Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-08-10
The Horrors Attending an Invading Army.

The Horrors Attending an Invading Army.
A correspondent of the Elmira Gazette, with
Sherman's army now penetrating into the heart OF
Georgia, writing from the neighborhood of Dalton,
says:
We camp on large and beautiful plantations, and
spread desolation, unavoidably, before US As we
advance We make quite as clean sweep OF live
stock as the enemy have of their slaves. The large
fields of corn, wheat rye, tobacco and cotton, in
the most aourishing condition, indicate the pros
perity of the country. In most instances the in
bsbtants fee before US, only the poorer classes re-
naming at home. 1t is truly heart sickening to
see so beautiful country rayaged and destroyed |;
these fine farms and pleasant homes are truly une-
qualed in any country, but the hand of war will lay
q scourge on them that a century cannot efface.
On nearly every farm we noticed cotton gin, in
which were stored thousands of dollars worth of the
finest cotton. On the 18th we again confronted the
enemy at Oassville, who barricaded the town and
intended to make a stand, but late in the afternoon
he evacuated the place. and our forces occupied it.
During the battle all the inhabitants vacated the
town; that was sacked and pllaged by the soldiers.
On entering one house we saw asolder donned in the
habilmeuts of some Southern lady-black silk dress,
pink Of bonnet, white kids, hoops, ETC., while on
the floor in mutual ruin lay costly vase, that had
been hurled into hundred dollar mirror added to
the confused mixture was an annihilated piano,
smashed sofa, broken chairs, etc. While making
my way to camp saw splendid oil painting Of the
Surrender of Yorktown" suspended from the side
of an old supply wagon, for the qualification and
classic taste Of some mule driver.
A correspondent of the New York Express writes
as follows of the suffering row experienced by the
defenceless and helpless women and children Of
Georgia:
The section of Georgia through which this army
has passed is literally stripped Of everything; what
little the rebels left has been absorbed by forces
witnessed a sight yesterday which l pray may
never witness again. l have seen death upon the
battle field in all of its most horrid FORMS have
seen whole platoons of brave men melt away before
iron storm of battle, but was never so wildly i'm
pressed with true realization of the horrors Of war
as was yesterday.
strolled far up winding ravine between two
range of hills When a considerable distance from
camp, came upon about twenty women, girls and
children huddled together partakers of each others
wretchedness among the bills in state Of starva-
ton. Close by was rude, newly made grave,
where one of their number had been laid in the
ground, who they said starved to death. Such q
group of misery | never saw before. No couch but
the ground, shelter but the ptless sky, and not
a morsel of food! l turned from the scene sick at
heart that could do nothing for them, and to think
that their lawful protectors just the hills
engaged in battle. Leaving the spot, sew wo-
man hurrying across the field wringing her hands
in a state of despair bordering on madness.