When was chambersburg burned

The Confederates had evacuated Chambersburg and were moving away from them. Since then, some York countians have pointed to Chambersburg's fate as an example of what could have happened to York if it had not surrendered.

The McCausland raid on Chambersburg came more than the year later when the war was changed and acts associated with total war then were in play. Both sides were retaliating with acts against civilians and private property at this stage of the war. The Confederates never returned North after the Chambersburg raid. By the next summer, , the Rebels had returned to their farms.

The community today sees this as a difficult moment, but an occasion for pride and remembrance. So which was the right decision? Mitigate possible loss of property by surrendering a town and risking honor York or risk damage by refusing to surrender and maintain honor Chambersburg?

The Western Maryland railroad extended the rail line from Waynesboro to Chambersburg. Chambersburg commenced the municipal operation of utilities and the size of the town expanded.

By , Chambersburg had residents, nearly twice the population at the time of the burning. Celebrate the Rebirth of Chambersburg - July 16, Chambersburg rises from the ashes!

Relive history. July 16, Chambersburg Comes to Life Join us on Saturday, July 16th in Downtown Chambersburg as the town is set ablaze to commemorate the day that Chambersburg was held for ransom and then burned by the Confederate army under General McCausland. The entire force forded the river west of Williamsport, Maryland, drove off elements of the 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry, and continued north into south-central Pennsylvania. William Averell.

With all the Confederate maneuvers near the Potomac River, Averell was confused and simply could not cover all his assigned territory. With his lines of communication to units along the river cut, Averell fell back to Greencastle, Pennsylvania, with the objective to protect Chambersburg. While McCausland turned his horse artillery battery loose to fire on the town, Averell and his troops heard the guns and rode north to intercede.

Scouts, however, reported seeing Confederates heading east, away from Chambersburg. Fearing the Confederates might be planning an advance toward Baltimore, Averell chose to get between the Rebels and the city. Later realizing his mistake in following just a small enemy patrol, Averell turned his force around and headed back toward Chambersburg. Meanwhile, after the artillery shelling, McCausland and his troops entered Chambersburg around 5 a.

Although the monetary demands were preposterous, McCausland took them seriously because they were ordered by his commander, Gen. Jubal Early. While waiting for responses, and hopefully money, from the citizens, McCausland and his officers lost control of their soldiers. Although most of the Confederates complied with the order, some refused.

The valleys, bread baskets for two warring armies, saw more destruction than almost anywhere else during the war, according to author Edward L. Ayers, president emeritus at the University of Richmond. More: Burning of Chambersburg: Actors bring local history to life. About 44 percent of the white military-aged men in Franklin County joined the Union Army. In Augusta County 69 percent joined the Confederate army. Their families waited, sometimes with the war at their front doors. Rumors swirled up and down the valley from June to April Who is winning the war?