The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-10-24
a Precious Document.
From the Columbus Ca Sun and Times

| From the Columbus ia. Sun and Times. j
The following letter was found in the
streets OF Columbia Immediately after the
army Of General Sherman had left. The
original is still preserved and can be shown
and substantiated, ifanybody desires. We
are indebted to distinguished lady Of this
city for copy, sent with request for
publication. We can add nothing in the
way Of comment on such document. 1t
speaks for itself;
CAMP NEAR CAMDEN, s. c.,
s February Is, 1865.
Nh Dear Wife--I have no time for
particulars. We have had glorious time
in this State. Unrestricted license to burn
and plumber was the order Of the day. The
chivalry have been stript Of most Of their
valuabies Gold watches, silver pitchers,
cups, spoons, forks, etc, etc, are as COM
mon IN camp as. blackbersies The terms
of plumber are as follows: The valuables
procured are estimated by companies,
Each company is required to exhibit the
results of its operations at any given place
-one-ffth and first choice falls to the share
of the commander-in-chief and staff, one
fifth to field. officers Of regiments, and two
tifths to the company.
Officers are not allowed to join in these
expeditions without Disgusting themselves
as privates. One of our corps commanders
borrowed a suit of rough clothes from one
of my men, and was successful in this place.
He got large quantity Of silver, (among
other things an old time silver milk pitcher,)
and very fine gold watch, from Mr.. De
Saussure at this place. De Saussure is
one of the F. F. VS. of S. c., and was
made to fork out literally. Officers over
the rank Of captain are not made to put
their plumber in the estimate for general
distribution. This is very unfair, and for
that reason, in order to protect themselves,
subordinate officers and priyates keep back
everything that they can carry about their
persons, such as rings, earrings, breast
pins, etc, etc, Of which, i'll eyer live to
get home, | have abouta quart. I am not
joking-I have at least a quart of jewelry
| for you aud all the girls land some No. l
diamond rings and pins among them. Gen,
eral Sherman has silver and gold enough
to start bank. His share in gold watches
and chains alone, at Columbia, was two
hundred and seyenty-fve (275.)
But Isaid | could not 60 into particulars.
EAll the general officers and many besides,
have yaluables ofevery description down to
embroidered ladies' pocket handkerchiefs
Il have my share of them toy 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 con
sidered it utterly worthless.
wish all the jewelrythis army has could
be carried to the sold Bay State It
would deck her out in glorious style but
alas It will be scattered all over the
North and middle States. The id mig
gers, as general rule, prefer to stay at
home particularly after they found out
that we only wanted the able,bodied men,
| land to tell you the truth, the youngest and
best looking women.) Sometimes we took
off whole families and plantations of mig
gers, by way of repayins the secessionist.
But the useless part of these we soon
managed to sometimes in crossing
rivers sometimes by other ways.
lshall writeto you again from Whining
ton, Goldsbore', or scme place in North
| Carolina The order to march has arrived,
and Unjust close hurriedly. Love to grand
mother and Aunt Charlotte. Take care of
yourself and the children. Don't show this
letter out Of the family.
Your afectionate husband,
~ THOMAS j. MYERS, Lieutenant, etc.
PSI will send this by the first flag
Of truce to be mailed, unless I have an. OPP
portunity Of sending it to Hilton Head.
Tell Sallie I am saving a pearl bracelet and
earrings for her. But Lambert got the
necklace and breastpin of the same set. /
am trying to trade him out ofthem. These
were taken from the Misses Jamison, daugh-
tiers ofthe president Of the South Carolina
Secession Convention. We found these
on our trip through Georgia.
This letter was addressed to Mrs. Thos.
j. Myers, Boston, Mass. ,5t59 sy
CHANGES IN THE HABITS OF THE SouTH-
ERIN PEOPLE. The Richmond (ya.) Times
thus comments upon the changes for the
better wrought among the Southern people
by the ordeal they have passed through:
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