Confederate troops under Brig. Gen. John McCausland paid their third visit of the war to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania and demanded a ransom of $100,000 in gold or $500,000. Both unwilling and unable to pay, the residents saw their town set afire on orders from General Jubal Early. More than 250 houses and public buildings were destroyed at a cost estimated up to two million dollars and 3000 people were reported homeless. The burning was justified as retaliation for similar Union actions in Virginia but Early was sought after the conflict as a war criminal. (By John Osborne)