Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-12-04

ton. We can add nothing in the way of
comment on such document 1t speaks for
itself:
"CAMP NEAR CAMDEN, S. c.,
February 26, 1865.
SHY dear WItc:-I have no time for par
ticulars. We have had glorious time in this
State Unresisted license TO burn and plum
der was the order of the day. The chivalry
have been stript of most OF their valuables.
Gold watches, silver pitchers, cups, spoons,
forks, &C., &c, are as common in camp as
blackberries. The terms OF plumber are as
follows: The valuables are estimated by COM
panies. Each company is required TO exhibit
the results of its operation at any given place
one fifth and first choice falls 70 the share
of the commander-in chief and staff, one-lifth,
to the corps commander and staff, one-ffth to
field officers of regiments, aud two-ftths to
the company.
Officers are not allowed to join these ex-
petitions without Disgusting themselves as
privates. One of our corps commanders Dor
rowed suit of rough clothes from one of my
men, and was successful In this place. He
got u large quantity of silver (amOng other
things an old time silver milk pitclser) and
very fine gold watch, from u Dir. De Saus-
sure at this place. De Saussure is one of
the Il. +. VS.. of South Carolina, and was
made TO fork over literally. Officers over the
rank of captain are not made to put their
plumber in the estimate for general distribu-
ton. This is very unfair, and for that reas.
on, in order to save themselves, subordinate
officers and privates keep back everything
that they can carry about their persons, such
as rings, ear-riDgs breast-pins, ect., of which
if | ever live to get home, have about II
quart. am not jOkiDg-I have at least a
quart of jewelrys for you and all the girls
aud some No l, diamond rings and pins among
them Gen. Sherman has silver aud gold
enough to start a bank. His share in gold
watches and chains alone at Columbia, was
two hundred and seventy-fve, (2T5.)
But said could not go into particulars.
All the general officers and many besides, had
valuables of every description, down to la
dies embroidered pocket handkerchiefs q
have my share of them too) We took gold
and silver enough from the id rebels to
have redeemed their Internal currency twice
over. This (the currency whenever we came
across it. we burned as we considered it per-
fectly worthless.
II wish all the jewelry this army has could
be carried to the "Old Bay State" 1t would
deck her out in glorious style, but alas it
will be scattered all over the North aud Mid
die States. The id niggcrs. as a general
rule, prefer to stay at particularly af-
ter they found out that we only wanted the
able bodied men, (and tell you the truth, the
youngest aud best looking women.) Some
times we took off whole families aud plauta
tons of niggers, by way of repnying the Sc.
cessionists. But the useless part of these we
soon managed to lose-sometimes in crossing
rivers-sometiInes by other ways.
81 shall write to you again from Whining
ton, GoldsbOro, OF some place in North Caro-
lima The order to march has arrived, and
must close hurriedly. Love to Grandmo>
ther and Aunt Charlotte. Take care of your
self aud the children. Don't show this letter
out of the family.
Your affectionatc husband,
THOMAS j. MYERS,
Lieutenant etc.
'sP. 81 will send this by the first flag of
truce to be,mailed. unless have an opportu-.
nifty of sending it to Hilton Head. Tell
Sallie 1 am saving pearl bracelet and ear
rings for her. But Lambert got the necklace
and breastpin of the same set. Lam trying
to trade him out of them. These we're taken
from the Misses Jamisons, daughters of the
President Of the South Carolina Secession
Convention. We found these on our trip
through Georgia"
This letter was addressed to Mrs Thomas
j. Myers, Boston, Mass.