From the many statements of eye-witnesses to these scenes of plunder and pillage, we select the description of a venerable and accomplished lady, living by the way-side. " I was" she says " watching from my window, the apparent orderly march of the first Yankees " that appeared in view and passed up the road, when, suddenly, as if "by magic, the whole plantation was covered with men, like bees from "an overthrown hive; and, as far as my vision extended, an inextricable "medley of men and animals met my eye. In one place, excited " troopers were firing into the flock of sheep ; in another, officers and "men were in pursuit of the boys' ponies ; and in another, a crowd " were in excited chase of the work animals. The kitchen was soon "filled with some, carrying off the cooking utensils and the provisions ''of the day; the yard with others, pursuing poultry, and firing their " revolvers into the trees. They penetrated under the house, into the outbuildings, and went into the garden, stripping it in a moment of "all its vegetables, and trenching the ground with their bayonets, in "search of buried treasures. This continued during the day, as the " army was passing, and a bewildering sound of oaths and imprecations, mingled w>h the clatter of the poultry and the noise of the "animals. Atone time during the day, passing through the house, "my attention was attracted to a noise in the parlor. I opened the door, " and was just in time to see two soldiers springing out of the window, in possession of some books and daguerreotypes they had taken from " the table. Securing the windows, I turned to other parts of the " house. In the children's room, I found a trunk broken open, and its *' contents strewn upon the floor, and I discovered that some articles " had been taken. When the army had passed, we were left almost "destitute." Another lady confessed to us her inability to describe the scene. "I can only say," said she, "it was bedlam let loose."
