The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1901-07-05
!. VOL Z XVI
! WORK n o. V.ANDALS.
IF' Raid lIl,I 1 ofII ;sherman's Army Told ~
One Of Thorn.
|, oR;.0E q! OF THIEVES.

ite III ffsttGtl
a HORDE or THIEVES.
s Letter Written by a L'eu,enans
81 just After Burning Of Go.
lumbla oorrobora,ivo Of
Charges Made.
n 10 tho Editor Of The State:
Below will be found copy Of the
{ original letter written by First Lieu.
s tenant Thos, Q. Meyers, Of Gen. Shcr-
mans army Whioh counter. marched to
4 roach tho goal Of tho Secession State"
Il which ho only did after bombarding tho
,S}scspitol frc IN tho heights. Of Lexington
county, which are in plain Wow fro il
tho high points Of this city, lying "juat
across tho river" Upon thcao clay hills
were planted tho batteries, the shells Of
Swhach SCARED the capitol, then in
q course :of construction, and sounded the
L death knoll, as it wore, to tho fair city
Il on the Oorgaree. This lottor puts the
\ cause Of tho buripg Of Columbia whore
alt properly belongs, and places tho
responsibility upon Gen. Sherman and
his sub offiotr,, who wero disguised as
\ privates," and did the looting"
Z. II This connection may say that this
communication carries out tho idoa, SO
h foroeably advanced roccntlY, by Prof
Spahr and Col. j. G. GibboB, who have
j translated anu wriCton up on lho SUBJ
4 joot.
Though tho letter alluded to is from
husband to wife, and sont ''by flag Of
truce, trust botray no confidence,
as the letter was picked up by an OLD
southern ''niggor," and carried to her
"Missua," to know if ii wss Of value.
1t is by reason Of great courtesy that
! have o copy OF this lotter, saved from
tho ashes Of Jacksonville, and per foroe,
is ola private nature. There ARC thou-
SANDS who have novor hoard anything
upon the subject; 50 with gracious per-
{ mission, am permitted to give this
information which evory truo aympa
thizer of 8 "lost cause" will no doubt,
Il appreciate. Tho information is from
/. private Journals; so tho printing, for
sale, Of this article is strictly enjoined
e and all copyrights reserved. For OBJ
81
in tho papers sent.
Robert S. Sparkman.
Juno az, 1901.
Il February 26, 1865.
Ny dear Wife: | have no timo for
rs particulars, We havc had a glorious
y time in this State. Universal license to
i. burn and rlundor .waB tho order OF tho
'Ssday. Tho ohivalry have boon stripped
$of most Of thoir valuablos. Gold
,Iyyatobas,s Liver. nitqhera, oups, spoons.s
81 SSSsr AK q t,sS et 9. !, I are v aS common liz;
lamp aB black borries? The terms Of
:#pl1rde are as follows: The yaluables
procured VIC estimate BY companies.
81 Nachl company is required to exhibit
s5tho rebuit Of it's operations at any givon
place. One-ffth and first CHOICE falls
to the share of lho oommander, in chief
and staff, ono, fifth to fold officers of
regiments, and tbree. fiftha to the COM
( pany. Officers arc not allowed to Join
these expeditions without dsguisirg
themselves as privates. One Of our
corps commanders borrowed a suit Of
rough clothes from one Of my mon snd
was successful in this place; ho got
largo quantity Of silver, (among othor
. thiDgs3 All old time silver milk pitohor)
and very fine gold watoh ftom MIR.
DeSauasuro at this plaoe. DeSaussure
y is ono Of tho +. Il. V.'s Of South Caro-
lima, and was made to fork over lib
orally. g Oficels over the rark Of cap
tain are not made to put lhoir plumber
in the estimate for general distribution.
Thi is very unfair, and for thai reason
inloSder to protect thombolyoe, sub
ordinate officers and privates keep back
everything that thoy can GARY about
their person, such as rings, ear. rings,
breast pins, etc., Of which, if ever
live to get homo, / have about quart
& am not joking-I have at loast q gu .rt
Of jowelry for you and all tho girls, and
some No. ] diamond rings and pins
among thom.
Gen. Sherman has silver and gold
enough to start a bank. His ahare in
gold watches and chains alone, at CO
lumbia, was Two hundred and seventy
y five (276); but l said could not 60 into
3 particulars. All tho general otfioere and
5 many 'privates had valuabloB Of evory
\ description, eyon to ladies' embroidered
&. pocket handerchiofs ([ have my share
Ii Of them too.) We took gold and silver
enough from the id robels to have
rodeemed their informal currency twico
over. This, Oho ourrcncy} whenever
we como across it we burn AZ Wo con.
cider it utterly worthless. l wish all
N the jowolry this amy has could be car.
riod to the old Bay State, itwould deck
her out in glorious style, but alasl it
y will pc koatte rod oil over tho north and
I middlo>States. Tho dd negroes 90
arulo prefer to stay at homo, par;icu.
laily after they found out that we only
wanted tho able bodied mon, (and to
tell you tho truth, the youngest and
best looking wouep) Sometimes 40
take off whole familios and plantations
Of negroes by way Of repayipg tho SO.
oesslonists; but tho usuioSs part OF
these we aoon manage to loso-somo.
I times in crossing rivers sometimes in
& other ways. [ shall write to you again
from Wilmington, Goldsboro, or somo
othor plsco in North Carolina. Tho
{ order.to march has arrived aad I NUT
closo hurricdly.
Loyo to grandm other and Aunt Char
!otto. Tako caro- Of -youiss,f and tho
children. Do not show this lsttcr out
Of the family.
ss Your affoctionato Husband,
# Thos. q. Mcycls, Lieut., otc
81 iP. ST. will acnd this by flag Of