The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-03-21
FURTHER PROM COLUMBIA.
Correspondence of the South Carolinian.
EnIuNIpIA Mach G. .1QR5

4
| Correspondence of the South Carolinian.
COLUMBIA, March 6, 1865
left home on last Monday morning, 10 CON-
pany with friend, for the purpose OF paying q
visit to the capital of Our beloved State aud noting
the destruction which marks the track of our van
dial foe The first evidence we had of the pre-.
| seRce ef the destroyer, occurred about ten miles
below Chester, in the shape of barricade of fence
rails thrown across the road; and including within
the area of the camp, large church aud grave
yard. The church we found open and stripped of
all its little articles of comfort and elegance-the
building and stoves alone remaining intact. At
Mir Hemphils, a short distance below the church,
we learned that they had burned the gle house,
| and murdered faithful servant who refused to
betray the confidence his master reposed in him.
His words were, "I'll die before will betray my
master" "Die them" said the fends in human
shape "since you prefer it," and instantly riddled
him with bullets. The friend of the negro!! At
DR.. James Mohley's in Fairfield, the work of des-
truction was carried on 10 good earnest. Dwelling
house, cotton house, barns and stables, were all
laid in ashes. Cattle and hogs were slaughtered
wantoply, aud left to rot just where they FELL
Below White Oak Station, there are but two
houses left, until you reach Winnsboro, distance
of eight miles. At Mr. Adger's counted as many
as ten head of CATTLE lying in enclosure of not
more than half acre.
LII w IuuSUoiO, tWeuty muses. were UuEneu, 3D0
the whole town sacked and Invested Of provisions.
Below Winnsboro the work of destruction is not
so marked until you reach Columbia, and here the
scene of desolaton presented to the eye Of the
traveller beggars all description. The rain poured
10 torrents, as my travelling companion and my
self entered the city by the way of Cotton Town,
as if in harmony with the genius of destruction
now presiding the i'll starred city. On either
hand we nothing but blackened ruins-a forest
kA.l II. l.
and the crumbliEg ruins of what had recently been
elegant residences or commodious houses of bust
ness. One solitary person was seen fitting about
the top of the hi on which Cadwels Hotel once
stood, and soon be was hid from sight, as though
he were the ghost of some departed citizen, who
had returned from the shades of death, to weep
over the destruction of his beloved capital. The
destruction of Main street is so complete that /
observed but two sign. boards, with the names of
the streets inscribed on them left. and singularly
enough, one was called "Lumber" and the other
"Washington" street. The hotels court house.
Jail, convent, stores, are all involved in one CON-
mon ruin. Kinslers Hall. in particular, looks like
the skeleton Of some huge giant, who, having laid
himself down to sleep, awakes no more.
We now proceeded to the new Stare House and
rode around it. No injury has been done to it
the breaking off piece of the cornice on the
South east corner, and the crash of she'll against
nifcent structure is untouched save the mutilaion
of the beaks of the eagles, Immediately under the
busts of Robert Y Hayne and George McDufie
The busts themselves are unDjured The old
State House is burned, and almost all the work
shops and Offices in the immediate vicinity. Much
of the marble work ready for use has been des-
troyed. The granite blocks remain as firm and
mistaken as our cause; and the glorious palmetto
(iron) in front of the old, and in the rear of the
Gtaf infaa T
most remarkable, when we remember the hate of
our vandal foe against South Carolina anu all her
embiens.
Nearly all the residences East and South of
State House square have been burned. The fire
sweptaround Trinity aud the Presbyterian churches,
leaving them standing, almost alone, as monu-
ments of Gods care of His own So also the new
Baptist Church and the Female Academy on Wash
ington street are left, brands plucked from the
burning" But poor old Washington St. Meth
odist Church." with the Lecture room and Parson-
ages attached, have all been swept away, and are
now numbered with the things that were.
The fire ragged through three squares deep East
of Maio, and extended nearly to the Lunatic Asy-
lum, carrying with it the new Episcopal and
Lutheran churches, and all the handsome resi-
dences, and other buildings 10 the very centre and
heart of the city, Truly it is sad sight to zee
our beautiful capital made the picture Of desola-
ton. / learned that the Yankees sacked and then
set fire to The city, in number of places It was
not the result of accident but of fcndish design,
and malicious hate, that Columbia was burned.
In the country some instances of hanging oc-
Cured, at least partially so in order that parties
might be forced to indicate the places where val
tables were concealed. This, with insults offered
to females, and general insolenee of manner, is |
enough to make the blood of any Southron boil
with Indignation. Many sad tale of wrong and
injury will be handed down to future generations.
In the meantime let us rest for the present, from
the recital of wrongs inflicted on our bleeding
country. OLD JEFF.