On Monday, June 29, 1863, Col. William H. French's 17th Virginia Cavalry ranged throughout Dover Township and West Manchester Township in west-central York County, Pennsylvania, while foraging for horses, mules, and supplies. One patrol of the "Night Hawk Rangers" canvassed the region around the York Turnpike / Bairs Road / Wolf's Church area (today's commercial strip on U.S. Route 30 immediately west of the intersection with Route 462 Lincoln Highway).
Shown is 39-year-old farmer Henry S. Stambaugh's house, which is still in excellent condition despite being more than 150 years old. The Stambaugh name is still quite common in York County, and several members of the family filed damage claims with the state following the Civil War. Like the other victims of the Rebel raiders, they had to provide sworn testimony as to what was taken from their farms and include eyewitness depositions if available as to the thievery and/or testimony as to the known value of the horses lost. In several cases, neighboring farmers provided affidavits concerning how much the stolen horses would have been worth on the retail market had they been sold.
