Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-04-08
THE EVENING STAR
SKETCHES OF SHERMAN ON HIS
GREAT MARCH.

1hH II IlN 1NO Oh AAts
skETCHEs OF sHERMAN ON HIS
GREAT MARCH.
from The "A ar Correspondent Of the CiRcin.
natl COMMERCIAL
THE BUMazRs OF TIE ARMY.
In order 10 systematize and more thoroughly
regulate the work o forasing for troops, a
deIan of sixty men TO division was made.
These men, under proper officers, were mount
ed. and were called by the boys "bummers Is
they became an institution in the army, and
the history OF their work is not the least i'm
portant part OF the labors of that army. Gov
ering me TANKS and front, and rear OF the army,
fney served, to a great extent, the purpose OF
cavalry They had had several skirmishes
with Hampton. and General sherman asserts
mat ne has never known them 70 De driven ~ IN III
oY the rebel horse. In some instances tney
have been in the advance, and il is matter OF
record that these bunmsrs actually captured
Midway, on the Charleston anu II HoHaad
with 1000 men of his army was carefully ad-
yancIng towards the road, expecting at every
moment TO meet the enemy. AS he was giving
directions to the officer in command, he noticed
one of these bummers mounted on dumpy
mule, with rope bride, and withouta saddle,
his m nle at every Jump with cudgel. .sStop,
stop" said the General; where are you
going?" Haven't got timer said the man, still
beating and squirting the mule. "Haven't got
time in a devil of hurry! The bummers of
me Sd Brigade have taken Midway, and I'm
after reinforcements"'
eteyille. Their work has been well done, and
done in this manner. Knowing about where
the command would encamp for the night,
they would be ready near that point with their
rations all divided out, each man having ten
piles for his regiment, one for each company.
The road at such points would be lined for
miles with these foragers and their piles Of
meat, potatoes, rice, meal, corn, dc. They
looked more like market-mea than soldiers.
The regiment, as they came to their place,
would halt, and each company divide out their
a.
ments, when the march was resumed
These bummers and their vehicles for trans
portation, following their divisions In their
march through the town. were the most anus
ing sight we ever saw. Mounted on mules,
horses, and oxen, with old saddles and brides,
followed by carriages OF every description
from gig TO carryall, drawn by mules,
horses, or oxen; carts and wagons Of every des-
cription; then the pack mules, and oxen, all
loaded with chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks.
bacon, ham. meal, rice, and everything the
country afforded, led by negroes, old and
young, male and female, all this otficered and
guarded by these bummers, was the occasion
OF many jokes and hearty laughs.
So efficient has this organization been, and Of
such great service and assistance to the caval-
~, that though General Hampton's cavalry
force greatly outnLmbers General Kilpatrick's
nearly three TO one, the rebels have neper been
Gbie to strike our cGgon trains, and, from Atlanta
10 Goldsboro', they have never captured even
one wagon.
GENERAL SHERMAN ORGANIZES oBUNMRRs"
FOR THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
by your readers. By this an fortunate accident
some 5000 people were lett without homes and
food. AS General Sherman was about to
leave, he was visited by the Mayor, who
wanted to know what was to become OF him
and those 5000 people dependent on him. AGO
10 your friend, General Hampton said Sher-
enemy" "Well them" the General told him,
"he must live off the country, as he had done'
',But," said his Honor, 'there is nothing LETT in
the country, and 1 can't see how these people
are to live WELL said the General if YOU
really want nay advice, 1 will giveit to you.
First, will tell you great secret. I'm not
that my foragers haven't touched yet. forbid
them going there, that the people might think
was saving that to live OF Of in nay march on
you aones o, Of tina,
do, but these people will resist as, and we
have no arm.s" 81 will give you arms" said
stand of arms to the Mayor, and thus organ
jzed for these chivalric South Carolinians q
company Of S'bummers."
This brute Sherman, whom they affect to de-
splse, teaches them their lesson of warfare.
He supplies them with arms with which to
"bum" The strong Cypress the weak. The
PIE throughout South Carolina have acted
more sycophantic than those Of any other State.
They have manifested q Willingness to kiss
the hand that was about to srnite them There
was not q secessionist to be found in all the
State. They always had been Union men.
AnsEnglish or French officer, one who never
soldiers in any but the neatest OF order would
laugh to see Sherman's army, and laugh still
heartier to hear 1t called an army. They are
the hottest troops ever marched through the
country. Scarcely soldier has an entire suit
OF blue. They are ragged and many bare
footed, Some have appropriated the finery Of
the Southern lords some you see with fine
high. hats, swallow tailed coats, tight-legged
ereecEes, and round.toed boots. Some have
the broad brimmed plantation hats and sheep
gray clothes, others have the rebel uniform
entire. Some wear their white shirts, others
have their WOODEN Some nave yards OF fne
carp cts for bedding, others have counterpanes
or quilts. Some carry their knapsacks, others
have nothing but their blankets. Some carry
their change Of clothing, others depend on the
country Tor that, and change at the first fine
house they come to. Some carry china dishes,
others tin.ware. The rebels would have us
believe that these men all have silver-war
TO eat from. but the boys say the "chivalry Of
the South all have bogus-ware, and darned
little of that"
The rebels claim that this army has destroyed
all their fine furniture Brussels carpets,
French mirrors, &c. The boys say they have
but very few Of these articles to destroy, and
that if they thought the people in South Caro-
them something from the North. The army
has suffered for clothing, &C., and in this re-
spect are badly off, 1t makes them appear ia
q worse condition than they are really in.
While the army was marching by General
Sherman, many laughable Incidents occurred
The Generals attention was called TO q soldier
marching by with a chair on his back; "Yes,p
said the Geenral, 81 see. but they can carry
what they please just so they carry enough am
munition 10 fight WITH.
An officer in the line, marching by in front
OF his company, carrying a basket on his
shoulder, was noticed by the General. There
said he, .'thats the way my officers live. 1t
don't look well on review, but then that's the
way they have to get along"
JoHNsToN's ARMY AND PosITIoN.-Nothing
has been undertaken by Johnston since the
battle of Bentonsville. His troops are partially
in the vicinity OF Smithfeld, on the railroad
from Goldsboro to Raleigh, and partially in
the vicinity Of Raleigh. Both Raleigh and
Weldon are being fortified. The rebels hard.
ly know which to expect, whether Sherman
will next move on Raleigh or Weldon. II he
should see 1T to 60 to Weldon he will undoubt-