house stood beyond the Charlotte depot, in a large
lot, was of frame, with a high porch, which was reached
by a set of steps outside. Entering this yard,
I noticed ducks and chickens, and a general air of
peace and comfort that was really pleasant to behold
at that time of universal desolation; the lady in
question met us at the head of the steps and invited
us into a parlor which was perfectly neat and well
furnished. After inquiring about her father,
mother, sisters, and especially her brother James,
my special friend, I could not help saying that I
was pleased to notice that our men had not handled
her house and premises as roughly as was their wont.
“I owe it to you, general,” she answered.
“Not at all. I did not know you were here
till a few minutes ago.” She reiterated
that she was indebted to me for the perfect safety
of her house and property, and added, “You remember,
when you were at our house on Cooper River in 1845,
you gave me a book;” and she handed me the book
in question, on the fly leaf of which was written:
“To Miss Poyas, with the compliments of W. T.
Sherman, First-lieutenant Third Artillery.”
She then explained that, as our army approached Columbia,
there was a doubt in her mind whether the terrible
Sherman who was devastating the land were W. T. Sherman
or T. W. Sherman, both known to be generals in the
Northern army; but, on the supposition that he was
her old acquaintance, when Wade Hampton’s cavalry
drew out of the city, calling out that the Yankees
were coming, she armed herself with this book, and
awaited the crisis. Soon the shouts about the
markethouse announced that the Yankees had come; very
soon men were seen running up and down the streets;
a parcel of them poured over the fence, began to chase
the chickens and ducks, and to enter her house.
She observed one large man, with full beard, who exercised
some authority, and to him she appealed in the name
of “his general.” “What do
you know of Uncle Billy?” “Why,”
she said, “when he was a young man he used to
be our friend in Charleston, and here is a book he
gave me.” The officer or soldier took the
book, looked at the inscription, and, turning to his
fellows, said: “Boys, that’s so;
that’s Uncle Billy’s writing, for I have
seen it often before.” He at once commanded
the party to stop pillaging, and left a man in charge
of the house, to protect her until the regular provost-guard
should be established. I then asked her if the
regular guard or sentinel had been as good to her.
She assured me that he was a very nice young man;
that he had been telling her all about his family
in Iowa; and that at that very instant of time he
was in another room minding her baby. Now, this
lady had good sense and tact, and had thus turned
aside a party who, in five minutes more, would have
rifled her premises of all that was good to eat or
wear. I made her a long social visit, and, before
leaving Columbia, gave her a half-tierce of rice and
about one hundred pounds of ham from our own mess-stores.