as the one on which retaliation should be made, and McCausland was ordered to proceed, with his brigade and that of
Johnson and a battery of artillery, to that place, and demand
of the municipal authorities the sum of $100,000 in gold, or
|500,000 in United States currency, as a compensation for the
destruction of the houses named and their contents; and, in
default of payment, to lay the town in ashes, in retaliation for
the burning of those houses and others in Virginia, as well as
for the towns which had been burned in other Southern Slates.
A written demand to that effect was sent to the municipal
authorities, and they were informed what would be the result
of a failure or refusal to comply with it. I desired to give the
people of. Chambersburg an opportunity of saving their town,
by making compensation for part of the injury done, and hoped
that the payment of such a sum would have the desired effect,
and open the eyes of the people of other towns at the North,
to the necessity of urging upon their government the adoption
of a different policy. McCausland was also directed to proceed from Chambersburg towards Cumberland in Maryland, and levy contributions in money upon that and other towns able to bear them, and if possible destroy the machinery at the coal pits near Cumberland, and the machine shops, depots, and bridges on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad as far as practicable.
On the 29th, McCausland crossed the Potomac near Clear Spring, above Williamsport, and I moved with Rodes' and Ramseur's divisions and Vaughan's cavalry to the latter place, while Imboden demonstrated with his and Jackson's cavalry towards Harper's Ferry, in order to withdraw attention from McCausland. Breckenridge remained at Martinsburg and continued the destruction of the railroad. Vaughan drove a force of cavalry from Williamsport, and went into Hagerstown, where he captured and destroyed a train of cars loaded with supplies. One of Rodes' brigades was crossed over at Williamsport and subsequently w^iihdrawn. On the 30th, McCausland being well under way, I moved back to Martinsburg, and on the 31st the whole infantry force was moved to Bunker Hill, where we remained on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of August.
