By CLAY WILLIAMS
Unwelcome Guests
Saiemhurg now stood in the path of
Sherman's Armv, and Howard Plan-
tation feared the worst.
Caroline Howard was a beautiful
young girl. Only 15. she was bounti¬
fully endowed with nature's womanly
features. Her soft brown hair em¬
broidered a pensive face delicately
ornamented with limpid brown eyes.
Nowadays, the statuesque charmer
was troubled. Dark and foreboding
thoughts invaded her every waking
hour. Her mothers chilling stories of
Yankee soldiers’ alleged misconduct
with southern womanhood took on
added dimensions as reports of the
approaching band of northern pillagers
reached the plantation.
The ravenous Union Army, led by
General Sherman, had fought its way
into Fayetteville on March 10, 1865.
The objective of the Yankee general,
who was returning north from
Savannah — following his infamous
march to the sea, was to capture the
elaborate arsenal.
Fayetteville Captured
Situated upon a commanding emi¬
nence in the western part of the city,
the
таге
of armament storage facilities
THE STATE, September 1, 1968
and repair shops covered 20 acres and
had been a ‘thorn in the flesh” of the
Union Army.
Constructed by the Union before the
war, the estimated worth of the for¬
tress was over a million dollars.
Sherman had vowed to break into
fragments every piece of equipment
and level every building to the ground.
Against stiff resistance, he thoroughly
accomplished his mission.
The first evidence of Sherman's de¬
parture from his "journey of plunder”
was noted in Fayetteville, Yankee
soldiers were somewhat surprised when
they were ordered to destroy only com¬
mercial enterprises. This was, they
reasoned, an amazing bit of charity
since the city was defended with vigor.
To be sure, Fayetteville was termed
offensively rebellious.
Two days later. Sherman’s army
forded the Cape Fear River. Splitting
into three separate units, the troops
fanned out north and east. Sherman
accompanied the 15th Corps east to¬
ward Goldsboro,
The 500-acre Charles Howard plan¬
tation was located just over a
mile east of what is known today as
Salemburg — near Old Salem Church
Community. The Howards had three
children — Caroline, the oldest; Mary,
12; and Minson, 10. The weakened
physical condition of Howard kept him
out of the Confederate Army, Pennie
Howard, though, was a fine figure of a
woman and enjoyed robust health. She
was obviously a source of strength to
her family.
The Troops Approach
Pennie Howard's exaggerated con¬
cern for her eldest daughter’s safety
grew as the Union horde bore down on
the community. She would have to
devise some plan to divert attention
from the lovely young girl’s beauty of
form.
Stories that the Yankees would
“carry off” young boys to serve the
Union troops was also a problem to be
reckoned with. It was decided that the
elder Howard and his son would ac¬
company their slaves to Rye Swamp —
an almost impenetrable jungle of tall
trees and dense undergrowth — bor¬
dering the plantation. The rhythmic
beat of marching drums could be heard
in the distance as the group fled to the
swamp with livestock and as much of
the family’s worldly goods as they
could manage.
Caroline’s hair was braided into pig¬
tails and her frilly formfitting dress
discarded for a plain loose-hanging
pattern. Long w'hile stockings and
high-button shoes completed the ama¬
teurish disguise.
Sherman and a handful of aides rode
up to the How-ard home over a dusty
path, lined with cedar trees, late on the
afternoon of March 15. Most of the
force had camped nearby at Old Salem
Church. Mrs. Howard and the two
girls solemnly waited on the front
steps — braced for the worst.
Encounter with Sherman
Alighting from his horse, Sherman
courteously asked if food and lodging
might be provided for his men and
horses for the night. Mrs. Howard
nodded and motioned toward the barn.
The two girls drew closer to their
mother as the general came toward
them. Politely greeting the ladies, he
inquired — “and how old are you,
little girl?” Before her mother could
remind her of the attempted deception,
i
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