Darius N. Couch to William W. Averell, July 29, 1864

General W. W. AVERELL, Greencastle :

Lieutenant McLean was driven out of Mercersburg by about 200 of the enemy. A force of about 400 and two pieces of artillery afterward came up. D. N. COUCH, Major-General.

At 12.30 a. m. July 30 a dispatch from Lieut. H. T. McLean was received that his pickets at Bridgeport had been driven in. I immediately notified General Averell as follows :

CHAMBERSBURG, July 30,a 1864. Brig.Gen. W. W. AVERELL, Greencastle :

Lieutenant McLean’s pickets have been driven in at Bridgeport, on the road leading from Mercersburg to Saint Thomas. The force moving via Mercersburg has at least two pieces of artillery.

At 2 a.m. a verbal message from Lieut. H. T. McLean informed me that he was being pressed in from Saint Thomas. The following dispatch by telegraph was sent :

CHAMBERSBURG, July 30, 1864—2 a. m. General W. W. AVERELL,

Greencastle :

My force, Lieutenant McLean, is being driven in from Saint Thomas, and falling back upon Chambersburg:

D. N. COUCH, Major-General.

At 1 a.m. Maj. John S. Schultze, assistant adjutant-general, gave orders to Captain Brown, quartermaster in charge of the train above mentioned, to move via Shippensburg north. At 3a.m. the enemy was near the town and I directed Maj. John S. Schultze to so notify General Averell and ask him what he intended to do. No replies had been received from that officer, and he subsequently informed me that he did not receive my dispatches of the enemy’s advancing until 3.45 a.m. Upon finding the enemy so near, in order

a The hour was not given, but was between 12.30 and 1 a. m,.

to save the trains, including those of the railroad, as well as to give warning to General Averell, one piece of artillery was directed to take position on the Pittsburg pike, a mile from town, covered by the infantry, about thirty-five men, and the cavalry, twenty-four men, which was my whole strength, excepting one gun, ordered to cover the rear of the trains, then not all on the road. The gun that was on the pike opened on the enemy about 3.30 a.m. Maj. C. H. Meneely, commissary of musters, was present to carry out my instructions. I respectfully call attention tothe report of Lieut. H. T. McLean, commanding officer, inclosed.

The enemy were held in check about two hours, my people slowly retiring through the town, being careful not to fire a shot within its limits, in order that there should be no excuse for firing buildings or committing any barbarities upon the people. The enemy, consisting of Brigadier-General McCausland’s brigade of five regiments, and four pieces of artillery, and Brig. Gen. B. T. Johnson’s brigade of two regiments, four battalions, with two pieces of artillery, numbering 2,600 in all, formed line of battle on the fair grounds, men dismounted, and after firing two or three cannon shots into the town, entered the same at about 5.30 a. m. with from 400 to500 mounted and dismounted men. Itiscertain that both McCausland and Johnson were present.

The chief burgess being absent, some of the principal citizens were arrested by Major Gilmor and notified that by order of MajorGeneral Karly $100,000 in gold or $500,000 in currency was required to ransom the town. He was told by these gentlemen that there was not probably $50,000 in currency at hand ; to which he replied that “The town must be burnt.” Details were made and placed under charge of officers and fires kindled, it is said, almost simultaneously in fifty different places. In some instances the first warning to occupants of buildings came from the fire and smoke beneath them, thus barely escaping with their lives. Some of the officers and men refused, or were persuaded not to carry out their barbarous orders, and assisted people in fleeing from the flames, but generally an inhuman and savage ferocity characterized their actions. The sufferers, with few exceptions, only saved the clothing on their persons. Thus was consummated this premeditated deed of barbarity. At about 11 a. m. the enemy drew in their pickets, and a little later their pillaging and burning parties retired toward McConnellsburg ; General Averell entered three hours after from the direction of Fayetteville.

A lieutenant from Georgia, attached to a Virginia regiment, who deserted to our lines, states that it was understood by their troops that all buildings were to be burned from the moment Pennsylvania soil was touched.

Accompanying I invite attention to atelegram to General Averell, with his reply, also a statement made by an intelligent sergeant on duty at these headquarters, who was in Chambersburg during the rebel occupation, and part of the time a prisoner.

very respectfully, your obedient servant,