The National tribune., 1900-05-17

DESCRIBED; Still, | cannot help but see VIVA
is going on. II seems no use for me to TAX
things hard and regret matters; / canno
restore things to their owners, or preyen
the doings of $4,000 men, so l have to wit
ness it and say this is War-when will /
cease?"
The boys still come in, bringing hams
baskets of eggs. butter, honey, all of whicl
they get in the grand grab game now going
on. Dinner is ready-ham and pancakes
We expect to move on to the town of Alstol
soon.
Monday evening. Feb. 2O.-Yesterday ay
We moved from the Ferry out the AlstoI
road four miles. and at o'clock drew off il
a field to camp; we rested an hour, during
which we had breakfast. We then started
back to the ferry without guns or knap
sacks.
We then commenced tearing up the rail
road. which runs from Charleston to Ais
ton and beyond; our brigade worked all the
afternoon and thoroughly ''chawed up si1
miles of track. Other brigades destroyed
as much. Arriving back to camp about
sundown, we had good supper and made
our beds of cotton. There were 48 bales in
a gin house nearby, worth at least S30,0O0
all of which was used for soldiers beds
and then burned. Such is the way the
army does things.
RICH FINDS OF SHERMAN'S BUMMERS.
One hears of many captures of gold and
silver watches. One fellow found in an old
ash barrel SIS in gold coins. None but
one of Sherman's bummers would ever
have found it in such place.
At the houseof a DR.. Wallace, who lives on
the next plantation to this, we passed the
barrel to-day, but no one suspected it con-
tanned anything of value. The first cap
ture to-day was rebel flag by member of
the 34th Ill. 1t was white, six feet by four,
with an embroidered palmetto tree in the
center: in one corner was single star, and
around all was a handsome border
Last night we received orders 10 lay up
surplus provisions for scarce times. All
wall tents were ordered 10 be destroyed,
and all officers to carry their own blankets.
a hand trunk for every four officers was
allowed and the rest thrown away. / had
a beautiful new patchwork quilt that | re-
GREETED 10 abandon.
Before starting this morning, which was
at daylight, l went up to the home of DIR.
Glenn, on whose plantation we We're stay
ing. | took the quilt with me, preferring
some one should have it, rather than see it
burned in camp.
The yard was surrounded by camps, and
the fields around were blazing with camp
fires. The house was a large two story
frame, with an extensive portico and fluted
columns, and everything about it indicated
wealth, taste and comfort.
1t was Just getting daylight, and lights
were burning in the rooms and hall. /
knocked at the door, and several women
came into the hall, as l could see through
the glass at the side of the door. After
several knockings a lady came to the door,
To chnyr than I had no aVil infant I
around to the back door, which was open.
The foremost of the ladies yentured to
bear my presence. She was a pleasant
looking lady, and her companions seemed
to be her neighbors, who had been burned
out and had come to her place to stay.
/ told the lady had brought quilt that
Some of our coiored boys had taken from a
house, and having no use for it, would
leave it with her rather than see it destroy
ed. She looked strangely, as if she feared
something wrong, but gradually gained
confidence, but hesitated to take it. saw
then that all the ladies Were almost scared
to death, as some of the troops had taken
things from the house. The barn, cotton
gin and all their outbuildings had been
burned, and they at first supposed had
come to burn the house. The lady Mrs.
Glenn supposed burst out with won't
you stay and protect u.s." Thanking her,
I told her it would give me pleasure to do so,
but we were moving and / could not stay.
She wished l could, and seemed much dis
tessed to know what to do.
By this time all the ladies were around,
and wanted to know if we would burn the
house. then told them what TO do; if sol
dlers come to not be afraid of them; that
they would not burn or steal in their pres
ence, but would generally do SO if they
found things deserted. | told them that
this burning and stealing was all against
orders, and the srictest orders were out
forbidding it; that l regretted the destruc-
ton OF property had seen, and for their
sakes hoped We would soon get through
their country. | received many thanks |
for my advice, and | hurried away.
We marched to-day four miles, and are
matted here at Little River. Our division |
Is In charge OF the corps train again, SO |
we will be in the rear and not get SO much |
forage.
The captures today have been great in |
meat, horses and mules. This evening a |
squad OF foragers came in, Lieutenant |
OF battery, Sergeant and five men. The
Lieutenant was dressed up in a bran new
rebel ColonelS uniform. 1t was a dark |
blue cloth coat, with three rows of silver |
buttons, each with palmetto tree on it: |
between the rows of buttons. across the |
breast. was silver lace, and about the collar |
and sleeves the same.
In addition, he had a splendid silver
mounted sword with belt OF heavy bucL- |
skin, which fastened with a palmetto
buckle. 1t was the finest sword | ever
saw. The men Of this squad were all |
ngged out with rebel clothing. some wear
ing big drag0on caps with tassels Be |
hind these fellows We're 26 captured |
negroes, all riding mules. These negroes
were sight Of themselves, all being ragged |
and as jolly as if out for "a spree. One
officer of our regiment has the detail for |
foraging OH the whole trip. 1t is hard and |
dangerous york sometimes. But those
selected prefer il 10 any other duty |
/ was thinking the other day, when at |
the Headquarters Of Gen. j. e.. Mitchell, |
how would like to bc 4 Bri@adier-Gencrai |
these days For instance: he rides at the |
head OF his command all day, and at night
draws OF into a pine forest when there
is water near; his Adjnt:iat-G GeneraI directs |
all troops 10 their campiug, grounds: his
lnspector-General details and posts ali the
pickets, and his PrcYost-Marshal brings
in the wagons. and with ProvoSt-GuarGis
and Orderiies puts up the tents and build
fires.
Soon there are six nice tents, and before
them huge log fire. The General occupies
captured rocking chair and toasts his feet
while reading blue and gilt edge book
some OF the boys have captured, and SO
enjoys himself until supper is ready.
Supper Is served in a special tent in The
rear, in which his Aids have spread camp
table with white linen tablecloth of South
Carolina capture, and covered with china
ware-all captured, spoons are STICKING,
in the sugar bowl, and then with chicken,