Mercersburg remembers Civil War raid of J.E.B. Stuart

I was aware that hostages were taken. I had never heard of that until reading this article. That does not sound correct.

Yeah, it's the sort of history that's not in your history books in school. The local history isn't very known outside of the area.

Jeb Stuart really did mess us up during the Civil War. As a result, Chambersburg was invaded in 1863 and literally burned to the ground in 1864. We have ol' Jeb to thank for that. He invaded us in 1862, I think and in doing so, he opened up a hole for a bigger Southern force to come into town.

Why is h-o-l-e censored?

Was this EVENT even marketed? Never heard this was an "event"!!! Who ran this and who did they tell?

the hole

Oh, so it's just when you put "a" before it. Funny.

In answer to the question about hostages 10 hostages were taken in this raid. I believe several escaped but those that didn't were taken to Belle Isle Prison in Richmond. Some of my family are from Lexington, Va. including one James L. McCown who fought with the 5th Va. Co K. Gen Hunter did some damage to it including torching VMI. Then there is the looting of Fredericksburg in 1862. War is destructive as Chambersburg really found out in 1864 when McCausland's Cavalry came to town. My ancestor left a diary describing events like." The Mule Shoe," at Spotsylvania. When you are done you realize that war isn't glorious at all its just brutal.

How come renactors don't join the real Army I mean come on grow up.

It's a joke

Let me answer that question. Many of us were in the real Army and that is not what it is about. I have done this hobby for over twenty years. Much of what we do is teaching history. we live in a visual society so many people learn by seeing. We enable people to visualize what it was like. I do authentic campaign living history so we aren't out playing army. We have no tents and no stashed coolers we eat salt pork and hard tack if doing a Yankee impression just like McClellan's boys. To be honest much of the reason I still do this hobby is to raise money and people's awareness of our history much of which is threatened. If it were aabout playing Army I wouldn't do it either but literally thousands of acres of battlefield has been saved by our efforts and much more is needed.