The National tribune., 1884-08-28
EORAGING.
An Interesting Trip After Rations in the Heart of
South Carolina.


South Carolina.
To THE EDITOR: During the last six months
have read good many accounts from COM
rades about the many different battles, in quite
a number of which l participated. Let me tell
of foraging trip that about 40 of us made
while on our march through South Carolina
On the morning after we reached the Catawba
River at Rocky Mount Ford, four from every
company were detailed, under command of a
Lieutenant, to go ahead foraging. We crossed
the pontoon bridge and took the road leading
towards Lancaster Courthouse which some of
our squad took on their own hook, and we did
not see them again for week. The greater
number remained with the Lieutenant, and
we stopped the FIRST night at plantation be-
longing to some rich planter. The fine brick
mansion had been burned, and the inmates
were stopping at the house of the overseer.
On the next morning we came to the home of
Col. MacIlwain, formerly Captain in the u. s..
Light Horse Dragons, but then a Colonel in
the rebel army. Here we found fine planta-
tion with nice buildings, but nearly every
thing gone except some sweet potatoes and a
little bacon; but we learned that all their
vaiuables, such as clothing and jcwelry, and
also their smoked meat, had been buried. About
noon we saw negro going across the land,
and, in order to bring him in, shot at him. He
soon came, and on being asked where the meat
was buried, said he had been absent when it
was done and did not know: but we did not
believe him and made him agree to show us.
He soon led the way into the woods and
showed US the spot, where we found a large
box put into the ground filled with hams and
shoulders, which we carried to the house.
There were with us couple of Winnebago
Indians, belonging to the 21st Wis, who had
found a large sack of cornmeal, wagon and
two necREyokes in the woods. We hitched
two yoke of cattle to the wagon, which we
loaded up with our provisions, and we pro-
ceeded on further to little mill about mile
from Lancaster Court-house Here we found
plenty of corn and some of the boys went to
work to put the mill in running order, Com
rade John King, of the 21st Wis, acting as
miller. We got all the negroes to work she'll
ing corn, and myself, being tailor, made a
number of sacks out of sheets brought to me
by some of the boys. The mill lground very
slow, being one of those one-horse concerns,
and we staid two days, during which time
| we got about 80 bushels of meal. Another
yoke of cattle was found and secured, making
three yokes. On the second day some of the
boys came back from scout and brought %
chickens and one goose, which were cleaned,
and being something of a cook, boiled them
in big soup kettle and baked Mrs. Goose in 8
bake kettle. Gen. Fitzpatrick was then at
Lancaster with his cavalry, and being ready
to proceed onward, sent us word to make for
our commands. In the morning our Lieuten-
ant had left us for the purpose of finding out
when our corps (the Fourteenth) would come
up and on which road. In the afternoon we
| held consultation with some of the mounted
foraging parties, who had come after us and
were also grinding corn, as to our remaining
over night, and they agreed to remain, but
afterwards changed their minds and left.
| then insisted on our also leaving and making
| our way towards the main road to Cheraw
where had learned that our corps was head
| ing for. Several of our squad were determined
/ to stay another night, as we had good time
| plenty to eat and dry place to sleep. Oul
/ Sergeant, who had been left in command, was
also inclined to stay, inasmuch as he expect
ed our Lieutenant back but pointed ont the
| probability of getting captured by Wheeler'E
cavalry, who were near Lancaster-only couple
of miles away. The question now arose which
way we should go, and as / had piece of
map of South Carolina, pointed out to the
| Sergeant the road for US to take to strike The
main road, on which our left wing was coming
| Just about dark we started with cur wagon
drawn by three yoke of cattle. with o rear
| guard. About IL o'clock at night we came Il
/ plantation, where we found some more o
| Sherman's bummers and we concluded to stol
| for the night and, after posting some picket
| down the road, the rest of us went to bed
| some i'll the house, some in the fence corners
others in the negro cabins. In the mornin,
we saw small house standing little way
| from the mansion, and found its occupant t.
be rebel soldier-a young man with yer,
pretty aud young-looking wife. She was th
daughter of the planter The rebel had beel
wounded in front of Petersburg, and was hom
on furlough. To show you that even sher
mans bummers respected the soldier who wa
manfully fighting US in front, will say tha
nothing had been disturbed about his littl
home; even his chickens were left untouched
] asked him and his pretty little wife if sh
would not cook US nice dinner and sprea'
| the table. She replied that they had yer,
little IN the house to cook good meal of.
had carried on my gun ham TO bring to m
own squad in the company, but went and go
| it, gave her some coffee, meal, sweet potatoes
sugar, ETC., and we had very enjoyable din
ner together, and when we left in the Afternoon
the young couple had much better idea Q
Sherman's Yankees. The next morning ou
division. commanded by Gen. Carlin, who ha
been delayed on account of the terribly ba
roads, came along, and we took our places i
our companies and our train joined the divis
ion train, we having been gone from the com
mand eight days. l should be glad to bea
from any comrade who was with me on thi
trip.-FRED REITZ, Co. ], 21st Wis, Neillsvill,
Wis.
CHICKASAW BAYOU.