Year: 1865

REFUGEES AND LOYALISTS.


One of the most significant features Of our
journey through the South has been the fire.
quent prayer and entrcaty Of the people that
they might be permitted to join our column
and march with us to the sea, or wherever
we might go, SO that they could leave this
region of despotism, anywhere out of the
South and towards the pure air of freedom
again. One is mechanic, who was born
and reared in the old Granite state. He
chanic in a railroad machine-shop. He has
been able to avoid service in the rebel army,
because his services were necessary in the
shop. He is taken along, for his services
can be made of good use.


Here is mother and daughter, whose
son is in the federal army Their little
means have long since been exhausted and
they wish to go to Connecticut, where rela-
tives will gladly care for them, and where
they can get news of their son and brother
Another is poor Irish woman, whose hus-
band has been conscripted into the rebel
army, and is now a prisoner, sick in a
northern hospital


At Columbia there were several families
of wealth and position, who had always been
suspected of loyal proclivities. Upon our
occupation of that city it became known to
the rebel inhabitants that these people had
always assisted our prisoners, and previous
to our approach, had secreted great many
at imminent peril. 1t would be impossible
to reject these generous, self-sacrificing
friends. The fire had not spared their
houses, and they were homeless, but we
well knew that to remain after our visit
would be certain death. Up to this time
the want of transportation had neCessitated
a refusal of these requests. But some of
the wagons were now empty then there
were number of vehicles captured from
the enemy horses and mules we bring in
every day, and again, not a few of the fam
lilies asking our protection are able to fur
nish their own transportation.


General Howard was in command of the
troops at Columbia, and these unfortunates
did not appeal in vian to his generous sym
pathetic heart, which never refuses to SYM
pathize with those i'll distress.


With the appreciation of General Sher-
man, General Howard at once organized an
emigrant train, which was placed under
guard of the escaped prisoners belonging to
other commands This train has been sep
arated, and apportioned to each division of
the Fifteenth and Seventeenth corps. They
are getting along famously. Ladies who
have been always accustomed to the refine
ments Of life, seem to enjoy the journey as
much as if it were picnic. In truth, it is
better than that for, while they are not
exposed to the dangers of war, they par
ticipate in its excitements. The column
has singularly Outre appearance. First,
there will be large family coach contain
ing ladies, with their personal baggage
crowded about them then an army wagon
loaded with men, women and children, com
fortably seated upon such articles of house
hold truck as they are allowed to carry
Following this will be country cart filled
with negro women, for the negroes come
along also, and hosts of the little curly bull
lct-headed youngsters gaze curiously upon
the strange sights which meet their eyes.


General Hazen, whose name can never
be mentioned but with inspiring recollec-
ton of the assault of Fort McAllister, tells
me that the large number who accompany
his division are but little trouble to him. and
that they have so quickly learned to forage
for themselves that they are no expense to
the government. Two of the escaped Off
GERS, with detachment Of ten men, have
charge of the train, which takes it's assigned
place in the column few tents, which
are in excess or have been captured, are
pitched when the column go into camp, and
our little colony with grateful hearts go to
their nights rest with the glad conscious
ness that they are step by step approaching
land of civilization and freedom


In this life, so new and strange to the
refugees, numbers of families become sep
arated from each other Portions of the
army, who for days march upon separate
roads, will at one time or another come to.
gether again, as at this place for example,
when three corps, which have been march.
ing upon different roads, unite at Cheraw
| for the purpose Of crossing the river The