The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-07-03
February 26, 1869.

February 26, 1863.
Ny dear Wife: l have no time fer
particulars. We have had q glorious
time in this State. Universal license 10
burn and rlpSder was rhe order OF the
day. TIE ehlvsiry have been stripped
Of most Of their ValuaO!es. Cold
watches, silver pitchers, cups, spoons,
forks, etc., etc., are as common in
camp IS black berriss? The terms Of
plunder are as follows: The valuables
procured we estimate by companies.
Each company is required to exhibit
the result Ct its operations at any given
place. One-ffth and first choice falls
to the share of the commander in. chief
and staff, one fifth to field officers Of
regiments, and three. ffths to the COM
pany. OfScers are not allowed to join
these expeditions without Disgusting
themselves as privates. One Of our
corps commanders borrowed suit Of
rough clothes from one Of ny men snd
was successful il this pla,e; he got q
large quantity Of silver, (snong other
things, an old time silver milk pitcher
and very fine gold watch ftom Mr..
DeSaussure at this place. DeSaussure
is one of the F. F. VS. Of South Caro-
lima, and vas made to fork ever lib,
orally. Officers OVER the ralk Of cap
tain are not made to put thar plu1der
in the estimate for general distribution.
This is very unfair, sRd for Il a: reason
in order TO protect themselves, sub.
ordinate officers and privates keep back
everything that they can carry sbous
their person, such IS rings, earrings,
breast pias, etc., Of which, if ever l
live to get home, | have about quart
lam not joking-I have st least Qusrt
of ieRelry for you and all the girls, and
some No. ! diamond rings and pins
among them. =,
Gen. Sherman has silver and gold
enough to start bank. His share in
gold watches and chains alone, at Co
iumbia, WAS tRo hundred snd seventy
Eve (275); but I said l could not 60 into
particulars. All the general officers and
many rri7stes had Vsluables Of every
description, even to ladies embroidered
pocket hsnderchiefs Z have my share
Of them too We took gold snd silver
enough from the ID rebels to have
redeemed their internal currency twice
over. This, (she cu,rency> whenever
we come across it We burn as We con-
slider it utterly worthless. I wish sll
the ieWelrY this amy has could be car
ried to the old Bay State, itwould deck
her out in glorious style, but alas! it
will be scattered all over the north and
middle States. The ID negroes as
arule prefer to stay st home, particu-
ls,ly after they found out that ne only
wanted the able. bcdied men, (ard to
tell you the truth, the youngess and
best looking WoreI). Sometimes We
take off whole families and plantations
Of Hegroes By way Of repayipg the Sc.
cessionists; but the useless part o.
these We soon manage TO lose-some-
times in crossing river5-sonetlnes II
ether ways. l shall write to you sgaln
from Wilmington, Goldsboro, or some
other place in North Csrolins. The
order 10 march has arrived sid I must
close hurriedly.
Love to grancm other and Aunt Char
lotte. Take cars Of youls:,f and the
children. Do Tot show this letter out
of the family.
Your afectioDate husband,
Thos. Q. Meyers, Lieut., etc
?. 81 will send this by fsg of
truce to be mailed unless l have a
chance ofsendiGgit TO Hilton Head.
Tell Sadie am saving pearl bracelet
and earnings fer her; but Lambert go;
the necklace and breast pin Of the same
set. l an sryirg to trade him cut o!
them. these were taken from the
Misses Jamison, daughters Of the pre-
sideat Of the South CaEolics secession
convention. We found them on ouI
trip through Georgis.