Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1866-10-20
A PRECIOUS DOCUMENT.

The following ietterawas found in tb'
the streets OF Columbia Immediately afteJ
the army of general Sherman had left
The original is still preserved and car
be shown and substanriated, if anybody
desires. We are indebted to q distin
guished lady Of this city for a copy, sen
with q request for publication. We Car
add nothing in the way Of comment or
such q document. 1t speaks for itself
CAHp NEAR CAMDEN, s. G,,1
February Is, 1865.
NJ DEAR WIFE-I have no time 70,
particulars. We have had a glorious
time 10 this State. Unrestricted license
to burn and to plumber was the order oil
day. The cbivalry have been stript oil
most Of their ~valuables. Gold watches,
silver pitchers, cups, spoons, forks, etc.
etc, are as common in camp as blackber.
ries. The terms of p'under are as fol
follows The valuables procured are es
timated by companies. Each company
il required to exhibit the results of its
operations at any given place-one.ffth
and first choice falls to the share Of the
comsnander-in chief and staff, one fifth to
the corps commander and staff, and two
6fths TO the company
Officers are not allowed to join 10
in these expeditions without Disgusting
themselves as privates. One Of our corps
commanders borrowed /. suit Of rough
clothes from n of my men, and was
successful in this place. He got a large
quantity of silver, (among other things
az old time silver milk pitcher. J and u
very fine gold watch from a Mr.. De
S~aussurs at this place. De Saussure is
one of the F. F. US. of S. G., and was
made to fork ont literally. Officers
above the rank Of captain are not made
to put their plpnder ID the estimate for
general distribution. This is very I'M
fair, and for that reason, in order to pro
tect themselves, subordinate officers and
prisates keep back everything that they
can carry about their persons, such as
rings. ear rings, breast-pins, etc, etc, of
which, if lever live to get home, | haye
about a quart. am not joEng-Ih have
at least a quart of jewelry fer you and
all tue girls-and some No. | diamond
rings aud pins among them. General
Sherman has gold and silver< enough to
start 9 bauk. His share in gold watches
and chains alone, at Columbia. was two
hundred and s~eyenty-6ve (2T5)
But said | could not go iato particu-
lars. All the general officers and many
besides, have valuables of every des
cription down to ladies' embroidered
pocHet handkefehiefs Il have my share
them too.) We took gold and silver
enough from the id rebels to have re.
deemed their internal currency twice
over. This (the currency whenever we
across it, We burned, as we consid-
cred it utterly worthless.
! wish all the lewelry this rmy has
be carried to the "Old Bay State
1t would deck her out in glorious style
but alas f! 1t will be scattered all over
he North and middle States. The id
n'ggeFs, as o general rule, prefer to stay
home-particularly after they found
,ut that we wanted only able-bodied men,
and to tell you the truth, the youngest
and best looking women.) Sometimes
took Oft whole families and pIanta
of aiggers, by way of repaylng Sc
But the useles part of these
We soon managed to lase--sometimes in
no ssing rivers--sometimes 10 other ways.
shall write to You again from Will
o'ngton, Go'dsboro', or some place in
Carolina. The order to march has !
rived, and must close hurridly. Love
Q grandmother and aunt Charlotte. Take I
are OF Yourself aud the children. Don't (
now this letter out of the family. c
Your affeetionate husband, {
InoaAs J. MYERs, Lieutenant. etc. |
/. 81 will send this BY first flag Of b
ruce, to be mailed, unless [ have an 90 +
ortunity of sending it to Hilton Head. i
ell sal!ie am saving a pearl bracelet t
earrings for her. But Lambert got )
le necklace and breast pin Of the same n
am trying to trade him out OF a
These were taken from the Misses I
amIson, daughters of tho president of y
le South Carolina Secession Convention
'e found these on our trip through v
eorgia. Il
This letter was addressed to MRS. 7. A
Myers, Boston, Mass.
Columbus Ga San and Times.