blown up."

They found out afterwards that the Jew was a professional boxer, and
was giving lessons to the young men of the city.

The soldiers seemed to be getting rather demoralized by the influences
of the city, and were moved over the Ashley River and encamped about
four miles of the city, in a great pine forest, near the sea. This was
a great sight for many, for as much travelling as the troops had done
during the last four years, this was their first close quarters to the
ocean, and many had never before witnessed the great rolling waters of
the sea. Oysters were plentiful, and negroes on the plantation brought
out boat loads for the soldiers, and gave them out for a little
tobacco or a small amount of Confederate "shin-plasters." These were
about the only articles they had seen in a long time that they could
buy with a "shin-plaster" (fractional currency), as almost every other
commodity was worth from one dollar up. Great fires were built at
night, and eight or ten bushels of the sweet, juicy bivalves were
poured over the heap, to be eaten as the shells would pop by the heat.

From this place, after a week's sojourn, we were carried by rail
to the Saltkahatchie River, at the crossing of the Charleston and
Savannah Railroad.

* * * * *

CHAPTER XLI

On the Saltkahatchie. February, 1865.

When we reached our destination on the Saltkahatchie, we were met by
our old commander of Virginia and Tennessee, Major General McLaws,
from whom we had been separated for more than a year. The soldiers
were glad to see him, and met him with a rousing cheer, while the old
veteran was equally delighted to see us. It was like the meeting of
father and absent children, for General McLaws was kind and indulgent
to his men, even if not a very successful General. After being
relieved of his command in East Tennessee and succeeded by General
Kershaw, he had commanded the post at Augusta, Ga., to which place he
returned after the close of hostilities and remained until his death.
He was the greater part of the time postmaster of the city of Augusta.
There being few occupations that the old West Pointers of the South
could fill, they generally accepted any office in the gift of the
government that would insure them an honest livelihood.

General McLaws was facing two corps of Sherman's Army at this place
with some few veterans, State troops, and reserves. Sherman had been
quiet for some time,