New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-10-13
A Precious Document.
From the Columbus o., sun and rimss.1

From the Columbus tGaJ Sun and Times.I
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 substantated, if anybody
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. It speaks for
itself:
CAxr NEAR CANDIES, s. c.,
February 26 1866.
Ny Dear Wife--I have no time for particulars.
We have had glorious time in this State. Unre
strcted license to burn and plunder was the order
of the day. The chivalry have been stript Of most
Of their valuables. Gold Watches silver pitchers,
cups, spoons, forks, ETC.. ETC., are as common in
camp as blackberries. The terms Of plunder are
as follows: The valnables procured are estimated
by companies. Each comDsny is required to ex-
hlbit the results of its operations at any given
place -one-ffth and first choice falls to the share
OF the eommander-in-chief and staff one-ffth to
the corps commander and staff, one-ffth to field
officers of regiments, and two-ffThs to the com
pany.
Officers are not allowed to join in these expedi
tons without Disgusting themselves as privates.
One OF our corps commanders borrowed a suit of
rough clothes from one Of my men, and was sue
cesstul in this place. He got large quantity of
silver. (among other things an old time silver
milk pitcher and very fine gold watch, from a
br. DE Saussure at this place. De Saassure is one
of the F. F. V.'s 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 privates keep back eve
rything that they can carry about their persons,
such az rings, earrings, breastpins ETC., etc. of
which, if everliv TO get home, have about q
quart. am not jokiBg-I have at least quart Of
1eweiry for you and all the girls--and some No. l
diamond rings and pins among them. General
Sherman has silver and gold. enough to start a
bank. His share ingold watches and chains alone
al
| (275)
| But l said l could not 90 into particulars
Ali the general officers and many besides have
Vaiua6les of every dissertation down to embroid
| cred ladies' pocket handkerchiefs (I have nv
share of themto.} We took gold and silver enough
| from the id rebels to have redeemed their in
fernal currency twice over. This (the currency
whenever We came across it, we burned, as We
considered it utterly worthless
wish all the jewelry this army has could be
carried TO the sold Bay State" 1t would decI
her out in glorious style but alas 1t will gbe
scattered all the North and middle States
he ID niggers, as a general rule, prefer tt
stay at home-particulaty after they found ou
that we only wanted the able bodied men (and tt
I.teIlyou the truth. the youngest and best lo6kins
women') Sometimes we took off whole famiIiei
and plantations OF: niggers, by way of4repayins
the secessonist. But the useless part ofthese wt
soon managed to lose-sOmetimes in crossing
rivers sometimes by other ways.
| shall write TO you again from Wilmington
Goldshoro', Or some place in North Carolina. The
order to march has arrived and must close hur
rledly. Love to grandmother and Aunt Charlotte
Take care of yourself and the children Dom
show this letter out of the familys
Your sfectioHate husband
THOMAS ]. MYERS, Lieutenant etc
Y. ST. Will SEND this by the first flag Of truce
to be mailed, unless | haye. an opportunity 0
sending it Hilton Head. Tell Sallie / am say
ing a pearl bracelet and ear rings for her Blu
Lambert gotThe necklace and breastpin Of tn
same set ! am trying to trade him out of them
These were taken from the Misses Jamison daugh
ters Of the president of the South Carolina seoes
son Convention. We found these on our tr
/ through Georgia.
This letter was addressed to "Mrs. Thos. j
Myers, Boston, Mass