New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-03-22
The Surrender Of Columbus, -. C.
goo, COO Bale- Of Cotton Wni's"s-
$4,000 Refugees from shernan's
Army Expected at Wiimington-Gen'
Wade Hampton Changes His Mind
-Inseresting Statements by Union
spies-One Of them Escapes Eight
Days before He was to Have Nee"
Rxetuted.

We give below the interesting statement OF
a Union Captain, a native Of New.Oreans who was IN
the employ Of the Government as spy, and after
eighteen months confinement In Rebel prisons was set
Mt liberty by Gen. Shermans soldiers eight days beio!e
the time fixed for his execution:
wa. taken prisoner at Atlanta, in September 1868
Having discovered that had been followed by Rebel
detective for nearly three months LEFT Richmond and
proceeded 70 Atlanta and changed my Rebel uniform
for citizens clothing for the purpose Of going into tie
Union lines and the time Of being taken into GUS
tody had in my possession map OF the Rebel iortlhca
lions around Atlanta. was lodged In the Macon jail
for three days, where l was heavily roned. From
tence was removed TO Libby Prison at Richmond
and soon after had examination before Gen. Winder
who remanded for trial and sent me TO Columbia
JAIL South Carolina, for safe keeping. lremaned III
Colomha until the Goth Of December 1864, when
tried and convicted and sentenced to be hanged ON the
2sth Of February, 1865. Myself and another Union
officer were confined in cell in the upper part
a. the jail and both were heavily iroDed
When captured had 500 in greenbacks, which To-
rether with a gold watch and chain and a pair Of
cavalry boots and hat taken from me by the guard
in the presence Of an officer The rations furnished at
Columbia were invariably spint Of meal and gill Of
sorghnm. On the 10Th Of February, Gen. Sbermans
forces commenced sheipg the City Of Columbia from
The oppose side Of the Congaree River which was the
first intina,on we Lad Of his approach although We
had been auxiously looking for him. About o'clock
Cd the morning Of Feb II, heard great cOmmotion
in the street which continued until morning and at
The dawn Of day l great mass OF Citizens both
white and black copgregatDg about the market place
and helping themselves TO commissaIy stores ei there
by tie Rebels The guard bad been Withdrawn IRON
the Jail, and understood that the troops were
evacuatng The city, great number OF cattle which had
been driven 10 from the country were roaming at large
and tie citizens were collecting them together for their
own use. At O'clock the jailor, j. NJ Miller, entered
Tie cell and informed that the city would be suTrcn
dered in al hour and the sheriff soon after told US 10
rest eonented that be should deliver the keys over to
lie Union officers when would be set at liberty. At
81 o'clock DR. Goodwin, Mayor Of the city, hOisted
White flag the market steepe, ard while In tie act
Gen. Wade Hampton in command Of tie forces pre-.
rented pistol and threatened TO shoot the Mayor
ss be hauled the feg down NJ the same time asserting
That lie would defend the city 10 tie last. and would
fight the Yankees from street TO street. The Mayor
ilen took down the flag. Immediately aiier, council
ofwar, consisting Of Gen. Wade Hampton, Gen. Butler
Gen. Beauregold and Gen. Herdee. held at the
Court House and Il decided TO surrender tie city
BY q oelock AZ this time nearly all TIE Rebel forces
numbering about 1900. Lad evacuated tie city,
with tie exception Of three regiments Of WheeeI's
cavalry. ~ permission OF Ge3. Hampton, The Mayor
went out In a carriage with hagoftruce and made
formal surrender Of the city 10 COL stone commanding
Tie % Brigade, Ist Division. 18th Army Corps. Col
Stone Immediately returned 10 the city, in company
With Mayor Goodwin, with The Union flag flying from
LIS carriage and as lie passing along the streets,
followed by tie 3Ist Iowa regiment whose band was
phIng Dixie" shot vas fred at Lin without effect