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Swath of destruction through the Carolinas: Letter written by Richard McCadden, 154th New York Infantry."Desolation marked our...
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Description
Swath of destruction through the Carolinas: Letter written by Richard McCadden, 154th New York Infantry."Desolation marked our tracks, for we scarcely left a house, barn or pigpen standing for over 100 miles... I think we pretty effectively destroyed the Railroads in the South."In this four-page letter written on legal-size stationery, is a great description of the destruction made by Sherman and his Army, having left Savannah on his "March to the Sea," and now heading north through the Carolinas. The letter is headed "Camp Near Goldsboro, N. C., March 29, 1865." Its writer, Richard J. McCadden, had previously been captured and paroled at the Battle of Gettysburg. Just prior to writing this letter, he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant (3/14/65). Reads in part.
"As you well know, we left the town of Savannah Jan. 27 and have been out from civilization until March 22nd when we arrived at this place. I will not attempt to tell you the number of hundreds of miles we have marched during the time. It is enough to say we have been on the march all but two or three days since we started."
"We have met with very little opposition on our way and whenever the enemy attempted to make a stand, they soon found the Yankees too many for them and thought the old maxim best. (He who is to fight and runs away may live to fight another day, but he who fights and then gets slain, shall never live to fight again.)"
"We crossed the Savannah river a little above the city and directed his march through the center of the State of South Carolina, and you will say desolation marked our tracks, for we scarcely left a house, barn, or pigpen standing for over 100 miles, or you might say in the state."
"We destroyed the Charleston and Augusta Railroad at Branchville for 15 or 20 miles on each side of the town, burning every tie and twisting the rails when red hot around trees or putting hooks on them and twisting them like an augur, entirely destroying the rail."
"Our next hike was for the capitol of this State, Columbia, a very wealthy little town of about 10,000 inhabitants...the 17th Army Corps entered the city and left only about 30 houses standing when they left the place...Many's the home was made desolate in one short day, for the city was full of inhabitants."
"Our living we foraged off the country through which we passed. We generally had a plenty but left very little for the citizens to live on. Our living consisted chiefly of sweet potatoes, flour, corn meal, smoked ham, molasses, honey, chickens, turkeys, and the like. I think we can rob beehives to perfection."
"We had from three to 5 mules in our Company. I had one all the way from Savannah, so I had little or nothing to carry and came through very well. It was an easy march for so long a one. The roads were generally good."
"We have a pontoon train with us, and we can build a bridge across a river as large as the Allegheny in half a day or less, a good stout bridge for trains to cross on and take it up in less than a quarter of the time. The boats on which the bridge is laid is covered with canvas instead of boards. After the Army crosses, the bridge is taken up and put in wagons. The boats taken to pieces and carried along so you can see we are not dependent on the country for bridges, and whenever the roads get muddy, we corduroy the road with rails, and make it almost as good as plank road. Necessity is the mother of inventions."
"After we crossed the State of South Carolina, we entered North Carolina and have traveled over 100 miles in it. We destroyed a large arsenal at Fayetteville. It was the most extensive institution of the kind I ever saw. It was one the United States built long before the war."
"We also destroyed the railroad at Columbia, Winsboro, and Rockingham. I think we pretty effectively destroyed the railroads in the South."
"I have in my tent for three of us at present 50 lbs. smoked ham, 25 lbs. of flour, 25 lbs. meal, 20 lbs. hard bread, 4 or 5 lbs. sugar, a quantity of sorghum, and more coffee than we can use until we draw again."
"I expect my pay soon. I have $192 due me. That would make quite a purchase in the west."
The letter is in very good condition with the normal aging and ink spots. A fascinating letter by one of Sherman's "Bummers." From the Calvin Packard Civil War Battlefield Letter Collection.
Auction Info
2020 December 6 Arms & Armor, Civil War & Militaria Signature Auction - Dallas #6229 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2020
6th
Sunday
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