Bro.—Three-story brick warehouse, stable, 10,000

Brand & Flack—Two-story stone and brick building, warehouse, 6,500

A. J. White—Two-story stone and brick building, 4,500

Hiram White—Three-story brick front, and back building, (new), 7,500

John Jeffries—Two-story stone and brick building, &c., stable, 3,000

A. B. Hamilton—Two-story stone and brick buildings, stable, 6,000

Mansion House (German Reformed Publication House)—Three-story brick front and back building, livery stable, &c., 10,000

Academy—Large three-story brick, 4,000

Queen—South Side.

J. W. Reges—Two-story brick building, $3,000

W. Cunningham—Two-story brick building and granary, 3,000

John Mull—Two-story brick front and back building, 2,000

J. T. Hoskinson—Two-story brick building, 2,200

Jacob Flinder—Two-story frame building, 800

Jacob Flinder—Two-story frame building, stable, 700

W. Wallace—Two-story brick building, spring-house, &c., 4,000

Mrs. John Lindsay—Two-story brick building, 2,500

Barnard Wolff—Two two-story brick buildings, warehouse, shop, brick stable, &c., 7,500

J. Allison Eyster—Two-story brick building, 2,200

Mrs. Blood—Two-story brick and two back buildings, 1,800

Mrs. Clark—Two-story brick front and back building, 1,800

Mrs. R. Fisher—Two-story brick building, 2,000

Mrs. Sarah Stevenson—Two two-story brick buildings, 2,000

J. D. Grier—Two-story brick building, 4,500

Mrs. Susan Nixon—Two-story brick building, 1,800

Robert Davis—Two-story brick building, 2,000

John Cree—Two-story brick building, 2,500

Samuel Myers—Two-story brick front, two back buildings, 3,200

Mrs. Porter Thompson—Two-story log building, 600

Mrs. George S. Eyster—Two-story brick building, 2,500

Andrew Banker—Two-story log building and smoke-house, 1,500

Queen—North Side.

Huber & Co. (edge-tool factory)—Five brick and frame buildings, $3,500

Brick blacksmith shop, 600

“Bethel” (church)—brick, 3,000

G. Ludwig (brewery)—Two-story stone and brick building, &c., 8,000

Widow Grove (of William)—Two-story building, smoke-house, 1,500

Thos. Carlisle—Two-story brick, and one frame building, 3,000

Kindline’s heirs—Two-story brick, two-story log and brick back buildings, 4,000

Widow Grove (of Alex.)—Two-story building, stable, 1,200

John Huber—Two-story brick building, stable, 3,000

Abraham Huber—Two-story brick, and frame stable, 2,000

H. Sierer—Two-story building, wareroom, stable, &c., 3,000

Thos. Carlisle—Two-story brick front, and back buildings, 2,500

W. Wallace—Three three-story brick buildings, brick stable, 8,000

N. Snyder—Two-story brick building, wash-houses, stable, 2,500

Dr. S. D. Culbertson—Two-and-a-half-story brick building, stable, 4,000

Mrs. Samuel Brand—roof slightly damaged.

J. P. Culbertson—Two-story brick building, stable, 4,500

Second Street.

P. Henry Peiffer—New two-story frame stable, $1,900

Associate Reformed Church—One-story brick building, 3,000

Benjamin Rhodes—Two-story log front and one-story brick back building, 1,200

J. Allison Eyster—One-story log shop, 100

Charles Croft—Log building and frame kitchen, 800

J. P. Keefer—Two-story brick building and kitchen, 1,500

John Reasner—One-story log bakery, 150

J. S. Brown—Roof and upper floor (hotel) 500

John Dœbler—Two-story brick building, 2,000

Holmes Crawford—Two-story brick building, 3,000

S. F. Armstrong—Two-story brick building, stable, 4,000

Aug. Reineman—Three one-story frame shops, &c., 1,000

Franklin.

Martin Cole—Two-story brick and log buildings, $1,500

Philip Evans—Two-story brick building, 1,200

Wolfstown.

Dr. A. H. Senseny—Two one-story log buildings, $200

N. Uglow—Three one-story log buildings, 250

Water.

George Kindline—Brick wagonmaker and blacksmith shop, brick stable, $800

Alley.

Widow Palmer—Frame stable, $150

Nicholas Gerwig—Frame stable, 100

Henry Greenawalt—Brick stable, 300

King.

George Chambers—Three two-story brick buildings, $2,500

Upton Washabaugh—Two-story building, stone brewery, granary, brick stables, and shed, 8,000

C. Herman—Stone shop, dwelling, and stable, 800

A. K. McClure—House and barn (“Norland”), 9,500

Jacob Eby—Large brick barn, 2,500

Andrew McElwaine—House, 400

Recapitulation.

The following is the aggregate of buildings burned:

Residences and places of business, $278

Barns and stables, 98

Out-buildings of various kinds, 173

——

Total buildings burned, 559

The aggregate valuation of the real estate, as made by a committee of upright and disinterested citizens, consisting of Messrs. Wm. McLellan, C. M. Burnet, Rev. Joseph Clark, D. K. Wunderlich, and John Armstrong, is $783,950. The loss in personal property greatly exceeds that of the real estate, but it is difficult, if not impossible, even to approach to anything like a satisfactory estimate.

In regard to the foregoing estimates of real property, I will merely add that they are low, generally speaking, very low. I say this, not because I find any fault with the judicious committee of gentlemen who made those estimates. I rather commend them for it; but for the purpose simply of mentioning the fact that the actual loss was much greater than the figures indicate. Thus, for instance, the Court-House is put down at $45,000, whereas an experienced builder has stated to me it could not be rebuilt for less than $80,000. The Mansion House (the printing establishment of the German Reformed Church), with a stone livery stable in the rear, is put down at $10,000, whereas $15,000 would not replace them as they were. Colonel McClure’s large and beautiful residence, with his spacious model barn, are put down at $9,500, but they could not be restored for less than $20,000. The banking house is put down at $8,000, but not less than $20,000 would be required to replace it. And so with most of the buildings. A million dollars will not suffice to restore them, and twice as much more will not cover the losses of such personal property as money can replace.

Many heavy sufferers are among those who had no real property, and hence their names do not appear in the above list. Some of the large business shops were in the front rooms of houses belonging to other persons. Thus the Mansion House, besides containing the printing and binding establishments of the Reformed Church, was occupied by Shryock’s large bookstore, Mr. Metcalf’s dry goods store, dentists’ rooms, saddler’s shop, &c. In many instances there were two, three, and even four private families living in one house. Many families also, whose dwellings were not burned, were nevertheless very heavy sufferers, having been plundered and robbed of their most valuable articles of plate, jewelry, clothing, &c. Hence it is perhaps not too much to say that the number of families who are sufferers is more than double the number of houses, as well as that the loss is double the amount in value, as compared with the loss of the houses enumerated in the list.

In conclusion permit me to add, that if our border is protected hereafter, and some reasonable assurance is given to our people that incursions by the enemy will be rendered impossible, our town will be rebuilt—gradually, but surely. If, however, no such assurance is given, and no effective aid for border defence is afforded; if our people are coolly told that the Cumberland Valley is to be “a trap in which to catch the rebels, and which must therefore be left open,” then, alas! there will be no heart to remain and rebuild the town; but, imitating many of our disheartened farmers, our citizens will sell out their realty and leave, regretfully indeed; but rather than be in constant dread and apprehension, leave they will, and allow the ruins of their houses and hearths to remain behind them, seeking some more sheltered or sequestered spot, where they may live and die in “quietness and peace,” though it be away from the graves of their fathers and their childhood’s “sweet home.”

Very sincerely yours, B. S. S.