The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-03-23
Rebel Account of the Capture of COlumbia,S. C

Rebel Account Of the Capture of COlumbia,S. c
Letter from Felix C. Def ontaIne. Editor of
the Columbia South CaroIinla,.
From the Richmond Wing
CHARLoTTE, February %, '65-Time has
sufficiently quieted our nerves and restored
healthy circulation, to enable one to mar
rate consistent story of his troublesome
hours through which we of Columbia have
been led during the last week.
Shermans advance on Columbia was I'M
expected. Sudden as surprising, it found us
all unprepared for the events which follow
ed and few cool enough in the crisis to yield
to any other than the bent of the first inn
pulse. Hence hundreds are to-day exiles
from home who would give almost their all
to be safely back They have learned that
being refugee don't pay.
Orangeburg and kingsville are supposed
to be the highest points northward on that
line at which Sherman would strike. The
people who planned his campaign thought
from thence he would branch off toward
Cheraw and Fayetteville, leaving Columbia
untouched. -Four days dispelled the illusion.
Our troops fell back until the sound of can
non reverbrated through the city. Then
public officers for the first time began to
think Of removing. the Government stores
The instructions from Richmond had left
many of them no other discretion. Hurry,
excitement and some confusion became the
order of the day. Every body, public and priv
ate wanted car. The President of the Cha r
lotte and South Carolina Railroad, Col. VIM
johnson, his assistants, Capt. Sharp, the
agent OF transportation, and his aids, now
bent their energies to the Herculean task
before them, and accomplished all that men
could do. The trains from the South Caro-
lima and Greenvile roads were run upon the
Charlotte track, filled and hurried away to
return and fill again. Engines shrieked
their signal notes morning noon and night
The activity was ceaseless. The depots
were crowded with goods of every descrip
ton. Passenger trains were thronged, la
dies and families in their fright undergoing
the most grievous torments of travel to es-
cape from what they believed was doomed
city. The city resounded with the rumble
of thousand wheels, all bearing their
freight to the grand funnel out of which it
was to be discharged. horses, wagons, ne
groes, everything thai could aid in the re-
movaI Of property was brought into requis
ton, and between force and persuasion, all
immense amount of labor was systematically
rapidly and judiciously employed.
Wednesday night the tide was at its
height. The enemy were within three
miles. The little army IN their front had
given back step by step until fanked out of
the Notifications on the opposite side of the
Congaree, they retired to the limits of the
city itself, where in line of battle again re-
formed. Three or four shells thrown at the
bridge increased the popular agitation until
it became fever. The stores were clos ed.
Militia and detailed men were at the front.
Army trains began to move through and
the truth at last flashed upon the minds of
all; the city must inevitably be evacuated.
Few slept soundly in their beds during the
night that followed.
Thursday, the enemy opened on the city
with shells. Some damage was done. but
few casualties are reported One gentleman
only is said to have been killed. The State
House, Nickerson's Hotel, South Carolinian
office together with some private residences,
were paid an iron compliment, and the in
mates evacuated without the usual polite
formalities of leave taking. Still the work
of removal went bravey forward and vast
amount was accomplished. The time was
too brief however, to do ALL and hundreds
Of thousand dollars worth of public and pri-
vate property remained in and about the de-
pot, as the prey to the Yankee torch and
pilferer.
The worst feature of the entire scene oc-
Cured on the day of which write A par
ty OF Wheeler's cavalry, accompanied by
their officers, dashed into the town, tied
their horses, and as systematically as if
they had been bred to the business, proceed
ed to break into the stores along Main street
and rob them Of their contents. A detach
ment OF detailed men fired OH one party and
drove them out. Capt. Hamilton, the Pro
vost Marshal, with another officer drew
swords and pistols on another party. and
succeeded in clearing several establishments
but the valiant raiders still swarmed like
locusts, and today, a hundred miles away
from Columbia, you may see men smoking
the cigars and wearing on their saddles, the
elegant cloths stolen from the merchants of
that city. 1t is said that two of the cavalry
drew pistols on Gen. Hampton, who was
attempting to protect store, and threaten
ed to take his life.
CDuef THESE circumstances YOU NAV well
imagine that our people would rather see
the Yankees, or old Satan himself than a
party of the aforesaid Wheeler's cavalry
The barbarities committed by some of them
are represented to be frightfnl. Life, lib
erty and pursuit Of happiness" being per-
fectly Incompatible with their presence
Common rumor says that Sherman's
treatment of citizens and private property
was uniformly Ienient and conciIatory. His
headquarters were at Nickerson's Hotel
The scenes up the railroad may be briefly
described. Crowds at every depot seeking
temporary shelter; some getting off, some
getting on; twenty trains laundering one
after the other in quick succession; scream
ing locomotives, crying babies, tearful
women, families travelling in box cars
among piles of bacon, salt bandboxes, trunks
and bedclothes; breakdown near Wins
boro; engine off the track; ten hours delay:
enemy reported coming; more CONSERVATION;
a long night no wood, no water, no break
fast; ten car loads of ladies of the Treasu-
ry Department in most inattractive morn
ing dishabjUe, with hair unkempt and hol-
low, sleepy eyes, shivering about in the red
mucillaginous mud; ten or twelve carloads
OF Yankee prisoners just ahead, likewise at
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