History of Western Maryland. J. Thomas Scharf
Federal troops had also burned and devastated towns and villages in other parts of the South, and, as far as could be seen, public sentiment at the North approved this mode of conducting the war. Gen. Early therefore determined to follow these examples by way of retaliation. Chambersburg, in Pennsylvania, was selected for the sacrifice, and thither Gen. McCausland was ordered to proceed with his cavalry brigade and that of Gen. Bradley T. Johnson and a battery of four guns, and demand of the municipal authorities the sum of one hundred thousand dollars in gold, or five hundred thousand dollars in United States currency, as a compensation for the wanton outrages of Gen. Hunter in the Valley of Virginia, and in default of payment to lay the town in ashes. On the 29th of July, McCausland crossed the Potomac near Clear Spring, above Williamsport, while Vaughan drove a cavalry force from Williamsport and entered Hagerstown, where he captured and destroyed a train of cars loaded with supplies. Several infantry divisions also crossed the Potomac at Shepherdstown, and took positions at Sharpsburg, to be within supporting distance. On the 30th of July, McCausland reached Chambersburg, and made the demand as directed. It was not complied with, and the greater part of the town was burned.
McCausland then moved in the direction of Cumberland, but finding it defended by a force under Gen. Kelley, after a slight skirmish at Folck's Mill, about two miles from the town, withdrew towards Hampshire County, Va., and crossed the Potomac near the mouth of the South Branch. He then moved to Moorefield, in Hardy County, where he was overtaken by Gen. Averill, who had been in pursuit since he left Chambersburg, and his entire command was routed and his four pieces of artillery captured. The remnants of the command finally made their way to Mount Jackson in great disorder.
On Saturday, August 6th, business was still suspended in Cumberland, and a feverish uncertainty pervaded the public mind as to the whereabouts and intentions of the Confederates. Official information told, however, that the force which attacked New Creek was retreating towards Moorefield, pursued by the Federals.
The railroad west was intact, trains running regularly, and in a day or two trains were expected to run east to Hancock, the road having sustained no damage this side of Sleepy Creek. The residents in the neighborhood of Flintstone had had another scare, caused by a report that the Confederates had again made their appearance at Green Spring, but the newcomers proved to be Federals.
On Sunday, the 7th, the city wore its usual Sabbath sedateness. The war rumors were numerous. One placed Gen. Breckenridge in strong force at Romney, while a contradictory report said Averill was there; another said Breckenridge was making for Beverly, W. Va.; another asserted that Early had crossed the Potomac and established his headquarters at Hagerstown. On Sunday night a detachment of ' Averill's and DeFoe's cavalry reached Cumberland from Hancock, bringing fifteen Confederate prisoners. On Monday, the 8th, a new excitement seemed to have possessed a portion of the citizens, who packed up and sent off their goods, under the stimulus of a report that the Confederates had again entered Maryland.
Monday afternoon the One Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio Regiment, Col. Putnam, paraded the streets, and in the evening a meeting of the citizens was held to make preparations for a demonstration of gratitude to the military for their noble and successful defense of the city on Monday, the 1st, Gen. Kelley having, in compliance with the request of the mass-meeting, designated Thursday as a convenient time for a street parade.
On Tuesday, August 9th, the city was unusually quiet, but some of the merchants continued to ship their goods, feeling that Cumberland was even then a very unsafe place. A train that day went east, loaded with lumber, workmen, and a guard, with a view to repair bridges, etc., along the line. The citizens were greatly elated at the confirmation of the rout of McCausland's and Bradley T. Johnson's forces by Gen. Averill, and the recapture of horses and a large amount of plunder, and were likewise pleased that Gen. Sheridan had been placed in command of the division of the country embracing the departments of West Virginia and Susquehanna and the Middle Department.
Thursday, August 11th, was a day of jubilee in Cumberland. Assurances the day before by telegraph that the Confederates had all left Maryland allayed considerably the fears of the businessmen, some of whom began to bring back their goods. Flags floated in all directions, and preparations were going on for the grand demonstration of thanks to the military. Gen. Kelley having appointed a parade for the afternoon, at the request of the citizens through their town-meeting held on the 5th.
According to the programme, the troops stationed at the post, and who participated in the late defense of the city, were drawn up in line on the old race-ground. Gen. Kelley having arrived on the ground, the review took place, in which the citizen-soldiers were assigned their position. After passing in review they resumed their position in line; the column was then brought into close column, and the thanks of the people of Cumberland tendered to the brave defenders.
In consequence of the sympathy displayed by certain persons in Frederick County towards the command of Gen. Early and his troops. Gen. Hunter issued the following characteristic order:
" HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT WESTERN VIRGINIA,
"Harper's Ferry, July 18, 1864.
" Maj. John I. Tellott, First Maryland P. H. B. Infantry,
Commanding officer, Frederick, Md.:
"Major, — Your communication of this date relating to persons in Frederick City, Md., having 'pointed out to the rebels during their late raid the property of Union citizens, and otherwise manifested their sympathy with the enemy,' has been submitted to the major-general commanding the department.
" In reply he directs that you arrest at once all persons who are known by Union citizens to have given such information, and to send them, with their families, lo this place under suitable guard, that the males may be sent to the military prison at Wheeling, W. Va., and their families beyond our lines South. You will seize their houses, to be used for hospitals, government offices, and store-houses, and for government purposes generally. Their furniture you will have sold at public auction for the benefit of Union citizens of the town who are known to have suffered loss of property from information given by these persons.
" The major-general commanding further directs that all male secessionists in Frederick, with their families, must be sent here at once. You will make the same disposition of their houses and furniture as has been directed already in this letter for the houses and furniture of those who gave information as to the property of Union men.
" I am, major, very respectfully,
" Your obedient servant,
"P. G. Bier,
" Assistant Adjutant-General."
"To prevent infliction of such punishment as is specified in the above order, it is ordered that every male citizen of this town, and that portion of Frederick County lying within the limits of the department of West Virginia, shall .appear at this office between the hours of eight o'clock a.m. and five o'clock p.m., beginning on the 25th day of July, 1864, and ending on the 30th day of July, 1864, and subscribe to an oath of allegiance to the government of the United States. In default of thus appearing and swearing allegiance to the national government, all persons thus failing will be regarded as secessionists and treated as directed in the above order.
"John I. Yellott,
" Major Commanding Post and Provost-Marshal."
With McCausland's raid hostile operations in Western Maryland virtually ceased, and with the exception of a brilliant dash by the Confederates into Cumberland in the winter of 1865, little more of military importance occurred in that section during the remainder of the war.
After the death of Capt. John Hanson McNeill, mortally wounded near Mount Jackson bridge, in the Valley of Virginia, Oct. 4, 1864, in a charge on a company of the Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry, his son Jesse, first lieutenant of