Sherman's Bummers

Without supply lines to feed his army, Sherman's men were forced to rely on the surrounding countryside to eat. This of course meant taking from the civilians and other provisions in South Carolina. The choice as illustrated by an Illinois private was simply, "We must live off the country or go hungry". This vital task was assigned to foragers detached from regular units of Sherman's army. However the bummers would gain an more familiar name by friend and foe alike: Bummers.

The Foraging System

Although the foraging system would later begin to show disorganization, the system was originally designated as every brigade sending forward a foraging party of fifty men. This of course usually was inadequate to feed an entire brigade, so the practice of regiments sending a few companies of foragers each became common. The provisions collected by that detachment would then supply their particular regiment. Even this method would not be enough, so even smaller detachments could be sent out(although unofficially) while stopping near a particularily bountiful looking plantation. Although most of Sherman's men had taken part in foraging at one time or another, men well suited to the practice eventually became regular bummers.  The term "Bummer" in fact was used to describe the regular bummer rather then the occasional replacement or temporary forager.

Because a man can only carry so much supplies on foot, the practice of bummers comfiscating mounts became not only common but encouraged. Even the addition of a few mules however did not totally do the trick in helping carry off provisions captured, so commanders would detach wagons for service with foraging detachments. This would of course help but it became clear that no matter what modifications were taken, a good surplus of supplies could not be carried off to make the army live comfortably. Instead contrary to popular opinion, Sherman's men in South Carolina led a feast or famine existance. Rarely were they fed in abundance, and many times they were fed just as little as their often sypathized "starving " enemy.

One particular byproduct of the reliance on foraging, was that the different corps of Sherman's army became competetive for the precious provisions. In some instances, like at Barnwell, South Carolina, actual fights broke out between the two groups. Other instances would occur when Federal commanders would refuse to allow foragers from other corps to pass through their lines. In some instances they would even "confiscate" the provisions from their comrades for their own use. This problem was not prevalent with the Right wing(17th and 15th corps) however seemed to be most active in the Left wing and the cavalry. The 20th Corps and 14th Corps in particular competed for provisions. Also the Cavalry had some run ins. One particular instance of a disagreement between the cavalry and the 20th corps was documented in the Official Records. It read the following:

HDQRS. CAVALRY COMMAND, ARMY OF INVASION,

Camp Creek on Road to Hunter's, Store, S. C. February 24, 1865.

[General SHERMAN :]

GENERAL: I reached my present camp at daylight. My last brigade, Colonel Jordan's, will not get into camp before 9 a.m. This road is horrible. If the Fourteenth Corps intends to move on it the greater part will have to be corduroyed as far as Camp Creek. I did not get the bridge last night till 10.30 p.m. General Williams must have known that I was to have the bridge at 7 p.m., when he ordered General Geary (who had already gone into camp) forward at 6 p.m. I are sorry to trouble you with such matters, but I know of no other way of preventing a similar occurrence in the future. Yesterday five of my people, detailed to forage for my wounded in ambulances with Twentieth Corps were arrested by a provost-marshal of that corps and strapped to a tree and there kept till the corps marched by, with inscriptions on their breasts "House-breakers." I do not recognize General. Williams' right to punish my people or disgrace them. I can and will do all the punishment myself. If I liked, I could retaliate every hour. Stragglers and foraging parties of the Twentieth Corps were here yesterday, eight miles from their command, committing acts most disgraceful. This house was pillaged at 10 a.m. yesterday by men of the Twentieth Army Corps. General Williams will have all he can do to maintain discipline in his own command. I have allowed foragers from the Left Wing to pass through my lines, and even assisted them. Yesterday a detail sent out by Major Dunbar, my quartermaster, captured ten mules and four horses for his wagon train. An officer of the Twentieth Army Corps arrested them and took mules and horses away. I shall now allow no foraging parties to pass through or out of my lines, and I shall dismount and seize all horses ridden by infantrymen who enter my column. This I shall continue to do, unless otherwise ordered by you or until my people are treated with that respect and courtesy I feel their conduct and services demand. I also most respectfully call your attention to the fact that foraging parties and stragglers from Twentieth Army Corps burned sufficient forage on this road to have fed my entire command. I had occasion to mention this same fact to General Slocum some days since. I shall rest here till I p.m., when I will move slowly forward, as I feel confident that General Davis can move but a short distance to-day. Hampton is at Lancaster and a small portion of Wheeler's cavalry. The country is rich and full of forage. Until the rain is over, unless the roads are better than this one, our progress must be very slow.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. KILPATRICK,

Brevet Major-General. Commanding Cavalry Army of Georgia.

The Bummers at Work

The Foragers job was one that held many appeals. To many of them there was that "semi-independent" feel to the task. Usually forager detachments were headed by a Captain. No high ranking general watching your every move. Also once a forager force was sent out, the force could even be weakened further by spreading out into even more smaller detachments. These detachments would then fan out and take from the local plantations/farms etc.

Although this appears to be little more then "a roundup" job, it had its dangers. Yes, Sherman's army had a nearly 3 to 1 advantage over their reb counterparts in numbers of combatants in South Carolina. However the foragers would not share this superiority. The foragers would usually go out in small details of about fifty men. Confederate Cavalry usually travelled in force, with the smaller Confederate cavalry units being a couple of hundred mostly. If a forager detail met up with one of these Johnny detachments, the Foragers would have their hands full. In fact in many cases foraging groups were either captured or reportedly wiped out(sometimes after surrender) by these Confederate cavalrymen. However assuming a detail got to the farms safely, they would do the crux of their job.

Upon arriving at a farm, the Foragers would take care of themselves first. They would usually round up food for themselves and put one of the fairer sex inhabinets of the farm to work cooking a meal for them. While their meal was being cooked they would go about the business of finding the provisions for their comrades. Any wagons and mules of the plantation would be rounded up and the provisions loaded up. Animals would either be shot(a risky enterprise for it risked drawing attention of Johnnies in the area) or butchered on the spot. The meat then of course would be put on the wagons or mules. Of course many times these foragers would take the opportunity to raid the house(contrary to orders) and take everything they could carry off. The taking from houses of food, valuables, and even clothes seems to rank among the house burnings with the most notorious actions committed by the Foragers. Of course when their meal was ready the bummers would  stop what they were doing and fill their bellies as they had filled their mules and wagons.

Of course many of the civilians would not be so forthcombing in the location of their valuables and provisions. They would simply bury their valuables. Many would have a slave haul the mules off to the swamp and do all they could to hide provisions from Sherman's men. Women would often resort to placing valuables and other things worth saving under them in their seat, correctly surmising that the Federals wouldn't dare move the women to search. However other hiding places were usually discovered by Federals who became wise to the ploys. Some of the inhabinets even wondered as to this ability of the Federals to sniff out the hiding places. However when particularly defiant inhaibinets would be less then forthcoming with where their provisions were, Federals would often resort to trickery. A typical exchange might go like this:

Forager: Where is your Bacon

Civilian: Did not raise any

Forager: Where is the Corn meal?

Civilian: Got none.

Forager: Where's your horses and mules?

Civilian: runoff or got confiscated.

Forager: Got nothing?

Civilian: No

To this the forager would respond " Since you don't have anything you can no longer live here obviously". The federal would then give orders to burn the house and outbuildings. This of course would spook the civilians into revising just what he had on the plantation and what he didn't. Anything they owned would quickly be shown to the yanks then.  Of course many times their outbuildings would be burnt anyway. Another method would of course be the time honored threat of violence to an inhabinet. This usually would gain a truthful response too.

After their collecting of supplies, the foragers would then make their way back to their respective commands.  Of course many times when the house and outbuildings were of no more use to the foragers, they would set fire to the buildings. There were of course times when groups would literally come in back to back to forage from farms. After one detachment would leave, another would come trotting in. If the first group didn't burn the houses and buildings, these of course might. Some of course were spared. But many others torched. The foragers whether they be the first group to hit the farm or last of course would leave out back to their commands after they were through with the farms. It was then the foragers would head out. Their ability to return to their commands would determine if their comrades would eat well that night or not. In some cases they would not make their way back to their regiment until the next day. This would of course mean their comrades would spend a night with as little as a single hardtack cracker for food.

Bummers in battle

Although it was generally not in their job description, Foragers took part in their share of fighting. Away from their main lines, any rebs the Foragers encountered would have to be dealt with. They would have to either fight, or make their way to their commands the best they could. Many times when surrounded by large numbers of rebs the bummers would surrender only to have their reb captors not observe a surrender. Many Confederates adopted a "No quarter for bummers" attitude. These were afterall the men who did the lion share of alleged atrocities and evil deeds in South Carolina. Therefore these Confederates felt little remorse in dealing with them. A Texas soldier remarked that flaming buildings and women's tears were stronger then the prayers of the Yankee prisoners, even when on their knees and begging for their lives. One would be hardpressed documenting just how many of these "forage scrapes" and skirmishes between foragers and rebs happened.

Of course some times the foragers actually captured vital posts. At Midway, South Carolina on the Charleston/Augusta railroad, foragers captured the town from Confederate pickets. The foragers then held off an counterattack by the agitated johnnies and held the position until the Right wing's main columns secured the railroad. Some times the foragers were the first to enter a town, although they tended to bail when rebs pressed them. If nothing else the foragers provided mounted infantry on Sherman's flanks and front that kept that pesky reb Cavalry away from his main columns. It was not until the arrival of Major General Matthew C. Butler's Division of cavalry that the foragers began to be handled roughly. Butler's cavalry became such a nuisance to Federal bummers that at least one Federal commander forbid foragers to advance past the front of the columns. When in advance of the columns above Columbia, the foragers were in grave danger of Butler's troopers. One particular incident occured at the Lynch's River when Foragers were overpowered by Confederate cavalry and pushed to Tiller's bridge. Just as they were on the ropes, reinforcements forded the river and checked the Johnnies.

A Bummer's Letter: Fact or clever hoax??

The following is the now famous letter that was found in the streets of Columbia, South Carolina after Sherman's army had left. Many southerners pointed to the letter as proof of a grand design to Sherman's army's vengeful nature in the state. However a fine rebuttal was supplied by Colonel Stone who commanded a brigade of Sherman's 15th corps. Ironically Stone's troops were the first troops to capture Columbia.

Camp Near Camden, S.C.,

February 26, 1865.

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 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: The valuables procured are estimated by companies. Each company is required to exhibit the result of its operations at any given place -- one fifth and first choice falls to the commander in chief and staff, one fifth to corps commander and staff, one fifth to field officers, two fifths to the company. Officers are not allowed to join in these expeditions unless disguised 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 silver milk pitcher) and a very fine gold watch from a Mr. De Saussure, of this place (Columbia). De Saussure is one of the F.F.V.'s of S.C., and was made to fork out 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, the subordinate officers and privates keep everything back that they can carry about their persons -- such as rings, earrings, breastpins, etc., etc., of which, if I live to get home, I have 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 pins and rings among them. General Sherman has gold and silver enough to start a bank. His share in gold watches and chains 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 have valuables of every description, down to ladies' pocket handkerchiefs. I have my share of them, too.

We took gold and silver enough from the d----d Rebels to have redeemed their infernal currency twice over. This (the currency) whenever we came across it we burned it, as we considered it utterly worthless.

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 thing, preferred to stay at home -- particularly after they found out that we wanted only the able bodied men, and, to tell the truth, the youngest and best looking women. Sometimes we took them off, by way of repaying influential secessionists. But the useless part of these we soon managed to lose -- sometimes in crossing rivers -- sometimes by other ways.

I shall write 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 the children. Don't show this letter out of the family.

Your affectionate husband,

Thomas J. Myers, Lieutenant, etc.

P.S. -- I will send this by the first flag of truce, to be mailed, unless I have an opportunity of sending it to Hilton Head. Tell Sallie I am saving a pearl bracelet and earrings for her. But Lambert got the necklace and breastpin 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 those on our trip though Georgia.

T.J.M.

Colonel Stone responded in the following Letter.

NDEPENDENCE SQUARE,

BOSTON, March 19, 1885.

Rev. J. WILLIAM JONES, D. D.,

Secretary Southern Historical Society, Richmond, Va.:

DEAR SIR,--In the number of the SOUTHERN HISTORICAL SOCIETY PAPERS for March, 1884, under the heading, "How they made South Carolina 'Howl'--Letter from one of Sherman's Bummers," you publish what purports to be "a letter found in the streets of Columbia after the army of General Sherman had left."

The contents of the letter are enough to satisfy any unprejudiced mind that it could not have been written by any officer of General Sherman's command--except, possibly, as the broadest kind of a hoax. But conceding, for the moment, that such a letter might have been written by "one of 'Sherman's Bummers,'" it is demonstrable that the letter under consideration is not genuine. If any such letter exists, it is a forgery.

The statement is that it was "found in the streets of Columbia after the army of General Sherman had left." The last of that army left Columbia on or before February 21. This letter purports to be dated "Camp near Camden, S.C., February 26, 1865." Camden is at least thirty miles east of Columbia, and on the opposite side of the Catawba river. By the roundabout course pursued by the army, it is double that distance. The crossing of the river occupied several days, and was effected twenty or thirty miles north of Camden. The waters were very high, and once across, there was no such thing as returning. Everybody and everything was moving away from Columbia as rapidly as possible. Only a small part of Sherman's army marched through or near Camden. The knowledge or consideration of these facts shows how improbable, if not absolutely impossible, it was, under the circumstances, that any letter written by one of "Sherman's Bummers," near Camden, South Carolina, could afterwards have found its way to the streets of Columbia.

It so happens, also, that no officer named Thomas J. Myers--the name purporting to be signed to the document you have reprinted--belonged to General Sherman's army. The records show that, throughout the war, there was but one officer in the military service of the United States with that name, and he was not in Sherman's army, and did not--as is implied in the direction, Boston, Mass., and the reference in the letter to the "Old Bay State"--belong to any Massachusetts regiment. "Alas," cries the weeping Thomas, "it (the captured jewelry) will be scattered all over the North and Middle States." It so happens, also, that of the ninety regiments of Sherman's army which might have passed on the march near Camden, South Carolina, but a single one--a New Jersey regiment--was from the Middle States. All the rest were from the West--never called the North, in the local idiom of Western people. A letter from the only Thomas J. Myers ever in the army would never contain such a phrase.

To crown all, Thomas J. Myers resigned from the military service on the 18th of February, 1865--eight days before the date of the pretended letter--while his regiment was in Northern Alabama.

I should not have taken pains to look up and analyze these facts if I did not think it matter for profound regret that a periodical, presumably published in the interest of historical truth, should give currency to this document. No possible good can come of its publication, if genuine, but much harm. It throws no light on one single fact or method by which the war was conducted. As to General Sherman's procedure, on his famous march, history will judge it on acknowledged and recorded facts--which are ample and accessible--not on any such irritating and preposterous assertions as are contained in the document under consideration. General Sherman has never shrunk from any responsibility for his actions. The genuine recollections and experiences of men and women in that exciting and passionate time are legitimate and useful matters for publication, even when they reveal things which, in the cooler days of reason and law, everyone must regret, if not condemn--Inter arma, silent leges. Till men become perfect, war will be full, always, of cruelest outrages. When they do become perfect, there will be no war. So far as it may hello to restrain men's passions or ambitions, and lead to the adoption of better methods for redressing wrongs, real or fancied, than killing and robbery--which all war is, in its last analysis--every tale of suffering, privation, injury, spoliation, may prove useful, and so its publication justifiable. But when, as certainly seems the case in this instance, nothing but the provocation and perpetuation of ill-feeling and bitterness can result, I submit that a periodical of the character of the SOUTHERN HISTORICAL PAPERS might--as I am happy to see it does, in most instances--find better material than reprinting from obscure newspapers, matter which throws no real light on any single act or motive during the whole of the great contest.

Your periodical is taken by a society of which I am a member, but I did not happen to see the March number earlier, or I should have earlier written you. I do not write now for publication--though to that I have no objection--but simply to give you the facts, and let your own sense of justice decide what you will do.

Very respectfully yours,

HENRY STONE,

Late Brevet-Colonel U. S. Volunteers, and A. A. G. Army of the Cumberland.

Its important to note that the Southern Historical Society papers responded in the following way to Stone's rebuttal:

We are frank to admit that Colonel Stone seems to make out his case against the authenticity of this letter, and we regret having republished it.

The Forager of W.T. Sherman's army will remain one of the more identifiable traits of the march. In a march that has the reputation of having few major engagements, it was the actions committed by these bummers that have gotten the most attention by history and their rebel adversaries. What is lost is the fact that these foragers performed a vital role in Sherman's army and fed his army throughout his later campaigns. Without supply lines it was the only way for Sherman to feed his 60,000 man army. Although it elicited some of Sherman's more heated attacks, this style of war was successful. Yes, many homes and plantations were burnt. Yes, provisions were taken. But the fact remains that Sherman's army had little choice. Even with their liberal foraging Sherman's army often barely had enough to eat. As for the burning of homes etc, Sherman's army after all was attempting to bring war to the South. Perhaps the true measure of Sherman's bummers actions in South Carolina is that they totally took the will of the Southern population. This in turn ended the nations most destructive war in its history.

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