USA > Maryland > Washington County > Hagerstown > A history of Washington County, Maryland from the earliest settlements to the present time, including a history of Hagerstown > Part 58
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In Hagerstown there was much disturbance and several citizens were killed. On July 6 a party of Confederates returning from Gettysburg encountered some Federal troops in North Poto- mac street and a skirmish took place. John F. Stemple ascended the roof of Marshall & Cran- well's store to see the fight and was killed by a stray bullet. On Monday July 13, a fight took
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
place in the streets between Gen. Fitzpatrick's Cav- alry and a party of Confederates. Andrew Hager- man a eitizen joined in the fight against the Con- federates and was killed. After the Confederate army erossed the Potomae a great number of Penn- sylvania militia encamped near the town. The Washington House, the principal hotel in the town, and the Lyceum Hall were both used as hospitals.
The first issue of the Herald and Torchlight whose proprietors had fled to Pennsylvania, af- ter the Gettysburg campaign, was on the 22nd of July 1863. That paper gave some account of the exeiting events which had occurred during the sus- pension of publication. Of the skirmish in IIag- erstown above referred to, it said: "Before our people had completely settled down after the entry of Stuart leading the rebel retreat on Monday the 6th, they were again aroused by the ery, 'The Yan- kees are coming.' About half past 1 o'clock the advance of Kilpatrick's division appeared and formed in line of battle on the erest of the hill near Funkstown. Stuart seemed thunderstruck and wild hurry and bustle characterized all his movements. Approaching gradually line after line was formed until the advance of the Federal forces rested near Mr. A. Hager's mill (about a mile from Hagerstown). From here, led by Capt. Snyder of the First Michigan Cavalry, a eharge ofnot more than 50 men was made about half past two o'clock. Hastily advaneing they met and re- eeived the fire of the enemy about 150 strong, post- ed on Potomae street just where the road to Fred- erick breaks off to the left, and rushing on them, sabre in hand, they drove the rebels pell mell up Potomac street to beyond the Reformed Church where the main body of the force rested. 'IIere they fell back in an orderly manner to meet the skirmishers, deployed and, led forward by Capt. Dahlgren (son of Rear Admiral Dahlgren) of Kil- patriek's staff, who advanced beyond the town hall. C'apt. Dahlgren was wounded in the right ankle by a pistol ball fired from the Market House as he led the skirmishers up. The main column was soon deployed, part of them dismounted and put in ambuscade, and a general charge prepared for. In the meantime the rebel battery opened with shell which proved inefficient to move or check the gradual advance of the federals. Eldor's hat- tery was quickly put in position on the north of the seminary and replied, while Gen. Custer with his brigade was sent to the right to work to the enemy's flank and rear. An ambuscade of the
rebels on Grove's farm a mile north of the town, being discovered, Kilpatrick made dispositions to attack it in the rear, while he led a charge of two regiments in person into the front of the main body of the rebels. All his arrangements were made; Gen. Custer had reached a position where he could attaek the left flank of the enemy and Kilpatrick himself actually moving off to lead the charge when C'uster, whose skirmishers had reached the Leiters- burg road in the rear of the rebel column, discov- ercd the advance of a brigade of rebel infantry, the beginning of. the retreat of the shattered eol- umns which Lee had so triumphantly led through an unarmed valley but two weeks before and with which he was to conquer and bring back a treaty of peace. Thereupon Gen. Kilpatrick ordered his men to draw off gradually to go to the assistance of Bufort at Williamsport who was attaeking the enemy's trains. His loss was not over five killed and twenty wounded during this spirited skirmish. On his route to Williamsport he was pursued by eavalry and mounted infantry about 6000 strong, and there met and eut up at least 500 of their inen with but slight loss, notwithstanding he was hem- med in between two columns, one of infantry and one of cavalry and infantry mounted. Kilpat- rick's ('avalry was on hand to attack the rear guard of the Confederates who erossed the Potomac at Falling Waters and inflicted much injury upon them.
At the College of St. James there was a skir- mish on July 7 between the 9th N. Y. Cavalry and a party of Confederates who advaneed from Wil- liamsport. The next day the college was over- run by Confederates and all the supplies taken. The men were nearly famished and were importu- nate for food. Confederate batteries were placed in the college grounds. At noon on July 11 Lieut. Gen. A. P. Hill and Brig. Gen. Willcox went to the college to warn Mrs. Porter, the mother of Fitz John Porter. who was the matron of the eol- lege to leave at once and urged Dr. Kerfoot to take every woman and child away. They had no doubt a battle would take place. Acting upon this advice Dr. Kerfoot took his family to Hagerstown. He was compelled to go by a eireuitous route, for two miles of the way was along a line of Confeder- ate sharp shooters. The two armies were exchanging desultory shots and the sound of bursting shells was audible. At night during those days their course through the air could be traced and it was a time of great and general anxiety. The
SPANISH CANNON.
This bronze cannon was made at Douai, France, in 1751, by Berenger, the great gun manufacturer, for the House of Burbons. It was later discovered in defense of Fort Morro, Santiago, Cuba. Upon surrender of Santiago, it was taken to Gov- ernor's Island, N. Y. It was loaned to Hagerstown, and was mounted by S. M. Bloom to commemorate the patriotism and courage of all the volunteers from Wash- ington County who entered the Army and Navy of the U. S. in the Spanish-American War, 1897-1898.
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OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
next day, July 12, was Sunday. None of the Ha- gerstown churches were open and the day was one of feverish excitement. The United States Caval- ry advanced and drove the Confederates out of Hagerstown and around the town all day there was skirmishing. As soon as the Union forces occu- pied the town there was a great uproar by the Union people against the secessionists. On Tues- day July 14 when the people arose early in the morning and found that during the night the Con- federate army had crossed the river and that the Union army was in undisputed possession of Wash- ington County, the Union sentiment in Hagers- town broke out in a tumult. During the Confed- erate occupation many of the Union people had fled to Pennsylvania, some of the merchants carry- ing stocks of goods with them. Those that re- mained behind had suffered great loss from Con- federate soldiers and the secessionists had done little to protect them. On July 14 there was every indication that the Union people would do violent injury to the Southern sympathizers. That day the Christian ministers of the town, all of whom were strong Union men, went about among the people urging peace and moderation. They hastily printed and posted on the walls and bill boards of the town the following poster :
TO THE LOYAL CITIZENS OF HAGERSTOWN.
The undersigned having always avowed them- selves as hearty and thorough Unionists; as-men who from duty to their country and to theni- selves, could allow no mistake on this point among their fellow citizens. As such they desire now, earnestly and respectfully to appeal to those with whom they may have any influence. The appeal is made to the hearts and consciences of Christian men in this community, who are thoroughly loyal to the United States. If you would win from God the triumph of law, the real and permanent restoration of order which we now. anticipate -- obey the laws, rise superior to the passions of the honr, be kind and forbearing to those who differ from you, even to those who may have wronged you and your country. The open condemnation of the rebellion as a sin as well as a great folly, heartiest reprobation of real though unconfessed disaffection in any to their country's cause in this crisis are consistent with words and deeds of kind- ness, forbearance and protection to individuals.
Those in military and civil authority have the duty and right to prevent or `punish the wrongs done to the country, to society or to individuals. But no unauthorized acts of violence nor any angry threats can be either right, wise or loyal. The charity which religion enjoins, the cause of the Union is strong enough to afford. As the teacli- ers among you of religion, as loyal fellow citizens, we humbly, earnestly adjure you, obey the laws and maintain the charity which others seem to you to reverence too little.
JOHN B. KERFOOT,
Rector, Etc., College St. James. HENRY EDWARDS, Rector of St. John's Parish. J. EVANS, Pastor of the Lutheran Church.
J. H. WAGNER,
Pastor of the 1st Ger. Ref. Church. MALACHY MORAN, R. C. P.,
W. C. STITT,
Pastor of the Presbyterian Church. GEORGE SEIBERT,
Pastor Second Ger. Ref. Church. H. B. WINTON, Pastor of the U. B. Church. GEORGE W. HEYDE, Pastor M. E. Church.
July 14, 1863.
On July 12 Gen. Lee from his headquarters near Hagerstown wrote to Mrs. Lee: "You will learn before this reaches you that our success at Gettysburg was not so great as reported-in fact that we failed to drive the enemy from his posi- tion, and that our army withdrew to the Potomac. Had the river not unexpectedly risen, all would have been well with us; but God in His all wise providence willed otherwise, and our communica- tions have been interrupted and almost cut off. The waters have subsided to about four feet, and, if they continue, by tomorrow, I hope, our com- munications will be open. I trust that a merciful God, our only hope and refuge will not desert us in this hour of need and will deliver us by His Almighty hand, that the whole world may recog- nize His power and all hearts be lifted up in ador- ation and praise of His unbounded loving kind- ness."* On July 15 he wrote from Bunker Hill to Mrs. Lee: "The enemy, after centering his forces in our front, began to fortify himself in his
*Recollections of Gen. Lee by R. E. Lee.
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
position and bring up his troops, militia, etc .-- and those around Washington and Alexandria. This gave him enormous odds. It also circum- scribed our limits for procuring subsistence for men and animals, which with the uncertain state of the river, rendered it. hazardous for us to con- tinue on the north side. It has been raining a great deal since we first crossed the Potomac, mak- ing the roads horrid and embarrassing our oper- ations. The night we recrossed it rained terribly, yet we got all over safe, save such vehicles as broke down on the road from the mud, rocks, etc."*
On the morning of July 14 when the people of Hagerstown arose from their beds they could see the Confederate flags flying above the in- trenchments and guns were showing above the embankments. But it was soon ascertained that the guns were logs of wood and that every Confed- erate soldier and every wagon and piece of artill- ery was in Virginia. The Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia had forded the Poto- mae at Williamsport and the First and Third Corps crossed by pontoons at Falling Waters a few miles lower down. The rain was falling violently as they crossed. For hours Gen. Lee sat upon his horse on the river bank watching his army cross. It was 1 p. m. on the 14th before the last were over and in a rear guard skirmish Gen. Pettigrew who had supported Pickett at Gettysburg was _ killed. And so the Southern Army got back upon their own soil, but it left 20,000 men, killed, wounded and missing behind.
The winter following the Gettysburg cam- paign, that of 1863-4 was one of peculiar hardship for the Confederate Army. The plight of Lee's men in Orange County, except for the less rigor- ous climate, was scarcely less desperate than that of Washington's at Valley Forge. Men at length perceived that the conquest of the South was only a question of time and the currency issued by the Confederate Government became ridiculously de- preciated. And while this paper money was cheap and plenty the necessaries of life became scarce and dear. The Confederate note had be- come in fact a joke. The great and fertile val- ley of Virginia had been called the granary of the Confederacy. But Milroy, Hunter and Sheridan had made it a desert. Within the Southern lines that winter it took twenty Confederate dollars to buy a pound of sugar; fifty dollars for a bushel
of corn meal, eight dollars for a pound of bacon. Coffee and tea were not obtainable at any price. The South had for a long time been cut off from the markets of the world. It is not surprising then that the hungry eyes of the Confederate sol- diers were turned upon the productive country lying north of the Potomac which must have ap- peared to them as the promised land appeared to the Children of Israel after their long sojourn in the wilderness This "Garden of the Lord" was separated from theni by the Potomac, every bridge over which had been destroyed. But there were fords at intervals. Along the northern banks of the river and especially at the fords Union troops were on guard. Nearly the whole time there was a force on Maryland Heights opposite Harper's Ferry. Herc Gen. Wm. P. Maulsby, Gen. John R. Kenly, Gen. Phelps with their Maryland troops were stationed from time to time. At Williams- port there was generally a considerable force and for some time Gen. Kenly was in command there as well as other points between Harper's Ferry and C'umberland. The home companies also did duty along the river. During this time it was seldom indeed that it was "all quiet along the Potomac." Up to the end of the Gettysburg campaign Mary- land had been treated by the South as a friendly neutral. The armies of invasion had been under strict discipline and any depredations upon private property were severly punished. The theory was that Maryland was held in subjection by the mil- itary power of the United States and the Confed- erate army came not as an invader but as a liber- ator. The necessary supplies for the armny were always paid for scrupulously, but mostly in Con- federate money. When the unfortunate person whose horses or crops were taken would remon- strate and declare that the money was valueless to them, the quartermaster or commissary would as- sure him that it was the only money he had and that in a short time it would be worth as much as greenbacks.
When, in the latter part of the war the Confed- erates became certain that the majority of the peo- ple of the three Western Counties of Maryland were as loyal to the Union as the people of New Eng- land and that those whose sympathy they had were afraid to make any demonstration, then the fiction of Maryland being a friendly country was frankly abandoned. Our people were thenceforth treated
*Recollections of Gen. Lee.
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OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
by the raiding Southerners as they treated the people of Southern Pennsylvania, which was raided almost every tinie that a party crossed the Potomac. The Southern Army needed horses. There were few left in the South so they gathered all they could from farmers of Franklin, Adams, Washing- ton and Frederick counties. They needed food, and so the fat cattle of the rich clover fields in these counties were taken. At this time parties of ragged Southern soldiers rode at random through Washington County under no kind of discipline and looting as they went. Most of them came from that portion of Virginia where the land liad been desolated, liomes burned and everything de- stroyed. These people had tasted war and found that General Sherman had not exaggerated when he had declared that "War is hell." They frankly desired that as many of the Northern people as possible should also have a taste of it. When these parties of looters met a citizen on a public road they would make him dismount and surrender his horse. If he had a gold watch the chances were that it would be taken away from him and there were instances when they were also deprived of their shoes and sent on their way barefooted. The secessionist and Southern sympathizer fared no better than the rest.
The soldiers who most distinguished them- selves in this work were those under Brigadier General John McCausland. This officer's name appeared on the tax bills collected in Hagerstown for a nuniber of years after the war. McCausland was the son of an Irishman who came to America and settled in Lynchburg where he married. Sub- subsequently he went to St. Louis and in that city Gen. McCausland was born. Returning to Vir- ginia he graduated at the Virginia Military Insti- tute with first honors in 1857 and was an instruc- tor in that school until the war when he organized the Rockingham Artillery and went into the army. In 1864 Gen. Jenkins who commanded the ad- vance cavalry that went through Hagerstown to Gettysburg, was killed and McCausland succeeded to his command. After the war he spent some time in Europe and Mexico and then settled down as a farmer at Grimm's Landing in Mason County, Virginia.
In June 1864 Gen. Lee ordered Gen. Early to make a demonstration towards Washington. Early's forces thereupon marched up the valley to- wards the Potomac. McCausland's Cavalry bri- gade was in his command. Ramseur's division
marched to Halltown and took possession of Boli- ver Heights at Harper's Ferry where they were shelled by the Federal battery on Maryland Heights. On July 5 Gen. Gordon's division crossed the Potomac at Boteler's ford near Shep- herdstown and encamped on the Antietam near its moutlı. Gen. Vaughn marched to Sharpsburg. McCausland also crossed at Shepherdstown and went to Sharpsburg while a detachment of cavalry went on to Boonsboro, six miles from Sharpsburg and thence across South Mountain into Frederick County. McCausland went up the Sharpsburg turnpike to Hagerstown.
On July 1, 1864 Brigadier General Averill with 3000 United States troops occupied Hagers- town. About noon on the 6th Brigadier Gen. John McCausland with 1500 Confederates entered the town. Averill unaware probably of the size of this invading army retired before him and along with the Federal troops went a great throng of refugees including every official of the town with the single exception of Matthew S. Barber, a member of the Council and Treasurer of the town. Averill re- tired up the Greencastle pike about three miles and there remained until the Confederates had de- parted. McCausland and his troops came up the Sharpsburg pike, marched up Potomac street across the public square to the Market House where the General established his headquarters. Because of the close proximity of the Federal troops McCaus- land kept his men under arms and on the alert, drawn up on the street. These men were the roughest, most ragged and disreputable troops that had been seen in Hagerstown. Mr. Barber, as soon as McCausland had established himself, received a summons to come to the Market House, he be- ing the only representative of the town govern- ment who had not fled. Mr. Barber who did not sus- pect the reason of his summons, but rather sup- posed he was to be arrested, started to the Market House and Mr. John H. Kausler who was with him in front of the Hagerstown Bank when the messenger came, went with him to share his fate. They found MeCausland in Byers' drug store and in his shirt sleeves. He handed to Mr. Barber a written requisition upon Hagerstown for $20,000 in money and 1500 outfits of clothing "from the skin out." Mr. Barber told him that it would be impossible to procure the clothing as the mer- chants had removed or hid their goods. Stating this he asked what would be the penalty for fail- ure to produce the clothing. "Destruction of tlie
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town by fire" was the prompt response. "How long will you give for the removal of the women?" Barber asked .. "One hour," was the reply. Mr. Barber left, saying that he would consult some of the leading citizens and report to him what could be done. Shortly afterwards he met George W. Smith, Sr., who returned with him and had an- other talk with McCausland but could make no impression on him. Then Isaac Nesbitt, a Union man but not a violent partisan was called into con- sultation along with William T. Hamilton and others. It was desired that J. Dixon Roman, the President of the Hagerstown Bank should take charge of the negotiations, but he was in weak health and could not get to the Market House. After much persuasion MeCausland was induced to go to the clerk's office to meet Mr. Roman who got that far on crutches, his home being on Wash- inton street a half square west of the Court House. Here Roman managed the affair with consummate tact and skill. He told MeCausland that the money could be raised without difficulty but rep- resented to him the impossibility of getting the clothing as that much was not in the town. "We will get all the elothing that it is possible" he said. "If you burn the town for failure to do what can- not be done, you will be destroying the property of many of the warm friends of the Southern cause." Finally McCausland became reasonable and agreed to take the money and as much cloth- ing as could be collected. The agreement how- ever was that these terms should not be made known and that the people should be left under the impression that the redemption of the town depended upon the collection of the amount orig- inally required and that MeCausland had made no concession. For the collection of clothing three hours was allowed and if at the end of that time a considerable amount had been brought in the town would escape. Then there was a scurrying and hastening to and fro by people who believed that the safety of their homes depended on the success of their efforts. All kinds of raiment, old and new came pouring in along with rolls of cloth and other dry goods making such a variety and miscellaneous stock in the Court House as was never seen in the town before. While this was going on Mr. Roman was occupied in arranging about the $20,000 in money. He proposed that a note should be drawn for the amount and that his bank, the Hagerstown Bank, should lend $10,- 000 of the required sumn, and the First National
and the branch of the Williamsport Bank each $5,000. The note was signed first by Mr. Barber as treasurer of the town and then Mr. Roman insisted that it should also be signed by a large number of the most influential citizens. No less than one hundred names were signed to the note. It was Mr. Roman's purpose to have as many as possible interested in the assumption of the debt by the town. Mr. Barber carried the note around for the signatures and this prudent foresight sub- sequently saved a great deal of trouble. For when the refugees returned they made strong objection to the assumption of the debt by the town. After the danger had been removed there was a loud clamor that the money should not have been paid and that the rebel citizens had sold the town. But so many influential citizens were personally interested in having the responsibility of the debt removed from their shoulders that petitions to the legislature for authority to issue bonds were num- erously signed and the bonds were finally issued. "The McCausland Fund" figured in the financial statements of Hagerstown for many years before the last bond was paid.
The $20,000 in greenbacks was carried to Mc- Causland by Mr. Barber. It was counted slowly and clumsily by men who evidently were unaccus- tomed to handling bank notes. In the meantime Washington and Potomac strects were filled with the soldiers impatient to depart. At the end of three or four hours about $9,000 worth of cloth- ing and merchandise had been gathered at the Court House, a receipt was given and Hagerstown was saved from the fate that befel Chambersburg. The final settlement was not concluded until mid- night when the cavalcade galloped off down the Sharpsburg road. While Mr. Barber was at breakfast the next morning a messenger came to inform him that a party of Confederate soldiers were down town breaking into stores. He found an officer with a party of about 70 rough looking mounted men. They had broken into Rouskulp's hat store and had taken the few hats it contained. They were just about to break into Cramer's store below the Square. Mr. Barber remonstrated with them and exhibited MeCausland's receipt. The officer argued that MeC'ausland's requisition had not been entirely complied with. After much dif- ficulty Barber induced the officer to accept ten pairs of boots and to leave the town. Immediately afterwards another squad came and was about to burn a lot of government stores of grain, etc.,
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OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
contained in the Cumberland Valley railroad ware- house and another warehouse on Walnut street. Mr. William T. Hamilton, Isaac Nesbit and other citizens went to beg them not to burn these build- ings. The officer agreed to spare the Walnut street warehouse upon condition that he should be paid $500 in cash and that the citizens named should give their bond and pledge their honor to take the grain and stores from the warehouses and destroy them. These conditions were accepted. The money was paid,the bond given and then the cit- izens went to work in good faith to carry the corn and oats out into the street for destruction. Some of it was stolen by individuals but the gentlemen who had pledged themselves to destroy it were extremely strict in carrying out their promise in good faith. They were proceeding with the work of burning grain when a party of Averill's Cav- alry came in and put a stop to it. But before they came the Confederates had burned the railroad warehouse and a large shed containing Government hay.
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