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stay。 I considered General Howard as in command of the place； and referred the many applicants for guards and protection to him。 Before our headquarters…wagons had got up； I strolled through the streets of Columbia； found sentinels posted at the principal intersections； and generally good order prevailing； but did not again return to the main street； because it was filled with a crowd of citizens watching the soldiers marching by。
During the afternoon of that day； February 17th； the whole of the Fifteenth Corps passed through the town and out on the Camden and Winnsboro' roads。 The Seventeenth Corps did not enter the city at all； but crossed directly over to the Winnsboro' road from the pontoon bridge at Broad River； which was about four miles above the city。
After we had got； as it were； settled in Blanton Duncan's house； say about 2 p。m。； I overhauled my pocket according to custom； to read more carefully the various notes and memoranda received during the day； and found the paper which had been given me； as described； by one of our escaped prisoners。 It proved to be the song of 〃Sherman's March to the Sea；〃 which had been composed by Adjutant S。 H。 M。 Byers； of the Fifth Iowa Infantry； when a prisoner in the asylum at Columbia； which had been beautifully written off by a fellow…prisoner； and handed to me in person。 This appeared to me so good that I at once sent for Byers； attached him to my staff； provided him with horse and equipment； and took him as far as Fayetteville； North Carolina； whence he was sent to Washington as bearer of dispatches。 He is now United States consul at Zurich； Switzerland； where I have since been his guest。 I insert the song here for convenient reference and preservation。 Byers said that there was an excellent glee…club among the prisoners in Columbia； who used to sing it well； with an audience often of rebel ladies：
SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA。
Composed by Adjutant Byers； Fifth Iowa Infantry。 Arranged and sung by the Prisoners in Columbia Prison。
I
Our camp…fires shone bright on the mountain That frowned on the river below； As we stood by our guns in the morning； And eagerly watched for the foe； When a rider came out of the darkness That hung over mountain and tree； And shouted； 〃Boys； up and be ready！ For Sherman will march to the sea！〃
CHORUS：
Then sang we a song of our chieftain； That echoed over river and lea； And the stars of our banner shone brighter When Sherman marched down to the sea！
II
Then cheer upon cheer for bold Sherman Went up from each valley and glen； And the bugles reechoed the music That came from the lips of the men； For we knew that the stars in our banner More bright in their splendor would be； And that blessings from Northland world greet us； When Sherman marched down to the sea！ Then sang we a song； etc。
III
Then forward； boys！ forward to battle！ We marched on our wearisome way； We stormed the wild hills of Resacar God bless those who fell on that day！ Then Kenesaw frowned in its glory； Frowned down on the flag of the free； But the East and the West bore our standard； And Sherman marched on to the sea！ Then sang we a song； etc。
IV
Still onward we pressed； till our banners Swept out from Atlanta's grim walls； And the blood of the patriot dampened The soil where the traitor…flag falls； But we paused not to weep for the fallen； Who slept by each river and tree； Yet we twined them a wreath of the laurel； As Sherman marched down to the sea！ Then sang we a song； etc。
V
Oh； proud was our army that morning； That stood where the pine darkly towers； When Sherman said； 〃Boys； you are weary； But to…day fair Savannah is ours！〃 Then sang we the song of our chieftain； That echoed over river and lea； And the stars in our banner shone brighter When Sherman camped down by the sea！
Toward evening of February 17th； the mayor； Dr。 Goodwin； came to my quarters at Duncan's house； and remarked that there was a lady in Columbia who professed to be a special friend of mine。 On his giving her name； I could not recall it； but inquired as to her maiden or family name。 He answered Poyas。 It so happened that； when I was a lieutenant at Fort Moultrie； in 1842…'46； I used very often to visit a family of that name on the east branch of Cooper River； about forty miles from Fort Moultrie； and to hunt with the son； Mr。 James Poyas； an elegant young fellow and a fine sportsman。 His father； mother； and several sisters； composed the family； and were extremely hospitable。 One of the ladies was very fond of painting in water…colors； which was one of my weaknesses； and on one occasion I had presented her with a volume treating of water… colors。 Of course； I was glad to renew the acquaintance； and proposed to Dr。 Goodwin that we should walk to her house and visit this lady； which we did。 The house stood beyoud 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