The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1915-03-04

Camp Camden S. c., Feb. 26, 1865.
My Dear Wife: l have time for particulars
We have had glorious time in this State. I'm
resisted license to burn and plumber the order
of the day The chvalry have been stripped of
most of their valuables Gold watches, silver
pitchers, cups, spoons, forks etc., are as common
in camp as blackberries.
The terms of plumber follows The
valuab1es procured are estimated by companies.
Each company is required TO exhibit the result of
its operations at any given place-one-ifth and
first choice falls to the share of the commander
1n-chief and staff, one-ffth to the corps com
mander and staff, one-ffth to the field officers of
the regiments and tWO-fifths to the company.
Officers are not allowed to join these exped-
lions without Disgusting themselves as privates.
One of our corps commanders borrowed a rough
suit OF clothes from one Of my men and was suc~
cessful in this place He got large quantity Of
silver among other things and an old silver pitcher
and very fine old watch from Mr.. DeSaussure
at this place. DeSaussure is of the F. F. VS.
OF South Carolina and made to fork
literally.
Officers over the rank of captain are not made
to put their plumber in the estimate for general
distribution. This is very unfair and for that
reason, in order to protect themselves subordi-
nate officers and prvates keep back everything
they can carry about their person, such rings,
earrings, breast-pins, etc., Of which if ever live
to get home | have about quart. I am not iok-
ing, | have at least quart Of jewelry for you
and all the girls and some No. 1 diamond pins
Gen Sherman has silver and gold enough to
start bank. His share in gold watches and
chains alone at Columbia $275.
But said l would not go into particulars. All
the general officers and many besides, had valua-
bles of every description, down to embroidered
ladies' pocket handkerchiefs I have my share Of
them too We took gold and silver enough from
the ID rebels to have redeemed their Internal
currency twice over This (the currency when
ever we came across it burned
sdered it utterly worthless
wish all the jewelry this army has could be
carried to the old Bay State. 1t would deck her
out in glorious style but, alas! it will be scat
tered all over the North and Middle States
The ID niggers, as rule, prefer to stay at
home particularly after they found out that we
only wanted the able-boded men and to tell the
truth, the youngest and best looking women.
Sometimes we took off whole families and planta-
tons, Of niggers by way OF repaying the Seces-
sionists. But the useless part Of these We soon
managed to lose-sOmetimes by crossing rivers,
sometimes by other ways
I shall write you again from Wilmington,
Goldsboro, or some other place in North Caro-
lima The order to march has arrived and
must close hurriedly. Love to grandmother and
Aunt Charlotte. Take care of yourself and the
children Don't show this letter out of the family
Your affectonate husband,
THOMAS j. MYERS,
Lieutenant, etc.
P. ST will send this by the first flag of truce
to be mailed, unless I have opportunity of send
ing it to Hilton Head Tell Sallie l am saving a.
pearl bracelet and earrings for her But Lambert
has the necklace and breastpin of the same set.
I am trying to trade him out of them. Those were
taken from the Misses Jamison, daughters of the
president of South Carolina Secession convention
We found these our trip through Georgia.
consider the above letter the most refresh
ing war document [ ever read.
Lieutenant Myers was real man and real
soldier; and when he sat down and took his
pen in hand to write to his wife, he told the