Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-05-26

SHERxAS's FoRAGERs A letter from
Goldsboro', n C. dated March 90, says;
Shaggy outriders are beyond the woods.
ioraging far and wide for the camps, swoOp-
ing upon chicken and pig, and, possibly,
once in a while pausing at a farmhouse to
Look for silver spoon. A train of "bum-
mers''-by which name the mounted infant
~ of the army is contemptuously and Ineleg-
autly styled-passes by in procession, bear
ing cornucopias Of forage. The regular for
ager, however, is not the ''bummer." The
latter is kind of scout, with rowing com
mission to discover subsistence and to bring
in news-to 1--we, in short, a perfect free
shooter as long as he can be made available
for keeping the army in supplies. Ap
preaching Columbia, these shabby cavaliers
preceded the army like a swarm of locusts.
spreading out on every side, and bringIn
and driving into the military tolls all things
feasible. They searched houses from base
ment to garrett, and, too seldom, perhaps,
spared silver plate and jewelry Earth
could not hide secreted treasures from the
shrewd prod of their bayonets, and no land
lord or housewife was too cunning for their
cross examination and search-warrants In
a word, they transacted the ages and spoiled
the chimes, in the miniature scale OF the
Carolinas.
The deeds of some of these men are I'M
ouestionably blot upon the fair fame Of
the army but such conduct was, perhaps.
inseparable from the situation as it is from
war itself. South Carolina alone. and
especially the neIghborhood of Columbia,
was fated to endure the rigor OF their pecu-
liar scOurge. Beauregard found them
greatly too many tor him Telcgraphed to
hold Columbia, he despatched back to his
superior that he had not sufficient force 90
keep out even the enemy's ioragers
The principal occupation Of the army az
present Is foraGing. Besides the long wagon
trains which are despatched in search Of
provisions and grain, all around Goldsboro
hosts of irresponsible soldiers swarm the
country, and, like an army OF locusts, spare
nothing within their reach Mounted on
every kind of animals. from high-steppng
charger down TO the decrepit and dimInu-
tive donkey, these men travel fifty or Sky
miles day, going far beyond our lines. and
giving battle whenever attacked hy the enc
my's skirmishers. Lawlcss and reckless as
thew are, these 'bummers'' are Of great val
ne 70 q army.
intS bFiiS III iuucurt luahtlllt0 Oh pro
visions Frequently one man will be seen
seated upon his steed. and almost hidden
bv the bundles Of "fodder'' which be has
collected. Behind him Will he half d dozen
negroes mounted On horses, each laden with
chickens. turkeys, hams, or any other kind
of provisions which may have been handy,
and fodder. Sometimes there Is d buggy ia
The train, laden with all kinds of edihi.s
and this soldier started from camp certainly
with nothing more than his horse. it with
that All the extra animals. the negroes
and the provisions, are the result Of fogag-
ing. But, from present appearances. a
period Is likely to b put 10 thuse pr, datory
excursions Johnston has thrown bis -kir-
mlshers in heavy force around our front,
and by tins means many of the adveu;lr-
Gus spirits OF the army have fallen victim,
to their love Of rowing.