Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-02-21
Inconsistency and Treache -Merited
RetributiOn.

Inconsistency and neutrality-suspicious.
RetributiOn.
We recently learned the particulars of
remarkable case of Inconsistency, treach-
eryand ingratitude from gentleman who
was living in South Carolina during the
late war, which will no doubt prove inter-
esting to our readers. It will also serve
to illustrate the truth of the declaration of
an inspired writer, .Thy sin will find thee
out"
The citizens of the Southern States, and
especially Of Georgia and South Carolina,
who were SO unfortunate as to live in those
sections through which General Sherman
marched with his army, will never forget
the barbarities and atrocities committed by
an unrestrained and brutal soldiery, whose
sole aim seemed to be to wontonly destroy
everything that they could not consume or
carry with them, and if possible to leave
the people, mostly helpless women and
children, without the means Of subsistence
often melting the negroes to the COM
mission of barbarities and crimes too mon
strous to mention. All the negro men,
who were capable of bearing arms, were
put into the army, and the negro women
and children, who could travel, followed
in the wake of the army, subsisting upon
the scanty supplies left by the soldiers, and
enduring much suffering. Thousands of
these deluded creatures died during the
march, from disease, neglect and starva-
ton. Many servants, however, remained
with their masters, ard shared their mis-
fortunes and sufferings, rather than 90
with their iberators.. Many of these lat
ter to their honor be it spoken, remained
faithful to the end, enjoy the appreciation
and goodwill of their former masters. and
and have, as reward for their constancv
and integrity, comfortable homes.
But to our story. A widow lady, who
had no children, living in Columbia, S. c.,
had number of servants, among whom
was a sprightly girl, whose name shall be
Sallie. She was her favorite, and she had
taught her to read and write fuently: and
she treated Sallie as tenderly as if she were
her daughter, She was ever with her; wal
ted npon her constantly; read the newspa-
pezs tor her mistress; and, in fact, was
her conidant in all matters She handled
her mistress money, carried her keys, and
knew the most sacred secrets of her heart.
and counselled with her about her private
affairs generally. In fact, the tenderest
affection and the most unbounded conf
dence' seemed to exist between the widow
and her servant girl.
Sherman's army had marched through
Georgia, from Atlanta to Savannah. and
the e.3 intelligence that they were destroying
everything and sacking and burning
the towns and robbing the people of their
spoons, gold and silver plate, watches,
Jewelry, and ladies' and childrcn's cloth
ing, DC created CONSERVATION among the
people; and everybody was anxious, if pos
slble, TO save what they could from the
vandals. Such articles, therefore, as could
be concealed were hid in the ground Or
other secret places.
The widow lady named had, among 9th
er things which she was anxious to save
fine gold watch which she priced highly
as, a keepsake from her deceased husband
some Jewelry, and small sum IN gold
com. Z The invaders were approaching the
city, and no time was to be lost. She ac-
cordingly went to her private chamber
and ,counselled with Sallie as to the safest
and most certain mode Of concealing the
articles named. 1t was agreed that it
would not be prudent to hide them any,
where about the house, for that might be
burned; or, the searchers after .sbooty''
might find it, if so concealed. Late at
night, when all was. quiet ana no human
eye could see them, they determind to bu-
~ the treasure in the garded attached to
the widows premises, in such manner as
MOTTO create suspicion, and thus elude
thelsearch of the pillagers They spaded
up a whole bed and buried it there. and
the widow and her faithful servant were
theonly living beings who knew the spot
where the treasure was deposited At
midnight they returned to their chamber.
(Saille slept in the same room with her
mistress, } and the two retired. Sallic
soon fell asleep. The widow, however,