The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-05-08

self. If ever tears of genuine sor-
row were shed it was over the grave
of this poor woman. Her children
were not present, and have no
ground for thinking they ever knew.
where their mother was buried. AS
matters began to settle down those
that died later on We're all decently
inferred. 1t was my melancholy
duty from the time the city was de-
stroyed up to the time of my leaving
for home, in June, to bury no less
there is one person in Columbia today
who knows that such a number of
brave Confederate dead lie at the
place described. But a few months
ago l visited the place in company
with Dr. Woodrow, pointing out the
place.
Il leRrn with much pleasure, since
writing the foregoing, that the dead
buried at the back of the college
building have been removed and in
TERED in the Confederate enclosure
in the Elmwood cemetery.
Scenes From Columbia to Union.
The supplies left by the Federal
commissary were being sapidly con-
sumed; how to get fresh supply in
the unsettled state of affairs was a
serious problem. received orders
from DR.. Thomson to proceed to Un-
ion, S. c., (his late home and my
OWN, and solicit contributions from
the charitably disposed to help sup
port those in hospital until such time
as permanent means of support could
be obtained. All the railroad lines
out of Columbia had been torn up,
and the country through which Shcr-
mans army had passed laid in ashes.
Before leaving Columbia l had been
requested by the wife of one of the
professors in the Theological Semi
nary to call at her home. She was
one of the many ministering angels
who gave much of their time and care
Of the sick. She had been told that
l had little one at my house, and
in the goodness of her heart wished
to send him a present of a nice dress,
one that had run the blockade at
some. of our seaports. She told me
that a part of the house she then
occupied had been used by Colonel
Stone, commandant of the post dur
ing the occupation of the city by
the Federal forces. She pointed out
to me pieces of her furniture, such
as her sideboard, and one piece hav-
ing a number of drawers, that the
soldiers had used the butt ends of
their guns to break open and take
such articles of provisions as they
contained, emptied them out on the
carpet, and mixed all together, rem
dering them unfit for human use.
Had the statement been made by one
not Immediately concerned, l would
have thought the picture overdrawn;
1T was told me, however, by the per-
son sustaining the injury and whose
noble Christian character was un-
questioned. 1t seemed scarcely pos
sible for one in human form to be
guilty of such fiendish conduct.
Having made the necessary prepa,
rations to go to Union, l left Colum-
bia for Blackstocks on the Charlotte
and Columbia Railroad. Only those
who followed in the track of Sher-
mans devastating army can form a
faint idea of the ruin and desolation
In the country through which the
army passed. The country seemed
deserted by man and beast. All that
was left of once happy and comfort
able homes was the charred embers
and the lonely chimneys, standing as
grim monuments to mark the vandal-
ism perpetrated upon helpless women
and children. My march was a lone
ly and painful one. l had not trav-
eled many miles before l became al
most crippled. I had drawn from
the quartermaster some time prev
ious a pair of coarse brogan shoes
and equally coarse socks, which /
was then wearing for the first time.
The coarseness of the yarn of which
the socks was made, made my feet
so painful l could scarcely walk. The
only relief afforded me (Which proved
afterwards anything but relief was
to try it barefooted. 1 was then go
ing through a section of country
Astounding in sharp flint rocks. At
this time my strength and spirits
were at very low ebb. 1t was get
ting dark, the sun having set some
time previous, and drizzling rain
began to fall. 1 felt that l could
hold out only for short time, and
had picked out tree I saw in the
distance l would take shelter under
for the night
Just as neared the tree l saw
short distance ahead of me a light
rom window. I approached the
house with considerable trepidation,
knowing how badly those people had
been treated by our men and the Fed
eral forces.
To my great joy + was most cor
daily received, and on telling my
mission, the lady of the house (s>>
being the only white occupant) did
everything possible for my comfort.
Her. sympathies were deeply moved
at the pitia BILE plight I was in. No
mother could have bestowed more
tenderness upon her own boy than
she showed me. She had only one
little colored boy about the place, SO
far as l could see. After providing
a plain but enjoyable supper, she
had the boy to get a tub of warm