The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-11-06
HORSE TRADING,
And How Shcrman's Bummers Conducted the Blu.
mess.


incss.
To THE EDITOR: Having looked in vain for
something from that numerous class of boys
white as well as cOlored) who fell in with
Gen. Shernans army while on his march
from Atlanta to the sea, and having seen
nothing, l thought would venture a few
lines myself / was Is years old when on
the morning of March 3. 1865, / left my
adopted home (about 80 miles west of Cheraw,
S. c. on horseback to 60 to Massey's Mill
on Lynche's River. On my way back, in turn
ing at short bend in the road, / suddenly
came upon the fOraging details of the Sd Wis.
and I'd Mass in command Of Capt. Haskins
and Lieut.. Thompson. was soon confronted
by Geo. Pease, who, with military-like move
of the hand, assisted me from my horse and
very soon Lieut.. Thompson was bestride my
uncie's faithful beast This was my first intro
ductiOn to the Yankee boys, and have always
thought it was rather abrupt and without cere-
mony. After considering the situation for a
moment l started for home on foot, aud the
boys started on in the same direction. One Of
them inquired of me if there were any large
plantations near by, and upon answering him
in the negative he Threatened to shoot me,
whereupon large good-natured looking fellow
told him to "leave the boy alOne,' and then
asked me if did not wish to go with them. I
informed him that if he would see that had
something to eat and wear l would 60. He
said there would be no trouble about that, and
then told me to mount mule, upon which was
sidesaddle. mounted the mule, and rode on
with my newly made friend, Andy Warner, who
shortly informed Capt. Haskins of my desire
to 60 with them. and on arriving at the little
village of Taxahaw, the Captain asked me my
name, etc, and kindly informed me if wished
to 60 could do SO. / then and there became
one of Sherman's bummers," and the boys told
ME soon afterwards that was one of the worst
in Ea Satai1 loovino To abaVv fnnly
the back track for the mill, where l had been
in the morning. l now felt quite well satisfied
, with myself and the surroundings as most all
boys do on starting out to see something of the
world, with the exception that l was not ex-
actly satisfied with the horse trade which had
been made with me, but consOled myself with
the idea that perhaps / might soon have an
opportunity of trading with some one else
which did, with the Captains assistance, the
trade being made before night with one of my
schOOl-fellows of the neighbOrhood, and very
much after the same manner in which it had been
made with me, but my friend was SO dissatis-
fed with it that he did not take the mule after
had abandoned him to take possession of his
horse. This fellow, with another, supposed to
have been rebel deserter,w was captured earlyin
the morning in swamp, with several mules and
horses. Night was now coming on, and the
Captain Il suppose) concluding that he had no
further use for the boy, turned about in his
saddle, ordered the boy to diSInount, and then
ordered NE to take his horse, which did, but
somewhat reluctantly, as the business was yet
rather new to me. When / had mounted we
resumed our journey, and OH looking back 1
saw my school-fellow making his way across
the fields towards his home on foot; that was
the last / saw of him until, seven years ago, /
went back to South Carolina on a visit, when l
met him. He did not greet me with smile
nor a hearty shake Of the hand; but, instead
he pronounced blessing upon the Yankees
which / considered was chiefly intended for
me. l rode his horse through to Goldsborough,
N. c., where it was ordered that all horses be-
longing to foragers should be turned over to
the Quartermaster's Department, except those
unfit for service which should be killed;
whereupon considered my faithful little ami
mails back too small and weak for Uncle Sans
broad proportions to ride upon, and led him far
out into the pine forest and turned him loose.
Ispent the most of my time with the foragers
until the collapse of the Confederacy, after
which time / was with the Sd Wis. until its
disarmament at Madison, Wis.,, Aug. 3, 1866.
If this should meet the eyes of any of the
Carolina boys who came away with the boys
in blue, any members Of the brave old Sd,
especially of Co. K l would be pleased to hear
from them.-GEo. F. UsRY, Des Moines, Iowa.