Moore, John, 1826-1907 to Mary Moore Kelly

He describes their march through South Carolina, wading through swamps, repairing roads, and taking Columbia. Although they were welcomed by the townspeople, drunk Union soldiers set buildings on fire, and the wind carried flames throughout town. Homes were disgracefully pillaged. He describes the surrounding area and its Revolutionary War history. "I can't get up much sympathy of the Columbians for I believe both they and the people of Charleston deserve to have their cities blotted out of existence. The next day we went to work on their public buildings, such as Arsenals, Armorys, depots &c, and the main printing establishment of the Confederacy, an immense establishment; all were burned or blown up." Letter is incomplete.

Excerpts:
"Those who had their houses burned, saved very little and this only by assistance of our soldiers. On the other hand the most disgraceful pillaging was committed by drunken soldiers, and negroes. I hope never to see another such fire, with its accompanying horrors."

"Large quantities of stores had been removed to this place from Charleston, as this was one of the places they had determined the Yankees would never reach, as the chivalric sons of Carolina were determined the Yanks should first march over their dead bodies etc, etc, but as far as yet ascertained the chivalry of this state are about as anxious to escape with a whole skin as any people we have met with."