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~ Railroad Depot Charleston, South Carolina, 1864
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THE LETTER from Union Lieutenant Thomas J.
Myers: Feb 26, 1865 of the Morrill Tariff
 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.
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~ Charleston, South Carolina ~
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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 through
Georgia."
Ruins ~ Columbia, South Carolina 1864
SOURCE: GreyRiderforDixienet
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