The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-08-29

ono speak and, turning around, she saw an
officer standing near. ey
Touching his hat respectfully, he said
"Will you be kind enough to tell me the namc
Of the soldier | have just left 2"
| l e. His name is Willis" answered Kate, briefly
"Do you know where he is from r' again
[nskcd the officer.
eyes, from Mississippi" replicd Kate, in
freezing tones, desiring to end all further ques-
tioning.
"The boys have been in somo mischief,
see," he said, looking around. "We find it
! impossible to prevent it, [ assure you. I re-
gret very much, that your house should have
been searched, and things done in this man
ner"
"Pray mako no apologics--we were fully
prepared for it. The example set by ;your
drovc General is only carried ont by his bravcr
subordinates You, suppose, will carry OF
some relic too,--a relic taken from the rebel
Generals house" Kate spoke bitterly, and
rapidly.
81 have never touched one article of value,
| never sought for relic to carry home
These relies for my family" said he, touch
ing his pistols.
Kate left him, and sough, her mother.
CHAPTER ".
The scene Of dcsolation and ruin WAS fear
full in L.. When tho railroad was torn up,
then began the burning OF the town. The
! unoccupied houses were first burned and then
4 Q,,, L.
manageable. Fires were bursting out in all di-
rections. Helpless women and frightened
children were turned out in the bitter Geld
night air, and not allowed to save even
blanket Madison square, Court House square
and College square, We're on fire at once. All
night loug the flames ragged everything with
in their reach was swept away. The old brick
Court House alone seemed to escape the dcs-
tructive element as it lcapcd from house to
house. A Yankee General seeing the old
thouse standing, so grim and dark, determined
7 to lot it share tho common fate He ordered
ten shells to- sbo placed in it, and ii to be then
fred. The firo burned slowly, but alas too
surely. A deafening roar shook the town, and
sent its echo far out into the surrounding forests
The Court House was blown to pieces, and lay
like some ruined, helpless giant, hidclas in its
prostration. The ruin Of L. was nearly com
plete only a few suburban residences were
left; and, doubtless, they, too, would be sacri-
feed before morning Sherman had carried
out his threat scarcely ia dog kennel" re-
mained in the town Ruin and woe. desola.
tion and misery, were seen on every hand.
The homes, so recently abodcs Of peace and
comfort, were now snaouldering piles of ashes
The helpless little ones left destitutc,-thc
wives made widowa,--will rise to sink the
"Arn,y Of the Cumberland" and it's Genera.
deep down III the pit of infamy.
And now let us return to Kate, the weeping.
heart-strickcn mourncr, who sits amid the desc
lation and ruin of her once lovely homo. The
fire he'd not passed over the "Ketreat." Gcue-
raj naymond's barns, gin houses and out-build-
ings were still to be burned; aud now, they
have commenced to burn them. a crowd Of
soldiers gathered about the residence, to sec
the frightened &ces of the mother and daugh-
ter, who had come out to watch the progress Of
the fro, and were standing on the piazza.
Mrs. Raymond was pale, and cold, stony look
had settled on her face A defiant light
flashed from Katc's eyes, as she stood watch
ing the fire.
When tho explosion took place in l., it
Jared the house, and caused shivcr to pass
through their frames-a lug light shot up,
and then passed away,-ded out. The burn
ing Of Il was fearful sight to Kate and her
mother. They could sec the tall flames, as
they curlcd up in mad fury, licking the dry
timbcrs with their fiery tongues then falling
back only to reach higher up A magnificent
panorama, for to the east and south, stretched
the camp-fircs Of the soldiers; while the burn
ing town lay toward the west and northwest s.
grand but awful looked that picture. Bitter,
heart breaking sobs shook Kate's frame ;--;,
prayer for vengeance rose to her lips,-"Oh
God, let justice follow and punish the crime
Of this army"
A coarse, rude jest reached her ear. She
remembered who were standing by her; and in
a moment; she turned off, drying her tears.
She would not let u Yankee sec her shed Il tear
The fire was still burning on the promises;
but all danger to the immediate buildings sur