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form this tribute will take and the details in connection with it, are facts as yet not fully determined.
REFUSED TO BURN CHAMBERSBURG.
Perhaps the event in the Colonel s life which his friends will re- member with most pleasure is his courageous refusal to make war on helpless women and children at Chambersburg, Pa. When his commanding general ordered him to apply the torch to that town, he promptly and firmly declined to obey the order. He realized that obedience to this edict of war against the town, deserted as it was by all except women and children, would mean a repetition of the awful scenes of looting, rapine, and desolation that had followed the burning of southern towns by northern soldiery.
The Virginia soldier and gentleman preferred the imminent per- sonal risk of violating the orders of his superior officer to respon- sibility for devoting the defenseless inhabitants of Chambersburg to so direful a fate.
FACTS ABOUT THE INCIDENT.
An authentic statement of this incident is obtainable here. In July, 1864, two brigades of Confederate cavalry, commanded by Generals McCausland and Bradley T. Johnson, the former the senior Brigadier- General commanding, reached Chambersburg, Pa. The Twenty-first Virginia Cavalry, commanded by Colonel William E. Peters, was in the advance when Chambersburg was reached. He was ordered to occupy the city with his regiment, which was done. He received a verbal order from General McCausland to distribute his men and to burn the town, and was informed that combustible material would be found in the courthouse.
General McCausland then rode off before a reply was given him. A short time after receiving the order from General McCausland, Colonel Peters sought an interview with General Johnson and in- quired of the latter if he had correctly understood General McCaus- land, that he, Colonel Peters, with his men, was expected to burn the city.
WOULD SOONER BREAK His SWORD.
General Johnson replied that Colonel Peters had correctly under- stood the order. Colonel Peters then remarked to General Johnson that he would not obey the order that he would break his sword, and throw it away, before he would obey it, as there were only de- fenseless women and children in Chambersburg.
