The Burning of Chambersburg- July 30, 1864

**The Burning of Chambersburg by Ron Lesser**

After the town was cleared McCausland, Johnson, Gilmor and several officers went to breakfast at the Franklin Hotel in the center of town (no longer standing). After he finished breakfast McCausland ordered Harry Gilmor to arrest 50 or more of the towns leading citizens. One of Gilmor’s men Captain Fitzhugh recognized a local attorney, J.W. Douglas, from when the Confederates passed through town the previous year with Jenkins’ brigade (during the Gettysburg campaign). He showed him a copy of Early’s order with the ransom demand, or the town would be burned. Most of the populace did not take the threat seriously. In addition, when General Couch left the city, he took the bank funds with him.

When the money was not forthcoming the town was ordered burned at 9:00 AM, although it may have begun as early as 8:00 AM. Chambersburg was fired in multiple places. Many of the soldiers also plundered the town. When Colonel William Peters led the 21st VA into town he refused the order to fire the town and was arrested for insubordination, the charges were dropped the next day. Two Confederate soldiers were robbing Andrew J. Miller’s drugstore when they accidentally locked themselves inside. Miller shot the men from the hallway and they were either killed by his shotgun or died in the fire. Captain Caulder A. Bailey was the highest-ranking Confederate killed during the burning. He got drunk and tried to hide in a cellar, but when the flames entered the home he was forced to come out and was shot. He was buried in the Methodist Cemetery. The Confederates left town between 11:00 and 12:00 in the morning. About 550 structures were destroyed. Two hundred and seventy-eight of these were homes or businesses. The remainder were barns, stables and outbuildings. The total loss of real estate exceeded $750,000 and over 2,000 people were left homeless. Only one resident of the town died in the fire, a former slave, Daniel Parker.

The Diamond- intersection of Routes 11 and 30.

**Looking at the Central Presbyterian Church 40 Lincoln Way West in the Diamond**

**39.9376184, -77.6607040** **The Courthouse**, **some of the pillars were saved and used in the rebuilt Courthouse**

Franklin County Visitors Bureau- 115 South Main Street. Great stop for information about the battle and area. The tourism associates there Lauren Formosa and Evan Crider were very helpful.