[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 144 (Thursday, October 6, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 6, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        THE RANSOM OF HAGERSTOWN

                                 ______


                        HON. ROSCOE G. BARTLETT

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 6, 1994

  Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, on October 8, the city of 
Hagerstown will commemorate the Civil War's Ransom of Hagerstown, an 
event that changed the course of history for this small western 
Maryland town.
  Each day of our lives we take certain things for granted. Our 
freedom, perhaps. Our Nation's sovereignty, or maybe the simple 
reliable beauty of the town in which we live.
  The people of Hagerstown, MD, 130 years ago, were faced with a choice 
and an interesting twist of fate--a twist that saved the town from 
burning to the ground at the hands of Confederate troops during the 
Civil War.
  When Confederate troops marched into Hagerstown July 6, 1864 
threatening to burn the town to the ground unless she paid a ransom of 
$200,000 in retribution for the Yankee destruction of much of the 
Shenandoah Valley, the city leaders and residents were distraught. 
$200,000 was an impossible sum to acquire, and they had seen other 
towns destroyed for the inability to raise the ransom. Freed slaves, 
military equipment, goods, and livestock were all rushed out of town to 
protect them from the Confederate army.
  But a funny--and lucky--thing happened on the way to Hagerstown. The 
$200,000 ransom ordered by Gen. Jubal Early was misunderstood by Gen. 
John McCausland, who was commanding the calvary being led into 
Hagerstown. The graduate of Virginia Military Institute, who was 
schooled in math and artillery tactics, forgot a zero, and stormed into 
Hagerstown demanding $20,000 to spare the town.
  The town's three banks and city councilman Matthew Barber were able 
to pull together the money. $20,000 was a whole lot easier to pull 
together than $200,000, and Hagerstown, MD was saved from almost 
certain ruin.
  So, in the name of history, each day when Hagerstown's citizens wake 
to their beautiful and historical town, they know there are many 
things, people, and events that have molded them to be the unique city 
they are. But the real hero in saving the city of Hagerstown and making 
it a premier historical tourist attraction today, was just one lost 
zero, 130 years ago.
  The events of this week to commemorate the Ransom of Hagerstown are 
commendable, and speak well of the strong sense of history the 
community embodies. This heritage of Hagerstown is one to celebrate, 
and I am proud to be a part of the festivities.

                          ____________________