Chapter 6

MY DEAR FRIEND:

A gentleman has just handed me the "Lutheran and Missionary" of Philadelphia, of August 11, in which I find the following excellent article, which, with a few omissions, is here subjoined. It is from the pen of our worthy townsman, Mr. John K. Shryock, who, as well as his brother, Samuel S. Shryock, have for years carried on a large business in the "Mansion House" as booksellers, and were among the many heavy sufferers by the fire. After alluding to the circumstances attending the advent of the insurgents, he says:

"I was in my house with my wife and two little children, and also a lady whose husband was taken to Richmond last summer, her little boy, and sister. The earliest warning we received was from the stifling smoke that poured through the house, and from some one knocking at the door and crying: 'If there is any one in this house, for God's sake leave, for it is all on fire.' I gathered my family together, and left with nothing but the clothes I had upon my person, two of the ladies not having time even to get their bonnets. Having gotten them out of the house, I ascended the stairs to see if any had been left behind in the haste. After having examined all the rooms, I met two of the infuriated wretches rushing up the stairs as I hurried down. At this time the house was filled with blinding smoke. I locked the front door, hoping that the unwelcome visitors would not be able to find their way out.

"I immediately hurried after my charge, and found them struggling their way through the streets, thronged with homeless women and children, the pavements blocked up by the rebels, who had ridden their horses in every imaginable way to hinder the course of the fugitives. The streets were filled with smoke and flame, and almost impassable. After we had reached a temporary shelter, my wife returned to the scene of destruction, as a bird to its nest, and on her way was stopped before a burning house, in which a corpse was lying, and a little child at the point of death. The dead woman was gotten out with difficulty, and buried in the garden without shroud or coffin, and the child was barely rescued and placed in her arms, when an officer in front of the house called out to his men: 'Boys, remember Hunter!' She ran up to him, uncovered the child, and said: 'Here is a dying baby we have saved from the house you have fired. Is your revenge sweet?' Shocked, the fellow burst into tears, and answered, 'No, madam.' He followed her some distance, and leaning down, asked her earnestly, 'Madam, can't I save something for you?' Her answer was, 'No, it is too late: I have lost all!' Warned to leave the house in which we had taken refuge, a party of us left, but soon became separated, and I lost my little boy, aged about ten, and did not find him till the next day, at Shippensburg, whither he had walked, a distance of eleven miles. The rest of us kept upon the edge of the burning town, and for three or four hours watched the progress of the flames.

"One of the saddest sights I witnessed was the burning of the old Academy. I watched it burn, timber by timber. Fifteen years of associations as scholar and teacher were annihilated in the course of one short hour. My attention was then drawn to the flag-staff in the centre of the public square, and we all, of our party as well as others, expressed an ardent hope that it might stand, from which the American flag might wave, even over the ruins of the town. At noon we returned to the uninjured house of a friend, and spent the night in gazing upon the ruins of our once happy and beautiful town.

"The conduct of the rebel soldiery was barbarous in the extreme, though there were many honorable exceptions. Bundles were tired upon women's backs; ladies were forced to carry back into the houses articles of clothing they had saved from the flames; drunken wretches danced upon the furniture and articles of value and ornament; women's persons were searched in the most indecent manner; oaths and foul language abounded; aged women were locked in their rooms while their houses were on fire; trunks were rifled after being dragged by the owners from the ruins; promises of protection were made to be instantly broken. Everything was done to add to the terror and confusion of the panic-stricken women and children. Soon the hunger of the little ones added new horror to the scene. Families were separated, and distracted fathers and mothers could be seen everywhere, seeking amid the confusion for those that were missing. And yet no selfishness was apparent; every one was willing to aid and sympathize with his neighbor. No one complained, no one lost hope. A rebel officer stopped me, saying: 'Sir, cannot a little money be raised to satisfy that brute, McCausland; a very little money would save this end of the town.' My answer was: 'If ten cents would do it, it would not be forthcoming.' One rebel came running towards me, wringing his hands, saying, 'Horrible, horrible! I did not think it could be so bad as this!' Another told me that they had received orders, before they entered the town, _to burn every house in it_; and yet another informed me that their object was to effect an entrance during the night, and then burn it. In some cases the women attempted to extinguish the fire, and were prevented by threats and personal violence. Some were thrust from their houses, others were struck, and in some instances pistols were drawn upon them. One lady had a bucket of water, which she had brought to extinguish the fire, thrown in her face. In almost every case the sick and the infirm were _hindered_ from leaving their homes. There appeared to be a desire to have some burned, if possible, _by accident_! One rebel, who helped a lady to save some of her clothing, was seen led out of the town handcuffed. An officer who suffered himself to be persuaded to save some property, said, as he left the house he refused to fire, 'Madam, you have saved your house, but have cost me my commission, and perhaps my life.' A negro saved his life by dressing himself in woman's clothes, and carrying on his head a feather bed, thereby hiding his face and hands. Little children cried to 'go home'--the home that was destroyed; old men wept over the town in which they had lived for three-quarters of a century; citizens looked on with dismay upon the destruction of their life-long labor and industry. Many fled to the cemetery for refuge, and there, in the midst of death, was one little life added to the wretched throng. The words of our Saviour, with regard to the destruction of Jerusalem, were forced upon us: 'Let him which is on the house-top not come down to take anything out of his house; neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!'

"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 Doebler--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.

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PASTOR OF THE REFORMED CHURCH, CARLISLE, AND AUTHOR OF "GETHSEMANE AND THE CROSS," "THE CHRISTIAN HOME," ETC.

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"No reader of the Bible can have failed to discover the prominent place occupied by blood-shedding in the Levitical services, and in the grand fundamentals of Christianity. The blood typical was the precursor of the blood shed on the cross. While some of the 'voices of blood' considered by the author, may be considered as only remotely bearing on the great subject of atonement, yet they are all designed to illustrate it. The atonement by blood is the marked feature of the gospel, without the shedding of which there could be no remission of sin, and the vitality of the gospel is lost where it does not stand forth prominently. It is the author's design to illustrate this blessed truth, and he does it Scripturally and practically, that all may see the harmony between the voice of blood from the altar, and the voice of blood from the cross. The volume comprises much precious truth in various respects, and may be profitably read."--_Presbyterian._

"In this work, the author first analyzes the voice, its structure, functions, capabilities, as a material organ of the spirit; then the blood in which is the life; then blood as the voice which utters mighty truths and testimonies; then 'the voice of accusing blood from the ground,' beginning with the blood of Abel; the 'voice of typical blood from the altar' comprehending the Jewish sacrifices; 'the voice of atoning blood from the cross;' 'the voice of martyr-blood from the church;' of 'sacramental blood from the Christian altar;' of 'pleading blood from the mercy-seat;' of 'witnessing blood from the judgment throne;' of 'avenging blood from hell;' and, finally, of 'glorifying blood in heaven.' These topics are treated in a fervid and impassioned style which seldom flags. The reader is never wearied by dulness. Without endorsing every sentiment, we find the work evangelical, earnest, and quickening."--_Biblical Repertory and Princeton Review._

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Footnotes:

[1] I take great pleasure in this connection to direct attention to a large photographic view of the Ruins of Chambersburg, by Mr. C. L. Lochman, of Carlisle, as the most satisfactory picture I have yet seen. The same artist has also prepared a number of smaller pictures and a series of _stereoscopic views_, embracing general views and the most prominent local objects of the town.

[2] Reference is here made chiefly to the New York Herald and the Tribune, both of which sheets have manifested a spirit towards our deeply afflicted sufferers akin to that of our worst enemies. The Tribune, instead of allowing itself to be corrected by the Hon. A. K. McClure, in the Philadelphia Press, turns aside from the subject with miserable jokes, as trivial as they are heartless. And these are our _friends_!

[3] Since the foregoing was written it has been ascertained to a certainty, that there were three thousand men, exclusive of the eight hundred and thirty-one who were in the town; almost as large a force as that which, one year ago, routed Milroy's whole military force, cannon and all, at Winchester.

[4] Among the many thousands who have been quartered and encamped here, I have never heard of a single soldier who did not speak in the most grateful terms of the universally kind treatment towards them from our citizens. For proof I appeal to these thousands among the living, wherever they may now be found.

[5] This and several following paragraphs are quoted, with a few slight modifications, from a brief and well-written article by the Rev. Joseph Clark, in the Philadelphia "Presbyterian" of August 6.

[6] McCausland had also insisted upon burning the town in the _night_, to which Johnson persistently objected. Mrs. Greenawalt, a most worthy and intelligent woman, overheard this consultation of the officers in an adjoining room. The increased horrors which must have resulted if McCausland had not been overruled in his determination, may be imagined.

B. S. S.

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Transcriber's note:

Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_.

The following misprints have been corrected: "geting" corrected to "getting" (page 20) "sacrified" corrected to "sacrificed" (page 23) "guerillas" corrected to "guerrillas" (page 57)

Unmatched quotation marks were left as they were in the original.