Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1864-12-03
The March of DesoIation.

The March of fDesolation.
When the Confederate troops under
McC Causland, in default of ransom, burned
the town of Chambersburg, the Admins
tration press of the North simultaneously
cried shame outrage! vandalism But
that one act of incendiarism, though we
denounced it at the time, was no part OF
a system. twas an isolated case, provok-
ed by the ruthless sweep Of destruction and
rapine that had previously marked tn,
course of Federal raiders. During the
earlier stages Of tho war our armies alb
stained from the wanton destruction of
private property. Alta later date the prac-
tice of sackiug, burning, and pillaging was
confined to raidipg expeditions. But DOW it
seems that system of devastation has been
inaugurated as a matter Irregular military
routine for the grand armies Of the Repub.
lie.
"The army will forage ibsrally on the
country during the march" Such is the
language of General Shermaa's General
Orders. "To army corps commanders is
entrusted the power to destroy mills, ,hcus-
es, cotton gins, etc." and should auy at
tempt be made on the part of the enemy to
obstruct the march by burning bridges,
obstIueling roads, or otherwise, Chen ar.
nv corps commanders should order and
enforce devastation moro or less relent,
less, to measure of such hostility In the
natural course of hostilites, it is to be PIE.
sumed that bridges will be burned, roads
obstructed and other methods known in
warfare used 10 impede the advance Of an
invading army. The work of ofdevastation
more or less relentless, is therefors FORE
gone conclusion. Already the progress OF
desolation has become apparent-Atlanta
Rome, Kingston, Calhoun, Canton, Ack-
worth, Monticello, Hillsborough, Marietta
Jonesborough, McDonough, all are report
cd to have been given 10 the flames. Suct
record of destruction within so brief 4
space of time, aud within so limited al
area Of territory, is unknown in the histo
ry of warfare. The path of Attila wa
never marked by SO broad ruin. Tb
torch goes in the van Of Sherm s legion
and ashes sre in their rear. Are we pre-
pared to contemplate the consequence
Hood throateus Tennessee. tits impossi
be to foresee how far he may penetrate
into Federal territory! Can we hop
that he will refrain from retaliation Th
North has been invaded, and what ha
bean may be. Should Southern arm
or a detachment of bold Southern rider,
advance again into Pennsy!vania,o or shoul
they make dash into Ohio, or should th
fortune of war give them an hours swa
in Washington, our citizens could appet
neither to their justice nor 10 their mere
for security against the torch. They woul
carry with them the remembrances Of She
mans march through Georgia. and OIL
citie., villages and granaries and tue wealt
Of cur fertile fields would vanish beneat
their tread. We regret that as brave an
skiIlul a commander as General Sherma
should have adopted this system Of deVa
tation. That be has inaugurated it at Il
threshold of Mr. Linooln's new term
Office is still more deplorablr. It loci
like beginning to the mission Of extern
ination, aOd the promised olive branch hi
Mitharad before it hlo,somed.