VIRGINIANS, FOR YOUR LANDS, FOR YOUR HOMES, FOR YOUR SWEETHEARTS, FOR YOUR WIVES!

Saturday, August 25, 2012



The following letter is from Union Lieutenant Thomas J. Myers to his wife, dated Feb 26, 1865 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 Chivalrous people of the South] 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 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.

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.” 

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