The tri-weekly news. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1865-1876, 1865-04-27
lSorrespondenoe TsirWeeklys NeWs,] n
Letter from camden.
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April "a, 1868,

/
tatons of all, the enemy, after making
q retrograde movement on Manchester,
turned their heads in this direction, and
byrapid marches arrived at this place
on the evening of the 10Th, four force
being, too small to check them.) They
came by the Spring Hill road avoiding
our earth works. On the outskirts OF
the town they halted and while they
are waiting to communicate with the
Mayor, he having gone out on another
road, having information that they were
approaching in that direction; we will
take look at Gen. Potter who, with
his staf, rode at the front of the column.
ave viii give you description Of the man.
But not to waste much ink on It,
We must be as brief and modest as we can" !"
He is tall, and well proportioned,
wears beard and moustache very
black, ard is prepossessing both in APP
| pearance and manners.
His command was composed of two
white regiments in advance, with three
regiments of "corps de qftque !" these
troops comprising his entire force. The
Mayor coming up, and surrendering the
town, the order Forward was given,
and immediately the negro troops, struck
up the song of "Old John Brown" to
good time, but all the words we could
catch were something about Hanging
JEFF. DAVIS on a crab apple tree"
Marching about one square, they were
again halted, the black troops were or,
dered to file off to the right and left,
and camp on the green for theinight,-
they not being allowed to enter the
town. except in small parties After
they were disposed of the white troops
were marched through the Main Street.
singing "Home, Sweet Home" they
were halted at the Public Square, and
then camped. "
A guard of one hundred and fifty men
under the Provost Marshall was placed
upon the streets, for the protection of
the, citizens with orders not to allow
plpnderng, or any of the houses to be
entered. AS far as / have been able to
ascertain the order was fully carridEf but,
only orte vi two Instances ii its its violation
being reported, ---one Of which | will
give. Two or three Of the negro troops
entered the house of a citizen, threw
themselves upon the sofas in the draw
ing room, and asked the lady of the
house, "Where are the ladies that wait
upon your" She replied, "Ifyou have
reference to my negro servants, they are
in the yard" They said ''They did not
know what she meant by negroes" and
demanded that her servants should be
Immediately brought into the house.
This she refused to comply with and
hearing the tramp Of tho guard on the
pavement she called for assistance, twas
enough #
''They came like lions, &a2
But they fed like hare's!" at
The object Of the enemy was the CAP.
ture of the trains--.here being seven or
eight miles of rolling stock collected
there, but on the approach of the
ers the Superb by an order from
Gen. LEWIS. ran the trains down the
road to the Middleton Depot, eighteen
miles below Camden, hoping that Gen.
VouNe's forces would be up in time to
assist them in their defence. The enc.
my seemed quite uneasy while in town,
and marched out early on the. morning
of the l7tb, taking the road by Boykins
Mill, running parellel with the railroad,
sending one regiment down the railroad
to burn the culverts and bridges. Boy.
lins Mill is about eight miles from Cam.
den. Works being thrown up, and the
natural defences of the place gave every
hope that we would be able to repulse,
if not oaptureS the enemy. Gen. YoUNa
with another brigade had crossed the