South Carolina Civilians in Sherman's Path

During the fateful winter of 1865, General William T. Sherman led an army of over sixty thousand troops on a destructive march through the Palmetto State. Hundreds of the affected residents recorded their harrowing experiences in letters, diaries, memoirs and newspaper accounts, much of which is corroborated by the testimony of Sherman's own officers and soldiers. Join South Carolina historian and archivist Karen Stokes as she brings together these stories from around the state. Stokes delves deep, including graphic accounts by civilians who were also affected by two lesser-known military operations that followed Sherman's raid in the spring of 1865-Potter's Raid, an expedition led by Union general E.E. Potter, and the raids conducted by Union troops pursuing Confederate president Jefferson Davis through the state. Book jacket.

During the fateful winter and spring of 1865, thousands of civilians in South Carolina, young and old, black and white, felt the impact of what General William T. Sherman called "the hard hand of war." This book tells their stories, many of which were corroborated by the testimony of Sherman's own soldiers and officers, and other eyewitnesses. These historical narratives are taken from letters and diaries of the time, as well as newspaper accounts and memoirs. The author has drawn on the superb resources of the South Carolina Historical Society's collection of manuscripts and publications to present these true, compelling stories of South Carolinians.