M.A. Kleen

On June 26, 1863, Confederate General Robert E. Lee entered Chambersburg, Pennsylvania with his staff. A crowd of onlookers, local civilians and Confederate soldiers alike, swarmed around him, hoping to catch a glimpse of the famous commander. From there, Lee established a camp just east of town in Shatter’s Woods, which later became known as Messersmith’s Woods, and remained there until June 30th. On the 27th, Lee issued an order reminding his army to conduct themselves properly. “The commanding general therefore earnestly exhorts the troops to abstain with most scrupulous care from unnecessary or wanton injury to private property, and he enjoins upon all officers to arrest and bring to summary punishment all who shall in any way offend against the orders on this subject,” it said. The order was issued only a day after one of his corps commanders, Jubal Early, ordered the destruction of U.S. Congressman Thaddeus Stevens’ iron furnace just a few miles away.