Re-post
Letter from Union Lieutenant Thomas J. Myers: Feb 26, 1865 of the Morrill Tariff
"Camp near Camden, S. C.
My dear wife--I have no time for particulars. We have had a glorious
time in this State. Unrestricted license to burn and plunder was the
order of the day. The chivalry [meaning the Honourable & Chivalrous
people of the South] have been stripped of most of their valuables. Gold
watches, silver pitchers, cups, spoons, forks, &c., are as common
in camp as blackberries.
The terms of plunder are as follows: Each company is required to exhibit
the results of its operations at any given place--one-fifth and first
choice falls to the share of the commander-in-chief and staff; one-fifth
to the corps commanders and staff; one-fifth to field officers of
regiments, and two-fifths to the company.
Officers are not allowed to join these expeditions without disguising
themselves as privates. One of our corps commanders borrowed a suit of
rough clothes from one of my men, and was successful in this place. He
got a large quantity of silver (among other things an old-time milk
pitcher) and a very fine gold watch from a Mrs DeSaussure, at this
place. DeSaussure was one of the F. F. V.s of South Carolina, and was
made to fork over liberally.. Officers over the rank of Captain are not
made to put their plunder in the estimate for general distribution. This
is very unfair, and for that reason, in order to protect themselves,
subordinate officers and privates keep back every thing that they can
carry about their persons, such as rings, earrings, breast pins,
&c., of which, if I ever get home, I have about a quart. I am not
joking--I have at least a quart of jewelry for you and all the girls,
and some No. 1 diamond rings and pins among them.
General Sherman has silver and gold enough to start a bank. His share in
gold watches alone at Columbia was two hundred and seventy-five. But I
said I could not go into particulars. All the general officers and many
besides had valuables of every description, down to embroidered ladies'
pocket handkerchiefs. I have my share of them, too. We took gold and
silver enough from the damned rebels to have redeemed their infernal
currency twice over. This, (the currency), whenever we came across it,
we burned, as we considered it utterly worthless.
I wish all the jewelry this army has could be carried to the "Old Bay
State". It would deck her out in glorious style; but, alas! it will be
scattered all over the North and Middle States. The damned niggers, as a
general rule, prefer to stay at home, particularly after they found out
that we only wanted the able-bodied men, (and to tell the truth, the
youngest and best-looking women). Sometimes we took off whole families
and plantations of niggers, by way of repaying secessionists. But the
useless part of them we soon manage to lose; [one very effective was to
"shoot at their bobbing heads as they swam rivers" after the army units
crossed over], sometimes in crossing rivers, sometimes in other ways.
I shall write to you again from Wilmington, Goldsboro', or some other
place in North Carolina. The order to march has arrived, and I must
close hurriedly. Love to grandmother and aunt Charlotte. Take care of
yourself and children. Don't show this letter out of the family.
Your affectionate husband, Thomas J Myers, Lieut.,
P.S. I will send this by the first flag of truce to be mailed, unless I
have an opportunity of sending it at Hilton Head. Tell Sallie I am
saving a pearl bracelet and ear-rings for her; but Lambert got the
necklace and breast pin of the same set. I am trying to trade him out of
them. These were taken from the Misses Jamison, daughters of the
President of the South Carolina Secession Convention. We found these on
our trip