The tri-weekly news. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1865-1876, 1865-04-18
Nes, FOR THU, ,TRIssy EEK TX ;NEws. =
The late inyasion OF Fairasia DISTRICT
by Ehermau's Army h

by Shertnan'a Army.
AboittSthe 18th of February, imnSdi.
2atclysaffer the8fall ofsColumbis, S6er-
mans army entered the Southwestern
boundary of Fairfield. Sweeping over
it like ahurricsne Or tornado, carrying
destruction in its progress, leaving be:
hind il, smoking ruins, an insulted rob.
bed people, many Impoverished families,
and desolated homes, Long will the
lnhapltants remember the last ten days
rof February 1866, IA people are not
likely to forget the memorable period
when they were pillaged and pldndered
and perhaps burnt out. They can never
forget the day when their homes1u
which had been spent tl,elabor of "a life.
time, andwhere they had collected MANY
comforts and cherished "reminiscences
weressredhced toashes. With the ex-
cePtion of a narrow strip, in, the upper
part and q few, houses over Cedar
Creek near the line of, Richland-AaLe of
Fairfield has suffered. This plmdering,
pillaging, house.burning horde spread
out all over the country for a space of
forty or fifty miles, u exploring field and
forest, highlands and lowlands, old fields
new grounds, 'briar thickets and pine
thickets, broom grass fields, meadows,
gardells, orchards, and grave yards, I'm.
steade OF marching in heavy, columns
along the highway or in squads along
'by-paths or country roads, as Emany .e-.
foneously conceived they would do, they
extended out to the right and left ire.
spectlvely Of roads, taking one broad
sweep Of the count'ysdNo house how.
soever small, obscure or retired in its sit.
nation escaped their attention. The
cayalry. galloped up at full speed, dis
mounted, rushed into the house without
speaking to any one, or observing any
of the icivilities of civilized life, went up
stairs and down stairs, into garrets, cell
lars, parlors, closets family apartments
sleeping roo,ns,S breaking open boxes,
chests, drawers, bureaus, trunks, secre.
taries, desks, side boards, clothes presses
wardrobes, absttacting all desirable arti.
,cles, such as blankets and fine quilts,
which in many instances they, put on
their sore-backed horses, ladies' clothing
and3gentlemans clothing. and elegantly
wrought pillow oase:s oase:s which they they oonver.
ted, INTO -four bags, sometimes strewing
the contents Of bureaus and Of wardrobes
all over the floor and occasionally tear
ing fine silk dresses into shreds. All
decency aud civility were ignored. The
private apartments 'ofladies were uncere.
moniously entered, and rpmn,aged and
the ladies' themselves called by such
vile epithets as the Yankee vocabulary
contains. Earrings and finger.rings,
bracelets, breastpins, watches, medal,
lions aud other jewelry were 'rudely
TORN from their persons. and in, some
cases by the hands of their own negro,
men who were forced to do IL by pistols
and bayonets presented totheir breasts.
In one instance at least, The clothes in.
tended for an unborn infant We're taken.
Gold and silver aud ardent spirits were
the most coveted. 10 the scandal of
humanity be It recorded hat'monuments
and itombs were searched, graves inter.
rupted, ,sand collins disintered and broken
open in qnest of concealed treasures.
Horses and mules were driven off. Colts
and young horses that, could mot be.
caught and bridled were shot down.
Fairfield isstripped Of horses and mules,
with the exception ofa few here and
there which were run by the planters
and some broken down a sore-baeked
iemaciated animals ..leGs,By the invaders, J
there were no horses in the District 1m.
mediately subsequent to the departure.
of the Yankees. There Fare some now
collecting from the adjacent Districts,
Planters generally have next to no means
tofmaking q crop 80. far as, horse power
isiconcerned. II Menwho formerly made
'over2, 900 bushels of corn and 100 bales
,of cotton are nov in condition to do
little or nothing on their farms. A few
acres of corn perhaps are now planting
in partially prepared grounds by oxen.
feeble army horses and by hoes. The,
country for the time being paralized. In
tho abse,,ck &c cal Have l..,by,, az, go,