Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-10-01
A WAR RELIC.
An Interesting Letter from a Charleston
Sufferer.

An Interesting Letter from a Charleston
Sufferer.
In the latter part of the year 1854 George
Stoneman, our Governor, was a prisoner of
war confined in Mily Prison at Charleston,
S. G. AT the time of his capture, his money
and valuables, together with those of his
soldiers, were taken by their captors. Con-
siderable correspondence took place before
they were able to secure their personal
property. Maior-General Stoneman wrote
several letters to Captain William j. Gayer,
Confederate c~ommandant, who, 1t seems, at
all times treated the prisoners under his
consistent with his position. He is at this
time a distinguished attorney-at-law in the
city of Charleston, and one of the sufferers
from the late terrible earthquake.
A few days ago Governor Stoneman was
surprised on the receipt of the following
letter from Captain Gayer, which is self
Explanatory
CHARLESTON, September 10, 1886.
DEAR GENERAL: Going into my ruined library,
on Wednesday last, among the papers which
were scattered over the floor, l found the IN
closed note, written to me by you very nearly
twenty two years ago. That is a long time and
1t is very probable that you do not remember
me. l thought, however, that would send
to you as it may perhaps remind you mot IN
pleasantly l hope) of some you met in Charles
ton long, long years ago.
l cannot depict the horrors of the terrible yisi-
tatlon which has come upon us. The most ylvld
Imagination cannot exaggerate the appalling
nature of the calamity which has oyertaken US.
The press of the country has given. as ful re-
ports as it is possible for them to do, but there IS
much that as yet is unknown and unseen, ana
time only can develop the real and true condl-
ton of our fated city. Since 1860 it has been the
scene of disaster, trouble and calamity, almost
continuously. War, conflagration, vermin,
storms, floods. and now this last f1ghtful vista
ton has almost unnerved the stoutest OF us. My
residence was rendered untenatable by the first
shock. my family seeking fancied safety In the
rear of my lot, where they remained for several
days and nights on the earth under such slender
shelter as our blankets and household effects
would afford. They are now refugeelng with
some of our kind and more fortunate friends a
few miles distant from the city.
My office, which was in the old United States
Courthouse, is buried beneath a pile of debris
nearly twenty feet in depth, the entire building
have ordered the ruins removed. My chief OBJ
ject now is to get my house water-tight, so that
my family may have shelter from the winds and
rain of the approaching winter. The outlook TO
the poor of Charleston presents trials which APP
pear almost insurmountable.
thank God that our lives were spared: all
else seems insignificant. My good old mother,
now 70 years of age, displayed, great tortitude
dtilHS tHS ~ ing PcAAou, thSiSDy ASiASNih6 IA
anXiety on her account.
You viii pardon me for thus trespassing upon
your time, patience and privacy The finding
of your note induced me to write to you. | am
very truly and respectfully your obedient SER
want, wv. J. GAYER,
81 Meeting street, Charleston, S. C.
The note referred to in the above letter is
written upon q single sheet of blue letter
paper, and is in a remarkable good state of
preservation. 1t reads as follows;
MILY PRISON, S. c., ~September20, 1864.
Captain Vim. J. Gdyer, Prouost Marshdl-MY
DEAR SIR; Your favor of the LIST inst. was
handed me yesterday evening. 1 regret its de-
lay, as it prevented me for thanking you for
your kind offer therein contained. Your success
in obtaining for us our funds from Macon, and
for which you have our thanks. obviated the
necessity for my calling upon you for money.
l am very truly, etc., GEORGE SLOVENIAN,
M~aior-General. prisoner of war.