upright and disinterested citizens, consisting of Messrs. Wm. McLellan,
C. M. Burnet, Rev. Joseph Clark, D. K. Wunderlich, and John Armstrong, is
$783,950. The loss in personal property greatly exceeds that of the real
estate, but it is difficult, if not impossible, even to approach to
anything like a satisfactory estimate.
In regard to the foregoing estimates of real property, I will merely add
that they are low, generally speaking, very low. I say this, not because I
find any fault with the judicious committee of gentlemen who made those
estimates. I rather commend them for it; but for the purpose simply of
mentioning the fact that the actual loss was much greater than the figures
indicate. Thus, for instance, the Court-House is put down at $45,000,
whereas an experienced builder has stated to me it could not be rebuilt
for less than $80,000. The Mansion House (the printing establishment of
the German Reformed Church), with a stone livery stable in the rear, is
put down at $10,000, whereas $15,000 would not replace them as they were.
Colonel McClure's large and beautiful residence, with his spacious model
barn, are put down at $9,500, but they could not be restored for less than
$20,000. The banking house is put down at $8,000, but not less than
$20,000 would be required to replace it. And so with most of the
buildings. A million dollars will not suffice to restore them, and twice
as much more will not cover the losses of such personal property as money
can replace.
Many heavy sufferers are among those who had no real property, and hence
their names do not appear in the above list. Some of the large business
shops were in the front rooms of houses belonging to other persons. Thus
the Mansion House, besides containing the printing and binding
establishments of the Reformed Church, was occupied by Shryock's large
bookstore, Mr. Metcalf's dry goods store, dentists' rooms, saddler's shop,
&c. In many instances there were two, three, and even four private
families living in one house. Many families also, whose dwellings were not
burned, were nevertheless very heavy sufferers, having been plundered and
robbed of their most valuable articles of plate, jewelry, clothing, &c.
Hence it is perhaps not too much to say that the number of families who
are sufferers is more than double the number of houses, as well as that
the loss is double the amount in value, as compared with the loss of the
houses enumerated in the list.
In conclusion permit me to add, that if our border is protected hereafter,
and some reasonable assurance is given to our people that incursions by
the enemy will be rendered impossible, our town will be
rebuilt--gradually, but surely. If, however, no such assurance is given,
and no effective aid for border defence is afforded; if our people are
coolly told that the Cumberland Valley is to be "a trap in which to catch
the rebels, and which must therefore be left open," then, alas! there will
be no heart to remain and rebuild the town; but, imitating many of our
disheartened farmers, our citizens will sell out their realty and leave,
regretfully indeed; but rather than be in constant dread and apprehension,
leave they will, and allow the ruins of their houses and hearths to remain
behind them, seeking some more sheltered or sequestered spot, where they
may live and die in "quietness and peace," though it be away from the
graves of their fathers and their childhood's "sweet home."
Very sincerely yours,
B. S. S.
MISS M'KEEVER'S NEW STORY,
NOW READY.
WOODCLIFF.
BY MISS HARRIET B. McKEEVER,
AUTHOR OF "EDITH'S MINISTRY," "SUNSHINE," "THE FLOUNCED ROBE," ETC., ETC.
IN ONE VOLUME, 12mo., PRICE $2.00.
The scene of Miss McKeever's new story is laid principally in New England.
The hero, a Scotch boy, taken from the humbler walks of life, is a type of
that struggling class that thrive best in our country. By his moral and
intellectual worth, sustained by an unfaltering trust in God, he rises
step by step, triumphing over every difficulty, until he attains a
commanding position among his fellow men. The power of personal influence
is illustrated by the acts of his daily life, moulding a peculiarly
untutored child of noble impulses, and guiding her aspirations after the
good and true. Roland Bruce and Madeline, or Madcap Hamilton, as she is
sometimes familiarly called, the hero and heroine of the story, give a
freshness and vigor to it, which, with the high moral inculcated, commend
it to the favorable attention of all classes of readers.
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the ministry of a single life, and how such a life, well employed,
brings with it its own reward."--_Episcopal Recorder, Phila._
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THE REV. SAMUEL A. PHILIPS' NEW BOOK,
THE VOICE OF BLOOD, IN THE SPHERE OF NATURE AND OF THE SPIRIT WORLD.
BY THE
REV. SAMUEL A. PHILIPS, A. M.,
PASTOR OF THE REFORMED CHURCH, CARLISLE, AND AUTHOR OF "GETHSEMANE AND THE
CROSS," "THE CHRISTIAN HOME," ETC.
IN ONE VOLUME, DEMY 8vo., PRICE $2.00.
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place occupied by blood-shedding in the Levitical services, and in
the grand fundamentals of Christianity. The blood typical was the
precursor of the blood shed on the cross. While some of the 'voices
of blood' considered by the author, may be considered as only
remotely bearing on the great subject of atonement, yet they are all
designed to illustrate it. The atonement by blood is the marked
feature of the gospel, without the shedding of which there could be
no remission of sin, and the vitality of the gospel is lost where it
does not stand forth prominently. It is the author's design to
illustrate this blessed truth, and he does it Scripturally and
practically, that all may see the harmony between the voice of blood
from the altar, and the voice of blood from the cross. The volume
comprises much precious truth in various respects, and may be
profitably read."--_Presbyterian._
"In this work, the author first analyzes the voice, its structure,
functions, capabilities, as a material organ of the spirit; then the
blood in which is the life; then blood as the voice which utters
mighty truths and testimonies; then 'the voice of accusing blood from
the ground,' beginning with the blood of Abel; the 'voice of typical
blood from the altar' comprehending the Jewish sacrifices; 'the voice
of atoning blood from the cross;' 'the voice of martyr-blood from the
church;' of 'sacramental blood from the Christian altar;' of
'pleading blood from the mercy-seat;' of 'witnessing blood from the
judgment throne;' of 'avenging blood from hell;' and, finally, of
'glorifying blood in heaven.' These topics are treated in a fervid
and impassioned style which seldom flags. The reader is never wearied
by dulness. Without endorsing every sentiment, we find the work
evangelical, earnest, and quickening."--_Biblical Repertory and
Princeton Review._
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Footnotes:
[1] I take great pleasure in this connection to direct attention to a
large photographic view of the Ruins of Chambersburg, by Mr. C. L.
Lochman, of Carlisle, as the most satisfactory picture I have yet seen.
The same artist has also prepared a number of smaller pictures and a
series of _stereoscopic views_, embracing general views and the most
prominent local objects of the town.
[2] Reference is here made chiefly to the New York Herald and the Tribune,
both of which sheets have manifested a spirit towards our deeply afflicted
sufferers akin to that of our worst enemies. The Tribune, instead of
allowing itself to be corrected by the Hon. A. K. McClure, in the
Philadelphia Press, turns aside from the subject with miserable jokes, as
trivial as they are heartless. And these are our _friends_!
[3] Since the foregoing was written it has been ascertained to a
certainty, that there were three thousand men, exclusive of the eight
hundred and thirty-one who were in the town; almost as large a force as
that which, one year ago, routed Milroy's whole military force, cannon and
all, at Winchester.
[4] Among the many thousands who have been quartered and encamped here, I
have never heard of a single soldier who did not speak in the most
grateful terms of the universally kind treatment towards them from our
citizens. For proof I appeal to these thousands among the living, wherever
they may now be found.
[5] This and several following paragraphs are quoted, with a few slight
modifications, from a brief and well-written article by the Rev. Joseph
Clark, in the Philadelphia "Presbyterian" of August 6.
[6] McCausland had also insisted upon burning the town in the _night_, to
which Johnson persistently objected. Mrs. Greenawalt, a most worthy and
intelligent woman, overheard this consultation of the officers in an
adjoining room. The increased horrors which must have resulted if
McCausland had not been overruled in his determination, may be imagined.
B. S. S.
* * * * *
Transcriber's note:
Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_.
The following misprints have been corrected:
"geting" corrected to "getting" (page 20)
"sacrified" corrected to "sacrificed" (page 23)
"guerillas" corrected to "guerrillas" (page 57)
Unmatched quotation marks were left as they were in the original.