The Confederate army’s destruction of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania marked a watershed in the mounting violence of both sides against civilian populations. Following Federal military efforts against guerillas and their civilian backers in the Shenandoah Valley, Jubal Early hit back. Participating in this effort, Generals John McCausland and Bradley T. Johnson invaded Pennsylvania, a raid that culminated July 30, 1864, in the burning of Chambersburg.

Confederate Retaliation is a new in-depth study that shows the burning in the context of the battles that led up to and followed that event. Included are never before published details and maps of the engagements at Hancock, Cumberland, and Old Town, Maryland; and Green Spring, Keyser, and Moorefield, West Virginia. Haselberger here presents new research on the Union cavalry’s pursuit of the raiders. Combining military and social history, he has provided a comprehensible account of this psychological turning point in the War.

About: Fritz Haselberger

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