The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-10-24
a Precious nnonmanf.

The following letter was found in the street
of Columbia Immediately after the army o
Gen Sherman had left. The original is still
preserved and can be shown and substantiatet
if ANYBODY desires. We are indebted 10 {
distinguished lady Of this city for a copy, sen
with request for publication. We can ado
ument. 1t speaks for itself:
CAMP NEAR CAMDEN, S. c.
February 26, 1865.
I Mr. DEAR WEI have no time for par
ticulars. We have had glorious time in this
State Unrestricted license to burn and plum
der was the order of the day The chiyalry
have been stript OF most of their valuabes.-
Gold watches, silver pitchers, cups, spoons,
forks, etc, etc., are as common in camp as
blackberries. 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 fails to
the share of the commander-in and staff,
one fifth to the corps commander and staff,
oneffth to field officers of regiments and two
tifths to the company.
Officers are not allowed to Join in these ex-
petitions without Disgusting themselves as
priyates. One Of our corps commanders Dor
rowed 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. G., and was made to fork out lib
orally. 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 them
selves, subordinate officers and priyates keep
back everything that they can carry about
their persons, such as rings, earrings, breast
pins, etc, etc, Of which, if ever [ live to get
home, have about quart. | am not joking
i have at least quart of jewelry for you
and all the giIls-and some No. l diamond
rings and pins among them. General Sher-
man has silver and gold enough to start
bank. His share in gold watches and chains
alone, at Columbia, was two hundred and sew
enty-fve 1875
But said I could not 90 into particulars.
All the general officers and many besides,
have valuabIes of every description down to
embroidered ladies' pocket handkerchiels,
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 ut
terIy worthless.
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 and middle
States. The Id niggers as general rule,
prefer to stay at particularly after they
found out that we only wanted the able bodied
men, and 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 repaying the secessionists. But
the useless part of these we soon managed to
lose--some!imes in crossing rivers~sometimcs
by other ways.
1 shall write to you again from Wilmington,
Godsboro', or some place in North Carolina.
The order to march has arrived and [ must
close hurriedly. Love TO grandmother and
aunt Charlotte Take care Of yourself and the
children. Don't show this letter out Of the
family.
Your aflectionate husband,
,4,