Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-01-29
An Infamous Exposure--Process by which
the Union was Restored.

The following letter, says the Columbus Ga.
San and Times, was found in the streets of Co
lumbia Immediately after the army of Genera
Sherman had left. The original is still preserv
ed, and can be shown and substantiated, ifany
body desires. We can add nothing in the way
of comment on such document. Itspeaks fol-
ITSELF
CAMP NEAR CAMDEN, S. c., l.
30 February 26, 1865.
My Dear Wife I have no time for particulars
We have had glorious time in this State.
the order of the day. The chivalry have been
stripped ofmost of their valuables. Gold watches,
silver pitchers, cups, spoons, forks, &c, are as
common IN camp as blackberries. The terms
of plunder are as follows: The valuables pro-
cured are estimated by companies Each com
pany is required to exhibit the results of its
operations at any given place-one- fifth and
first choice falls to the share of the commander
in chief and staff one-ffth to the corps com
manders and staff, and oneffth to field officers
of regiments, and two-ffth to the company.
Officers are not allowed to join these expedi-
tions 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 a large quantity
of silver (among other things and old time milk
pitcher and very fine gold watch, from a
MIR. DeSaussure, at this place. DeSaussure is
one of the T. f. VS. of South Carolina, and was
made to fork over literally. Officers over the
rank of Captain are not made to put their plum
der in the estimate for general distribution This
is very unfair, and for that reason, in order to
protect themselves, subordinate officers and pri-
Yates keep back everything that they can carry
about their persons, such as rings, earrings,
breastpins, &C., of which, if l ever live to get
home, L have about quart. am not joking
Il have at least quart OF jewelry for you and
all the girls, and some No. diamond rings and
pins among them. General Sherman has silver
and gold enough to start bank His share in
gold watches and chains alone at Columbia was
two hundred and seventy-fve, (275.)
But | said [ could not go into particulars. All
the general officers, and many besides, had val
uables Of every description, down to embroider-
ed ladies' pocket -handkerchiefs. Il 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 1t, we
burned, as we considered it utterly 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 a 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 niggers by way Of
repaying secessionists. But the useless part of
them we soon manage to lose-sometimes in
crossing rivers sometimes by other ways.
| shall write to you again from Washington,
Goldsboro, or some other place in North Caro-
lima. The order to march has arrived, and |
must close hurriedly Love to grand mother
and Aunt Charlotte Take caye of yourself and
the children. Don't show this letter out of the
family
Your affectionate husband,
THOMAS J. MYERS,
Lieutenant, &c.
p 81 will send this by the first flag of truce
to be mailed, unless / have an opportunity of
sending it to Hilton Head Tell Sallie I am
saving a pearl bracelet and earrings for her !;
but Lambert got the necklace and breastpins of
the same set. [ am trying to trade him out of
them These were taken from the MissesJa Jami-
sons, daughters of the President of the South
Carolina Secession Convention. We found these
on oar trip through Georgia.
This letter was addressed to Mrs. Thomas
J. Myers, Boston, Massachusetts,