Franklin County: Benjamin S. Schneck to Margaretta
S. Keller, October 13, 1862
Summary:
Schneck writes his sister about a Confederate raid on their horses and supply
depot, as well as a false alarm that almost sent many civilians up in arms
agains their own Union forces.
Oct. 13 1862
Chambersburg
My dear Sister --
To make you feel easy by exaggerated rumors which you will no doubt obtain of the Cavalry Raid here on last Friday evening, I will merely say, that we are all safe + feel like thanking God, that God deemed to have kept the hearts of these 1600 men in check not to eke out their vengeance, as one might have expected, upon us. Such a surprise + such humiliation! We were helpless, and I am only glad it was not possible even, for our Home Guard to be in readiness to meet them, for they might have been fired on, and then their cannon, planted on the hills above town, would doubtless have laid the place in ashes and no resistance could, after all, have been effectively made. They brought two Batteries to town + an officer called at the bank asking for money. But the cashier had slipped all his notes into a Carpet Bag + sent it away an hour before, and the specie had been sent to New York when Jackson threatened to invade us. The officer might have threatened to burn down the house, + thus forced the cash from the cashier, but after chatting for three hours, he complimented him on the expertness of his financial abilities and politely bade him goodnight. -- They had ransacked most of the stables, but broke none open, but asked to buy horses -- of course with Confederate money, and then took them. Many had their horses sent out of town, and then lost them. Sometimes I left mine in the stable. She was not called for; indeed, not one of the six ministers who have horses lost theirs. Whether this was accidental or regard for our profession, I do not know.
But I must close. I suppose our Synod will prove a failure, although our danger
is now over, for the Rebels are mostly safe in Virginia again, although our town
was all on fire with excitement today from rumors that a squad of
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them were -- first only two miles from town on their return -- then at
Fayetteville, (6 mi. from here) then over the mountains near Gettysburg, having,
it was said, been driven back by some of our forces at Emmetsburg. The stores
were all closed, every musket in use, and hundreds went out to meet the Rebels! We were all very brave, but alas! Our
bravery was not permitted to be put into requisition. This evening our men
returned [unclear: chopfallen]. The troops sent from Baltimore to
Gettysburg had come out of the mountain + the people mistook them for Rebels, + the Colonel tried to tell them who
he was, but they fled up the mountain and so the contagation spread until it
reached us. We can now laugh at the useless expenditure of Bravery, but the
Rebel cavalry will laugh the more heartily at their dashing, bold, successful
raid. They got probably 800 horses, plenty of our army clothing at the Depot,
sabres, pistols etc. as much as they wanted, + are now nearly all at least, safe in Virginia. One must give
credit for two things: Gentlemanly conduct in their intercourse with our people,
and intrepidity and boldness. They had several men with them, formerly from this
county, hence they knew every nook + corner.
In great haste, Your affect. Brother
B. S. Schneck
Please tell Mr. [illeg.], I wrote to Mr. Dorworth. I did not understand from his first letter that he wished me to send an order to Mr. D -- but merely to appraise me of the fact that Mr. D. was to have it at some future time + that appreciation was to then be made for it.
