“The town of Chambersburg, in Pennsylvania, was selected as the one on which retaliation should be made, and McCausland was ordered to proceed with his brigade and that of Johnson, and a battery of artillery, to that place, and demand of the municipal authorities the sum of $100,000 in gold, or $500,000 in United States currency, as a compensation for the destruction of the houses named and their contents, and, in default of payment, to lay the town in ashes, in retaliation for the burning of those houses and others in Virginia, as well as for the towns which had been burned in other Southern States. A written demand to that effect was sent to the municipal authorities, and they were informed what would be the result of a failure or refusal to comply with it. I desired to give the people of Chambersburg an opportunity of saving their town, by making compensation for part of the injury done, and hoped that the payment of such a sum would have the desired effect, and open the eyes of the people of other towns at the North, to the necessity of urging upon their government the adoption of a different policy. McCausland was also directed to proceed from Chambersburg towards Cumberland, Md., and levy contributions in money upon that and other towns able to bear them, and if possible destroy the machinery at the coal pits near Cumberland, and the machine shops, depots, and bridges on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, as far as practicable. “On the 29th, McCausland crossed the Potomac, near Clear Spring, above Williamsport, and I moved with Rhodes’ and Ramseur’s divisions and Vaughan’s cavalry to the latter place, while Imboden demonstrated with his and Jackson’s cavalry towards Harper’s Ferry, in order to withdraw attention from McCausland. Breckinridge remained at Martinsburg, and continued the destruction of the railroad. Vaughan drove a force of cavalry from Williamsport, and went into Hagerstown, where he captured and destroyed a train of cars loaded with supplies. One of Rhodes’ brigades was crossed over at Williamsport, and subsequently withdrawn. “On the 30th, McCausland being well underway, I moved back to Martinsburg; and on the 31st, the whole infantry force was moved to Bunker Hill, where we remained on the 1st, 2d, and 3d of August. “On the 4th, in order to enable McCausland to retire from Pennsylvania and Maryland, and to keep Hunter, who had been reinforced by the 6th and 19th corps, and had been oscillating between Harper’s Ferry and Monocacy Junction, in a state of uncertainty, I again moved to the Potomac, with the infantry and Vaughan’s and Jackson’s cavalry, while Imboden demonstrated towards Harper’s Ferry.