Sixteenth
South Carolina
C.S.A.
"Redemption in '76'
From the Wallace House"
Sixteenth
South Carolina
C.S.A.



"The Bonnie Blue"
Music by Dayle K.


From Columbia
Legislative Hall
December 1

Mr. John C. Bailey:
Dear Sir:

House has been in session since yesterday morning, without a moment’s intermission. To leave the House for any length of time, would be hazardous to our interest, as both parties are striving for the mastery. We mean to "hold the fort" if the United States Troops will (remain) hands off. We have our meals for the most part sent to us. Both parties - the Democrats and the Rump - occupy the hall. we recognize only our speaker; the Rump only theirs.

No legal business as yet, of course, transacted. Miscellaneous discussion is the order of the day - going on all day yesterday, most of the night, and all day today, up to this writing, 5 o'clock P.M.; and heaven only knows, judging from appearances when it will quit.

Will write you an occasional letter when not so closely confined as we have been for the last four or five days. Will also send you brief daily telegrams. Such Babel of confusion in the hall it is impossible to write.

Very Respectfully Yours,

J. Thomas Austin
(Lt. J. Thomas Austin)
(Company H)
(Sixteenth South Carolina) 		Letter from General Kruger to General Sherman

Columbia, South Carolina
December
General W.T. Sherman
or
Secretary of War
Washington, D.C.


I have carefully abstained from the organization of the House from the first. On the application of the Governor, (A Radical)and my belief for the necessity therefore, for the preservation of the peace, I placed troops in the State House, but not in the rooms of the Assembly, or either of the Houses, on the day of the meeting.

T.H. Kruger
Commanding the Department

The Holding of the Fort

All night long on Thursday night the members of the lawful as well as the members of the bogus legislature remained in the hall of the House of Representatives - General Wallace, the speaker of the lawful House, remaining at his post almost continually, being relieved for short periods only by the Democratic members. Mackey (Radical), too was on hand.



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