It was amusing to see with what good humor and nonchalance the colored people and the soldiers regarded the conflagration.
Two negro women passed me, carrying great bundles on their heads.
"I's clean burned out," said one.
"So is I"; and they both laughed as if it was very funny.
"Let 'em burn: who cares?" said one soldier. "They have fought us, and now let 'em suffer."
"We have got to do guard duty, and it is a little more comfortable to be quartered in a house than to sleep in a shelter-tent, so let us save the place," said another; and the two went to work with a will to subdue the flames.
General Sherman's Special Field Order No. 15, dated January 16, 1865, permitted the freedmen to take possession of the abandoned lands. A meeting—called by General Saxton, who had been appointed Inspector—was held in the Second African Baptist Church, a large building, which was crowded to its utmost capacity by the colored people. It was the first meeting ever held in Savannah having in view the exclusive interests of the colored people.
The organist was playing a voluntary when I entered the church. He was a free colored man, a native of Charleston, having a bullet-shaped head, bright, sparkling eyes, and a pleasant voice. He had lived in Savannah nine years, and was a music-teacher,—giving instruction on the violin, piano-forte, and organ, also vocal music, to persons of his own race. He was in the habit of putting in clandestinely some of the rudiments of the English language, although it was against the peace and dignity of the State. He dared to open a school, and taught in secret in the evening; but a policeman discovered that he was an incendiary, and he was compelled to hide till the matter was forgotten.
"When the voluntary was completed, the choir sung Rev. Mr. Smith's American hymn,—
"My country, 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing."