Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1865-02-15
correspondence of tn. South Carolinian-]

Macon, January 1F.-Having Travelled over .
mar. of the section Of the, country through which
General Sherman passed from Atlantis to Savannah,
thought would give you brief account OF the
effect produced upon it and also give . statement
"a to the method of travel to the West by way OF
Macon. One in passing throug the district through
which Sherman's route was, is at once struck with
the fact Of the great exaggeratous in reference to
the destruction of property BY tho enemy. In fact
with the exception of few burnt houses and bad
roads, there are no other visible signs of hostile
army ever having passed through the country.
Mills, factories and gin-houses were spared, and
but few dwellings burnt It is true, tia: some OF
allege that it was done by struggling parties, Nor
did I meet one person who thought that any COM
handing officer was party to the arson. But to
the contrary, every citizen who asked, on the ap.
proach of the army, for protection, was furnished
with guard. Neither did the enemy destroy all
the provisions in the country but left plenty for
. years subsistence. I heard of no man in dis
lance Of some forty miles who had everything taken
from him. 1t is true, they helped themselves to
horses, mules and provisions as they needed them,
taking away large number of hogs and kline, but
in no instance was family left destitute and totally
in wants But faw negroes were taken OF compare
lively, and but few Of these werc compelled to go
some of which have been permitted to return, and
so loose were they in their discipline that many
have run away and returned to their masters. The
above statement accords with what have heard in
reference to other sections Of the country through
which Sherman passed. Indeed l have heard per-
who were living in tho neighborhood of Allan.
ia, and even between Dalton and Atlanta state they
were much surprised at the small extent of injury
they had sustained at the hands of the enemy. In
connection with this statement, and what daily
hear from Savannah is it not reasonable to suppose
that Sherman has inaugurated new polcy-that
- 80 To- %hos,,h oo
to the Union? If not so, it is certainly great re-
lief to have an enemy who is SO different to many
others, who is possessed Ofmanness generosity and
humanity, nsomuch ~ to respect the helplessness
Of those in his power. and to extend such protect
ion to suffering humanity IS to prevent total dest
tuition. Another fact it may be worth the while to
state, which ID, upon inquiry / found no one who
heard General Sherman or any other high official
say, "that in Georgia he could restrain his men,
!, but in South Carolina be could nor would" 1t is
true, this remark was made frequently, but always
by the common soldiery and a few captains, who
were if possible little meaner than the straggers
who did the injury to dwellings, DC. l am forced
to the conviction that even if South Carolina is
so unfortunate to be overrun by the enemy, that
Sherman and his commanding officers will show the
same leniency as hi, did in in Georgia And if he
fails to create Union feeling in the country-f by
his present course it is his object to- and in which be
has failed in Georgia-stlll DO not believe the peo-
pie of South Carolina need apprehend any more
damage to them by the enemy, than what the citi-
zens of Georgia have already suffered.
There are several routes between the Georgia
Railroad and Macon. One is to leave the train at
Camak, and pass via May field Sparta and Milledge.
vile and Gordon, where you take the railroad on
to Macon. The distance from Camak to Gordon Is
fifty-two miles. This route is travelled by Govern
ment wagons and the mail, and the roads are in =
wretched condition. Another route is to take the
Georgia Railroad as far as Greensboro, from whence
you proceed via Eatonton and Clinton to Macon, a
distance of sixty.two miles. On this route the
roads better, and fewer passengers travel it.
means of conveyance is easier obtained. The rate
of travel is enormous, costing from $3.50 to $780,
The latter route is the one travelled and in passing
through the country, found the people kind and
hospitabe, with plenty to eat and never refusing to
accommodate you, (although the Yankees have
given them . call) and charging too very moderate:
~ for what you consume. Indeed we were treated
with great kindness, for in passing houses we had
molasses candy, cakes, wine spare-rbs, bones
ham and sausages sent us. But for all these good
things we were indebted to Mrs. Perry Duncan. in
whose company, We were extremely fortunate to
| The people soon found out who she was, for the
| knowledge Of her kindness to the soldiers of Vir
ginia and the West had preceded her. and soon Is
she was known they could not do too much for her
and that, too, at a time when kindness was need
&c. have no doubt that if it had not have been
for her, would have had great deal to have writ
ten of the hardships of the trip whereas it proved
| apleasure
| The report is believed here that a portion Of
Hoods army is route for South, Carolina.
PERUVIAN.