The Smoky Hill And Republican Union

THE SACK OF CHAMBERSBURG.

Chambersburg, a flourishing town in Pennsylvania of 6,000 inhabitants, was destroyed by the rebels under Gen. McCausland on the 30th of last month. McCausland is described as a desperate, ferocious and untamed freebooter, ready at any time to violate the usages of honorable warfare in order to gratify his dark and malignant passions. After he had taken formal possession of the town, he made a proclamation demanding $100,000 in gold. It was, of course, impossible to comply with such a demand—made, no doubt, in full confidence of its failure, and sure of its affording a pretext to execute the premeditated plan for destroying Chambersburg.

The fact that the most valuable portion of the merchandise had been removed previously, added to the rage and disappointment of the rebels, and when they were thus apprised, the order was issued to fire the Court-House, Town-Hall and Bank Building. A strong breeze communicated the flames to the surrounding buildings. Parties of soldiers, having sacked the several drug and chemical stores, manufactured turpentine balls, which they threw in all directions, creating as many different flames in different localities, which soon united in one general conflagration.

Speedily the scene became heart-rending and appalling. The cracking and roaring of the flames, as they leaped from house to house, the shrieks of terrified women, panic-stricken and suffering children, and the pitiful appeals of the old and helpless, formed an indescribable scene of horror. The citizens, without protest, had submitted to plunder, and had even appealed to the mercy of the rebels; but nothing could appease the butcher and incendiary McCausland.

Two hundred and sixty-five of the most valuable and elegant public and private buildings were destroyed. The town was fired at about 11 o'clock in the forenoon. The rebels remained just long enough to see the flames spread and get under full headway, when the alarm was given that Averill was approaching the town. Instantly every freebooter was in his saddle, and hurriedly took to the St. Thomas road, with Averill in pursuit.