These two brief, but powerful Civil War letters were written by a woman named Annie who must have lived in a town not far from Chambersburg at the time of the 30 July 1864 raid in which Brigadier General John McCausland led 2,800 Confederate cavalrymen into that town and demanded $100,000 in gold or $500,000 in greenbacks. When the residents of Chambersburg failed to raise the ransom, McCausland ordered his men to burn the town. Flames destroyed more than 500 structures leaving more than 2,000 homeless. Damage was estimated at more than $1.6 million. To make matters worse, many inebriated Confederate soldiers looted homes and abused civilians. Mobs of angry townspeople looking for retribution killed several Rebels. The Rebels failed to accomplish one of their main targets, however, which was to burn the Cumberland Valley Railroad bridge across the Conococheague Creek at Scotland, five miles north of town.
There is a possibility that the letters were written by Elizabeth Ann Trainer (b. 1826 in Maryland), the wife of Edward D. Little (1824-1892) of Gettysburg who was at the time still serving in Co F, 87th Pennsylvania.

Transcriptions:

Saturday [30 July 30 1864]
Dear E,
There has been great excitement here today. Everything packed up and gone & horses passing through town. An hour ago a large party of Un[ion] cavalry came in and a Lieutenant reported the Rebs a few miles out & said he had charged them several times. Everybody ran that had horses & we have been looking for them & now a man from Cashtown reports none on this side of the mountain. It is said they burnt the Court House, Bank, and a house of Duncan’s brother-in-law.
I am so sorry I missed your letter today. It goes without saying but I did go to the [Post] Office immediately [ ] was quiet also & when [ ] Mr. Buehler had it locked up & off it has gone.
The cars here just came in and I write this note to give to the conductor who will mail it at the nearest point. The engine will be kept fired up & if the Rebs do come, they will go. If not, he will take it Monday. We are all pretty well. It was intensely warm here today but we had a nice shower.
In haste. Yours lovingly.
Sunday morning [31 July 1864]
Dear E.,
I tried to get a dispatch to you this morning to ask if there were any papers I could preserve for you if the Rebs burn us out but I could not get it though Chambersburg is burned down. Will was over and saw the ruins. Mr. Warner’s child was thought to be dying & had to be carried to the woods. The women and children had 15 minutes to leave. I wish I could send off valuables but don’t know how to do it. Mr. Wiesburg will take this to Harrisburg & mail. Wrote from the cars. May run. All well. Yours, Annie
[Civil War, Union, Confederate, Abraham Lincoln, Paper Ephemera]