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Chapter 14: Columbia.--presidential election.
We arrived at
Columbia in a drenching rain, were taken out of the cars, and remained in a field near the depot until the next morning.
We had no chance to make a fire, and were wet, cold and hungry.
Along the tracks were cars filled with families who had fled from
Charleston and
Atlanta.
We saw several very beautiful ladies among them, dressed well, and wearing jewelry, but they were silent and sullen.
We were guarded by the
Columbia Cadets, a fine body of young men from the military school.
The command was given to fall in, and we were informed that we must march about a mile to a camp ground, and should be made very comfortable.
On the way we passed the
Confederate money factory.
As the girls employed there came to the windows we called to them to throw us out a bushel or two, as they could make plenty more.
They laughed, threw kisses at us, and for a moment we forgot that we were prisoners, and felt that we were going out on a picnic.
We marched about two miles, and arrived at our camp ground.
This consisted of several acres, covered with a second growth of wood.
A guard line was made around it, and sentries were posted.
Twenty feet from the guard line was the dead line.
This time it was a furrow ploughed around the camp.
Our cadet guards were relieved by the militia, and we were turned in like so many hogs.
