[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10104]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING FULTON COUNTY HERITAGE DAYS AND THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF 
                      THE LAST CONFEDERATE BIVOUAC

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                           HON. BILL SHUSTER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 12, 2014

  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Fulton 
County Heritage Days and the 150th anniversary of the last Confederate 
bivouac, which took place in Fulton County Pennsylvania, and was a 
pivotal event in the Civil War.
  On July 30, 1864, Confederate soldiers descended on Franklin County, 
Pennsylvania, and burned the town of Chambersburg to the ground when 
the $500,000 ransom they demanded was refused. Following this brutal 
act, the soldiers made their way to McConnellsburg, where the 
Confederate forces encamped and proceeded to terrorize the local 
citizens. Though these Confederate soldiers inflicted a brutal toll on 
McConnellsburg during their time in the town, this moment was a turning 
point in the course of the war. Indeed, no more battles would take 
place on Union territory, as it would be the last time that the 
Confederacy would have troops occupying land north of the Mason-Dixon 
line. For this reason, the time these Confederate soldiers spent 
encamped in McConnellsburg has come to be known as the last Confederate 
bivouac.
  Fulton County Heritage Days commemorates this important event, which 
is so crucial to both the history of Pennsylvania and our nation. We 
must never forget the lessons of history, or the great sacrifice made 
by the brave Pennsylvanians who gave their lives to hold the Union 
together. I wish to thank all those involved with organizing Fulton 
County Heritage Days, and invite my colleagues to join me in 
commemorating the 150th anniversary of the last Confederate bivouac.

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