The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1922-02-23
BURNING OF COLUMBIA
is RELATED IN LETTER.
Interesting Article by J. L Boifeuil-
let in the Macon Telegraph-Char-
acter of War Waged.

Just now when the anniversary of
the burning of Cclumbio, February
e, 1865, is fresh on, the minds of the
people the following, written by j. T.
Boifeuillet in the Macon Telegraph
will be of interest:
Yesterday l was conversing with
a prominent lady of Macon, who, with
her sister, also a we'll known resident
OF this city, were eye-witnesses OF
the burning of Columbia and suffer-
ers, too, from this terrible act. She
furnished me with evidence of the
process by which the union was re-
stored, in the shape OF copy of a
letter which was found in the street
of Columbia Immediately after the
army of Sherman had left the ruined
and plundered city. The lady informs
me that the original is still preserved
and can be shown and substantiated If
anybody desires. The name signed to
the letter was that of lieutenant in
Sherman's army and was addressed
to his wife at Boston, Mass. l am
Indebted tc the Macon lady for the
following copy of the letter, which
was handed to me with the request
that it be published on the 42nd ami
versary of ske destruction of the fair
and beautiful Columbia. l can add
nothing in the way of comment on
such document. 1t speaks for itself:
"'Camp Near Camden, S. c.
"'February 26, 1865.
"'My Dear Wife: 1 have no time
for particulars. We have had = glori-
Gus time in this state. Unrestricted
license to burn and plunder was the
order of today. The chivalry have
been stripped of most of their valua-
bles. Gold watches, silver pitchers,
cups, spoons, forks, etc., etc., are as
common in camp as blackberries. The
terms of plunder are ss follows: The
valuables procured are estimated by
companies. Each company IS required
to exhibit the result of its operations
at any given pace-one-ffth and first
choice falls to the share of the COM
mandcr-in-chief and staff, one-ffth
to the field officers of the regiments
and two-ffths to the company.
"'Officers 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 my men,
and was successful in this place. He
got large quantity of silver (among
other things an old-time silver milk
pitcher), and 4 very fine gold watch
from Mr.. DeSaussure, who is one of
the F. F. V's. of South Carolina, and
was made to fork over literally. Of
ficers over the rank OF captsin are now
made to put their plunder in the estl-
mate for general distribution. This
is very unfair, and for that reason,
in order to protect themselves, sub
ordinate officers and privstes keep
back everything that they can carry
about their persons, sucn as rings,
earrings, breast pins, etc., of which
II / ever get home, have about =.
quart. am not joking / have at
least a quart of jewelry for you and
all the girls-and some No. diamond
rings and pins among them. General
Sherman has silver and gold enough
to start e. bank. His share in gold
watches and chains alone at Columbia
was two hundred and seventy-five.
"'But I said l would not 60 into
particulars. All the general officers
and many besides, had valuables of
every description down to embroider-
ed ladies' handkerchiefs. l have my
share of them, too. We took gold
ard silver enough from the id reb-
els to have redeemed their internal
currency twice over. This, the cur
rency, whenever we came across it We
burned, as we considered IT utterly
worthless.
"T wish all the jewclry this army
has could be carried to the old Bay
State. 1t would deck her out in glori-
Gus style, but alas! it will be scattered
all over the North and Middle States.
The id niggers, rs general rule
prefer to stay at home-particularly
after they found out tha. we only
wanted the able-bodied men (and to
tell the truth, the youngest and best
looking women). Sometimes we take
off whole farms and plantations of
'niggers by way of repayfng the seces-
sionists. But the useless part of those
we soon managed to lose, sometimes
ir crossing rivers, sometimes by other