PENNSYLVANIA INVADED: A Force of Rebel Cavalry and Artillery in Possession of Chambersburgh; NO RESISTANCE OFFERED (10/11/1862)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 10/11/1862

[Homer_J_Simpson]

HARRISBURGH, Friday, Oct. 10 -- 7:30 P.M.

GOV. CURTIN has just received the following dispatch from Col. MCCLURE, at Chambersburgh:

“Mercersburgh was occupied by Stewart's rebel cavalry to-day, and they are now advancing on Chambersburgh.

They took horses and all other property they wanted at Mercersburgh, offering rebel scrip for it. They did no injury to individuals that I have heard of. The force is estimated at three thousand.

The rebels are certainly advancing upon Chambersburgh. They have cut the Bedford wire. They are reported as near as St. Thomas, about seven miles from here.

There is no doubt whatever of their being in Mercersburgh. They will certainly give us a call to-night.

We had the rumor at 4 o'clock, but it was not credited. We can make no resistance, as it would only exasperate, and cause the wanton destruction of property and life."

CHAMBERSBURGH, Friday, Oct. 10 -- 8 P.M.

About fifteen men, on horseback, are in town, with carbines and a flag of truce. They want to see the principal men of the town. They have a large force about one mile from town, who will enter in an hour.

LATER.

Col. MCCLURE and Provost-Marshal KIMMEL have just gone two miles from the town to meet the rebel commander. Nothing can be done except surrender.

We look for the whole force in half an hour. They crossed the Potomac at Hancock, and came over the country to the Pittsburgh Pike.

The deposits of the Chambersburgh Bank have not been returned from New-York since the late raid.

HARRISBURGH, Friday, Oct. 10 -- 8 P.M.

Gov. CURTIN is now pushing troops up the Valley.

HARRISBURGH, Friday, Oct. 10 -- 10 P.M.

Dispatches just received from Shippensburgh confirm the news of the occupation of Chambersburgh.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4099504/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Pennsylvania Invaded: A Force of Rebel Cavalry and Artillery in Possession of Chambersburgh – 2-3
Victory in Kentucky: The Two Days’ Battle at Perryville – 3-4
The Great Corinth Victory: Gen. Rosecrans’ Report of the Saturday’s Battle – 4
News from Washington: Our Special Washington Dispatches – 4-5
Editorial: Fiscal Perplexities in Rebeldom – 5-6
The Evacuation of Cumberland Gap – 6
Pay the Soldiers – 6-7
The War in Kentucky – A Prophecy and Its Fulfillment – 7
The Rebels in Pennsylvania – 7
The Yellow-Covered Literature of Secession – 7

[EEGator]

I saw the headline, and I thought it was a Fetterman thread...

[xxqqzz]

Really old news.

[BroJoeK]

"Pennsylvania Invaded: A Force of Rebel Cavalry and Artillery in Possession of Chambersburgh – 2-3"

This is the first of three such invasions, of which the 2nd in 1863 is best known, and the third in 1864 was most destructive to Chambersburg.

"Stuart had secured the parole of 280 soldiers, captured about 1,200 horses, 30 public officials, a variety of arms and ammunition, intelligence about the Union Army and turned aside Pleasonton's force while embarrassing McClellan.[1][52][77][78]
His men had destroyed the railroad depot, shops, warehouses and several miles of railroad line, although they failed to destroy the Conococheague Creek railroad bridge.[45][77] Stuart's force also captured at least 8 local free blacks and took them back into the South to be enslaved.[79]
The value of the destroyed property was estimated at about quarter of a million dollars at the time.[76]"

Depending on how you calculate it, the $250,000 in property damage would today be worth up to $1 billion.

[BroJoeK]

The 119th Illinois Voluntary Infantry Regiment is being assigned to the District of Jackson, Tennessee, XIII Corps (U.S. Grant Commanding), Department of the Tennessee.
In two weeks they will begin moving by steamboat from Quincy, Illinois to Columbus, KY.

They will play a small but important role in the beginning phase of US Grant's Vicksburg Campaign.

In a more personal matter -- did we mention the August 10, 1862, Nueces Massacre in the Texas Hill Country?
Those killed were the countrymen & neighbors of a then 12-year-old girl who will eventually become my great-grandmother.
Whether by coincidence or in response to Nueces, four days later, August 14, my great-grandfather enlisted in the 119th Illinois.
They will first meet after the war.