USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > Waynesboro > Waynesboro : the history of a settlement in the county formerly called Cumberland, but later Franklin, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in its beginnings, to its centennial period, and to the close of the present century > Part 18
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Smith reaches Waynesboro. July 8th.
Receives orders. July 10th.
It was two days after the arrival of General Smith and his troops at Waynesboro before any definite orders were received from General Meade as to future move- ments. Then General Smith was ordered to occupy the enemy to the best advantage, and to hold himself in readiness either to join the Army of the Potomac, or to return to the Department of the Susquehanna, as cir- cumstances might require.
A reconnoisance along the Antietam.
The same day, Colonel McIntosh received orders to make a reconnoisance, with his brigade of cavalry and a battery of artillery, from Waynesboro along the Antie- tam creek below Leitersburg, which. General Smith says in his official report, "he did in the most skillful manner,
245
IN WAR TIMES.
driving the enemy's cavalry pickets across the creek upon their infantry and artillery supports."
CHAPTER X.
In this affair, Colonel McIntosh received support fro.n a portion of General Smith's command. The Twenty- seventh Pennsylvania militia, commanded by Colonel Frick, operated at Ringgold and Smithsburg. The Forty- third regiment, New York Volunteers, of General Neill's command, also supported Colonel McIntosh, being posted near Leitersburg.
Orders were shortly received for the departure from Waynesboro of General Neill's and Colonel McIntosh's forces. They were ordered to join the Army of the Po- tomac at once, and departed that evening.
All troops pre- pare to leave Waynesboro.
July 11th.
Smith departs.
General Smith had received no or- ders, but determining to leave Colonel Brisbane at Waynesboro to guard his communications, at least, until the day following. he issued marching orders to July 11th. all his remaining troops, and moved, with what forces he had with him, al- Brigadier General JOSEPH F. KNIPE. most simultaneously with General Neill. to Cavetown. Here he posted his troops, and made a report to General Meade, in which he recommended the apportioning of his command among the older divisions of the army. General Meade, how- ever, declined to follow this advice.
Subsequently, orders were received to send the New July 15th. . York militia home by the way of Frederick.
The Pennsylvania militia were concentrated at Hagers- town under General Brisbane.
The Second Division of militia, under General Dana, held position at Chambersburg.
The troops which constituted the First Division, as it was concentrated at Waynesboro, were as follows:
Troops in the First Division Militia.
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WAYNESBORO.
CHAPTER X.
First brigade, Brigadier General Joseph F. Knipe, con- sisted of the Eighth New York National Guard, Colonel J. M. Varian ; Seventy-first New York National Guard, Colonel Benjamin L. Trafford.
Second brigade, Brigadier General P. St. George Crooke, consisted of the Thirteenth New York National Guard, Colonel John B. Woodward, Twenty-eighth New York National Guard, Lieutenant Colonel David A. Bokee.
Third brigade, Brigadier General Jesse C. Smith, con- sisted of the Twenty-third New York National Guard, Colonel William Everdell; Fifty-second New York National Guard, Colonel Mathias W. Cole; Fifty-sixth New York National Guard, Colonel J. G. Adams.
Fourth brigade, Brigadier General John Ewen, con- sisted of the Eleventh New York National Guard, Colo- nel Joachim Maidhoff; Twenty-second New York Na- tional Guard, Colonel Lloyd Aspinwall; Thirty-seventh New York National Guard, Colonel Charles Roome.
Fifth brigade. Brigadier General William Brisbane, consisted of the Sixty-eighth New York National Guard, Colonel David S. Forbes; Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Militia, Colonel James Chamberlin ; Thirty-second Penn- sylvania Militia, Colonel Charles S. Smith; Thirty-third Pennsylvania Militia, Colonel William W. Taylor.
Sixth brigade, Colonel Jacob G. Frick, consisted of the Twenty-seventh Pennsylvania Militia, Colonel Frick's own regiment ; Thirty-first Pennsylvania Militia, Colonel George Newkumet.
The cavalry force consisted of two companies of Penn- sylvania cavalry, aggregating one hundred and twenty men.
The artillery consisted of a Philadelphia battery, com- manded by Captain Henry D. Landis, with eighty-seven men, and another Pennsylvania battery, commanded by Captain E. Spencer Miller, with ninety-four men.
247
IN WAR TIMES.
The total number of troops for active service at CHAPTER X. Waynesboro at this time was six thousand seven hundred July 11th. and twenty-three, of which three thousand six hundred and sixty-seven were Pennsylvanians.
While the Union troops occupied Waynesboro on this occasion, they seemed to be pleased with the place. One (Brigadier General P. St. George Crooke) spoke of it as a "considerable village," and remembers the pleasant weather, which continued until the day of his departure, when a tremendous storm occurred.
When the Sixty-eighth regiment of New York Na- tional Guard, belonging to General Smith's command, arrived in town they received a most hearty welcome from General Neill's Forty-ninth New York Volunteers. The forty-ninth met them with their regimental band, and escorted them to camp.
The troops were encamped on the hills south of town.
During this time, it is apparent that, whatever may have been the feeling in other quarters, there was an ap- prehension of a desperate renewal of hostilities with the enemy, before he escaped into his own country, among the troops of the Department of the Susquehanna; an agonizing hope for such a consummation among certain ones high in authority in the nation, and a cautious watchfulness to meet such a contingency with readiness on the part of the retreating Confederate chieftain.
The following general order, issued by General Knipe, at Waynesboro, shows how matters were looked upon there :
Soldier's pleased with Waynesboro.
July 12th.
A reception.
Another battle ex- pected.
.
Military order issued in Waynes- boro.
"Headquarters, First Division, Department of the Susquehanna, July 11th.
Waynesboro, Pa.
"The brigadier general commanding calls the atten- tion of the command to the certainty of an early engage-
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WAYNESBORO.
CHAPTER X.
ment with the enemy, and it is strictly enjoined upon brigade, regimental and company commanders to atten:1 at once to the condition of the arms and ammunition of the men under them.
"No time is to be lost in putting the arms in perfect order. and seeing that the boxes are filled with cartridges. The rations on hand must be cooked and put in haver- sacks, so that no detention will ensue when the order to march is given, and also that the men may not suffer for food when it may be impossible for the supply trains to reach them.
By order of Brigadier General W. F. Smith, Com- manding.
Alexander Farnham, Acting A. A. G.
Promulgated by order of Brigadier General Knipe,
Robert Muench, A. A. G."
More soldiers needed.
The authorities at Washington were anxiously urging the Department of the Susquehanna, at Harrisburg, to gather and send with expedition more soldiers down the valley. Here is a specimen of the telegraphic corres- pondence :
The President on the situation.
July 8th. 10.45 A. M.
Adjutant General L. Thomas, at Harrisburg, had noti- fied Secretary Stanton that certain three additional regi- ments were beyond Carlisle, to be joined by two regi- ment to be moved from Harrisburg. "This force," said Adjutant General Thomas, "can make a junction with Pierce and move down the Cumberland Valley, on the enemy's rear."
This information provoked the following character- istic message in reply, from one in high authority, "who slumbered not nor slept" while Lee was north of the Potomac :
"War Department, Washington, D. C.
Your dispatch of this morning to the secretary of war is before me. The force you speak of will be of 110
July 8th, 12.30 P. M.
Page 612. U. and C. Rec.
249
IN WAR TIMES.
imaginable service if they can not go forward with more CHAPTER X. expedition. Lee is now passing the Potomac faster than the forces you mention are passing Carlisle. Forces now beyond Carlisle, to be assigned to regiments at Harris- burg, and the united forces again to join Pierce some- where and the whole to move down the Cumberland Valley, will in my unprofessional opinion, be quite as likely to capture . the man in the moon' as any part of Lee's Army.
A. Lincoln."
There is evidence, too, of what was General Lee's
Lee's view. opinion of the situation at the time, which can be gatli- ered from a dispatch which he sent to General Stuart, July 10th. informing him of the fact that a Confederate soldier, who was wounded at Gettysburg and had made his escape, had reported to him that he had seen a heavy column of federal troops at Waynesboro, the General warning Stuart as follows :
Page 991. U. and C. Rec.
"We must prepare for a vigorous battle, and trust in the mercy of God and the valor of our troops. Get your men in command, and have everything ready."
Was there reason, then, that General Cameron, see- ing the situation, should, in his earnest style, again ad- July 14th. dress President Lincoln :
Cameron and Lin- coln.
Page 700. U. and C. Rec.
I hope in God you will put forth your authority and order every man in arms between the Sus- quehanna and the Potomac to unite with Meade, so that he may have no reason for delay in giving battle before the falling flood allows Lee's army to escape."
or that President Lincoln should reply :
I would give much to be relieved of the impression that Meade, Couch, Smith and all, since the battle of Gettysburg, have striven only to get Lee over the river without any fighting. Please tell me, if
July 15th. Page 703. U. and C. Rec.
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WAYNESBORO.
CHAPTER X.
you know, who was the one corps commander who was for fighting in the council of war on Sunday night."?
The escape of Lee into Virginia ended the suspense.
BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG.
Notwithstanding all the anxiety and loss of property which the earlier years of the war brought to Pennsyl- vanians, whose homes were in the border land, it was reserved for the last midsummer of the war to be marked by the most serious calamity which befell any portion of this patiently suffering and long scourged people.
The lesson of Gettysburg.
Gettysburg had taught both sides that the war was no longer simply an agency to advance the ambitions of men, with a middle ground whereon, by mutual conces- sions, the peace of compromise might be found, but that it was a conflict that must be prosecuted to its conclu- sion, no matter how radical, and even desperate, were the expedients to be employed by both sides.
A Federal policy and the result.
It avails little now to question the wisdom of the Fed- eral policy which laid waste so many of the beautiful southern homes in the Shenandoah Valley. It was, doubtless, expedient from a radical standpoint, but whether a benefit for the Federal cause was derived from this policy, commensurate with the injury inflicted by retaliatory measures upon loyal citizens of the Union, and particularly upon the people of Chambersburg, is still an open question.
The reason, openly avowed by the Confederate au- thorities, for the burning of Chambersburg, is that it was a retaliatory measure for the destruction of property in the South. It is particularly denied by the same authori- ties that Chambersburg was selected as the sacrifice rather than any other border town because of any feeling against it. The claim is that it was more accessible for a raid than any other Pennsylvania town of sufficient importance.
Chambersburg the sacrifice.
Note 58.
HISTORY OF WAYNESBORO.
--
-
RUINS OF CHAMBERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA. FROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN AT THE TIME.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
1
ASTO LLENCY AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
253
IN WAR TIMES.
In pursuance of the plan of operations, which the gov- ernment at Washington followed throughout the war, the military department which had been created for the de- fense of the Cumberland Valley, the great highway to the North, during the summer of 'sixty-four, was again shorn of its strength. It had been withdrawn for the protection of other towns, and the entire valley, from the Maryland line to Harrisburg, lay at the mercy of any well-informed and daring band of Southern raiders, with assurance enough to outwit, or strength enough to break through the lines of the Federal defenses along the Potomac.
Fully informed of this situation, Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early, at an auspicious period, issued instruc- The raid planned. tions, in a formal order, to the brigades of Brigadier July 25th. Generals John McCausland and Brad- ley T. Johnson to cross into Pennsyl- vania, go to Chambersburg, and there levy tribute on its people to the amount of one hundred thousands dollars in gold, or five hundred thousand dollars in Northern money, to pay for cer- tain properties which had been destroy- ed in Virginia by order of the Brigadier General JOHN MCCAUSLAND. Federal military authorities. In default of the payment of this money, the command was to burn the entire town, in retaliation for the burning of the Virginia homes.
To defend against this raid, General Couch, the com- mander of the Department of the Susquehanna, who then had his headquarters at Chambersburg, had only a meagre force in the valley. This force was disposed as follows when the raid was projected :
At the barracks in Carlisle was one company of forty At Carlisle. men, belonging to the Sixth United States Cavalry,
(16)
CHAPTER X.
The military situa- tion in the valley.
Federal troops for defense.
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WAYNESBORO.
CHAPTER X.
At Chambersburg.
under command of Lieutenant H. C. McLean. This company was permanently located at the barracks, but was made, by authority of the general government, sub- ject to General Couch's orders. At Chambersburg were the Patapsco (Maryland) Guards, about sixty men, under command of Captain T. S. McGowan, and a detachment of the First New York Light Artillery, Battery A. two guns, under command of Lieutenant Underhill. Three days before the raid, General Couch had with him also at Chambersburg two companies of mounted Pennsyl- vania militia. The one was commanded by Captain E. B. Sanno, and the other by Captain George D. Stroud. At this juncture, however, at the request of Brigadier Gen- eral W. W. Averell, of the Department of West Virginia, who was lying at Hagerstown with his command. General Couch turned over to him these two last-mentioned companies.
Position of Averell.
At Emmittsburg.
The only other troops, in any way available for General Couch, were a company of independent scouts from Philadelphia, an unpaid force, which, at this time, watched in the neighborhood of Emmittsburg, Maryland.
Sent to the front.
July 26th. P. M.
When Averell's scouts discovered the northward movement of the enemy, and reported the same to Gen- eral Couch, the latter officer at once ordered forward from Carlisle Lieutenant McLean, with his company. This force reached Chambersburg, and proceeded at once, by the way of Greencastle, to Mercersburg, at which point they forthwith entered upon active service
.July 27th, A. M.
July 28th, A. M., ; to July 29th, P. M. 111 scouting and picket duty. Fifteen men of this com- mand were detailed and sent to Greencastle, under Lieu- tenant Jones, and did picket duty on the roads south of that place. McLean's pickets extended from Shimps- town to McCoys' Ferry, on the Potomac, and to Clear Spring and Cherry Run.
A demonstration near Hagerstown.
To cover the movements of McCausland and Johnson,
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IN WAR TIMES.
who were crossing the river at McCoys' Ferry, and to divert the attention of Averell in another direction, the Confederate commanders, Imboden and Vaughn, made a July 29th, noon. demonstration in the neighborhood of Hagerstown, and Averell, in consequence, retired to Greencastle.
A few hours later. McLean's pickets were driven in from McCoys' Ferry to Cherry Run and Clear Spring, from which point they continued to retire to within two miles of Shimpstown, when the enemy took a cross road to the right leading to the Valley road, on which they advanced toward Mercersburg. Their advance, about two hundred in number, charged through that town, and forced McLean and his men to fall back, after a severe skirmish. It was now growing dark, and, after leaving a picket at Bridgeport, McLean fell back to St. Thomas, a point on the Pittsburg pike about seven miles west from Chambersburg.
The enemy continued to advance, and, at an early hour in the morning, McLean sent a dispatch to General Couch that his pickets had been driven in from Bridge- port. Later, an oral message from McLean informed Couch that he was being driven in from St. Thomas.
Meanwhile, in Chambersburg, Couch was exerting every effort, but in vain, to warn Averell of the approach of the enemy, and to secure his assistance. Shortly after midnight, the wagon trains of General Averell and a num- ber of refugees had reached Chambersburg, and had en- camped near the place. To get them out of danger, Note 59. Couch ordered them to Shippensburg.
Within the space of another hour, the approaching enemy were on the hills just beyond the western con- fines of the town. Assured of this fact, General Couch, in order to save the trains of Averell and those of the railroad company, as well as to give warning to General Averell, ordered Lieutenant Underhill, with one of the
CHAPTER X.
The enemy ad- vance on Mercers- burg, Pa. 3.00 P. M.
McLean retires.
July 30th, 12.30 A. M.
2.00 A. M.
The situation in Chambersburg.
Holding the raiders in check. 3.00 A. M.
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WAYNESBORO.
CHAPTER X.
guns of the First New York Light Artillery, to take po- sition on the Pittsburg pike about a mile west of town, and, supported by Captain McGowan's Maryland in- fantry, consisting then of about thirty-five men, and Lieutenant McLean's cavalry, now reduced in number to twenty-four men, to temporarily hold the enemy in check. This was all the force which Couch had at com- mand, except one other gun which had been ordered to cover the rear of the trains until they should be properly started on the road.
Gen. Coueh retires to Harrisburg. 3.00 A. M. 3.30 A. M. 5.15 A. M.
General Couch then retired upon the railroad train in the direction of Harrisburg, leaving Major C. H. Maneely, Commissary of Muster, to carry out his orders. Lieutenant Underhill's gun opened fire on the enemy, who were held in check for nearly two hours, when the little force, almost surrounded, retired in safety through the town, being careful not to fire a shot within its limits in order that there should be no excuse offered the enemy for opening fire upon the buildings.
The foree of the enemy.
5.30 A. M.
The Confederate forces, consisting of McCausland's brigade and four pieces of artillery, and Johnson's bri- gade with two pieces of artillery, in all about twenty-six hundred men, formed in battle line at, or near, the old fair grounds, west of town, with men partly dismounted. Two shells were fired into the town as a warning, and were immediately followed by an advance, through all the streets and alleys in the main portion of the town running eastward, of six companies of dismounted Vir- ginia cavalry, Major Sweeney commanding, and four companies mounted, Major Harry W. Gilmore command- ing, in all about five hundred men.
They take the town
The defenders re- tire.
The little handful of Couch's men had made good their retreat, and were now well on the way to Shippensburg, and, for the third time, this ill-fated Pennsylvania town
257
IN WAR TIMES.
was at the mercy of the invaders, doomed now to de- CHAPTER X. struction. Note 60.
No time was lost in promulgating the order of General Early, and the demand for ransom. The people lacked both the disposition and ability to comply with this order. Its reading was simply a matter of form, and, before the majority of the people comprehended what those last strokes, which the old court house bell gave forth, really meant, the fearful work of destruction had begun.
Before noon of that day, five hundred and thirty-nine buildings were burned. Over a million and a half dollars' worth of property lay in ashes, and more than three thou- sand people were rendered homeless, many of them left to suffer during the years to come.
The work of destruction was under the supervision of Major Harry W. Gilmore. Negotiations over the ran- som had been cut short in the early morning by a premature rumor of the approach of General Averell and his men. They were expected early by both friend and foe, but the town was destroyed and the perpetrators of the deed were well started in retreat be- Major HARRY W. GILMORE, fore Averell's men arrived upon the scene.
Their work having been accomplished at the earliest possible moment, McCausland drew in his pickets, and began to retire towards McConnellsburg. It was con- siderably later when General Averell approached from the direction of Fayetteville, and followed in pursuit of the retiring raiders, across the mountain to the westward.
The only troops in Waynesboro during this period were Captain E. B. Sanno's mounted company of one hundred days' men. They had been sent there by Gen- eral Averell during the time Chambersburg was in the
The demand for ransom.
7.00 A. M. The town de- stroyed.
Major Gilmore supervising.
The enemy retire. 11.00 A. M.
Averell arrives. 1.30 A. M
Troops in Waynes- boro.
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WAYNESBORO.
CHAPTER X.
hands of the enemy, and the day following they picketed the roads leading from Waynesboro to the Potomac and toward Chambersburg.
SPANISII AMERI- CAN WAR, 1898.
In the Spanish-American War, which aroused the patriotic spirit of the people of the United States to the highest pitch, Waynesboro agam had her representatives in the war-service of the country, and for the purpose of making the record of the town, as complete as possible, and as a suggestion to the future historian, the names of the young men from Waynesboro, who entered the war-service of the United States, "to fight the Spaniard" are here appended, so far as ascertained :
Representatives from Waynesboro.
William L. Amberson, Frank Cummings, James Mathews. George Mckown, John Mumper, and Wilbur Plank.
Captain Walker G. A. R. Post. September 10, 1882.
No. 287.
Sixteen years after the first charter was granted to that most honorable and patriotic order, the Grand Army of the Republic, the veteran soldiers of the war. for the pre- servation of the Union, who claimed Waynesboro as their home. came together and organized in the name of "Fra- ternity. Charity and Loyalty." Their organization was given the name of Captain Walker Post. Grand Army of the Republic." The post was called after Captain Wal- ker because he gave faithful service and his life to his country. He served during the war, was in many battles, was wounded at Stone river, but returned again to his command, and was killed at Atlanta, Georgia. He was shot through the temples, and his body remained in the hands of the enemy. It was never recovered by his friends, and it is not known where he is buried.
August 5, 1864.
Charter members.
The charter members of Captain Walker Post number- ed twenty-seven. as follows :
H. G. Bonebrake, F. J. Beard. David C. Deatrich. Philip R. Welsh, George W. Welsh, William A. Price, Lewis W.
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IN WAR TIMES.
Deatrich, John R. Hoeflich, Samuel Hoeflich, George G. CHAPTER X. Pilkington, Thomas J. Cunningham, J. W. Wheeler, Alex. D. Morganthall. George A. Rhea, James B. French, Daniel Cleverstone, G. Frank Lidy, Abraham Bouder, Michael H. Stoner. James P. Wolff, Jacob R. Wolfers- berger, Dr. A. S. Bonebrake, John C. Smith, Charles T. Eckman, Ezra Hanstine, Jacob Potter, Jacob Storm.
The post had commanders as follows: H. G. Bone- Commanders. brake, Jolın A. Diebold. John G. Grumbine. G. Frank Note 61.
Lidy, David C. Deatrich. F. J. Beard. S. H. Brown, Daniel Gossert, H. S. Rider.
The post has lost the following by death :
Lewis W. Deatrich, David C. Deatrich. George G. Pilk- ington, George A. Rhea, George W. Welsh, M. H. Stoner, Jacob R. Wolfersberger. Charles T. Eckman, John C. Martin, John H. Herr, William Symons, George B. Hawker, Jeremiah Vellis, Sydenham W. Pilkington, David Young, William Nolan, Geo. B. Lackens, David W. Monn, Josiah Mentzer. William Pennell, John D. Frederick, John M. Jones, Scott Randall, Noah Snyder, Benjamin Yeakle, Noah V. Doub, Henry Rickert, Emanuel Diffenderfer, David Ditch, Josiah Geesaman, William W. Teach, James A. Murray, John H. Zeigler. Dr. Aaron Gingrich, Augustus Baker, Arnold Rodgers, David Robinson, John Shaffer, Wm. Ross, Adam Heist. Frederick Hoffman, William H. Smith, John W. Hop- wood, Augustus Westcot, John Rock, Julius Seabach.
The present membership is ninety: the total enroll- ment to date, two hundred and fifteen : the number lost by death, forty-six, and from other causes, seventy-nine.
The post, from its organization, has been upon a good financial basis. All its money has been derived from the voluntary contributions and dues of members. Taken altogether, it ranks with the best inland posts in the de- partment of Pennsylvania.
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