The Fairfield courier. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-03-23
TIE YfsIr on aaE5 fsRBSrHi4D4sf
ACE TO OUR TOWN, Se.


Gem BEAuREsARb, commenced their
march through our town. having pfevi.
ously evacuated Columbia, S. O., and on
Monday afternoon, Feb, 90, 1865, the
last ofdur brave army had completed
their passage through. f',r'.'a.
Following this, Of course, we were
expecting the columns of the enemy, as
they had no opposing force to keep them
back. Accordingly, on Tuesday morn
ing, FEB, u, 1865, about 81 o'clock,
the advance Of she Yankee army. (bum.
n'ers, as they are called by their troops,
but we designate them as thieves,
house.bufhers and cut-throats, rode into
our town and commenced the work Of
pillaging aud destroying every thing
they could lay hands on. vi a','"
OF the damage done our citizens, and
the destruction Of property, it would
take more graphic pen than ours, to
describe thoroughly. Private dwellings
were entered ruthlessly, all kind Of nee.
essaries oflife and luxuries were stolen ;
and, in some cases that we heard of,
helpless women were cursed and threat.
ened to be shot if they did not deliver
up keys Of apartments. The fiends act
cd as if they were deputation sent
from Hell to destroy the earth. 4 Bar.
bariahs could not have. completed their
work with more satisfaction than did
the United States troops fighting un.
der a flag lat we once hopored and
loved but now made more cursed to us
than the vilest reptile that inhabits this
globe. ,a sad , .'a 23H
Our once beautiful town presents now
a most pitiful sight. Residences and
stores that once Lifted their proud heads
to Heaven are now numbered among
the things thatwere-charred ruins now
meet the gaze where once the busy feet
of man passed in the daily pursuits Of
life. And all this is done, by people
calling themselves men--they have be.
lied their title, not being even fit for an
association among the brutes they have
slain, whose carcasses meet the eye on
our public roads. .,asa ,ym
For awhile after these "bu,nmersp
came INTO our town, pillaging seemed to
be their only intent, and our opinion
was that we were going to escape from
scenes of fire. but we were mistaken
in our calculation. Perhaps about an
hour anda half after the entrance of the
first troops we were aroused by, the cry
of fire, and then commenced a scene
which beggars description. The enemy
were not content with stealing from us
our provisions and valuables, but de-.
stroyed, by burning private property.
The store belonging to, and occupied
by Mr.. d. LAuDERpALE, was the first to
receive the torch. The buihmg, being
old, soon ignited, and the flames spread
rapidly from house to house, extending
north to the store formerly occupied by
Mr.. LEvENrRITr and south to- and in.
eluding the store of Mr.. A. d. HILIrARD;
thence crossing to The residence Of
that esteemedlady, Mrs. g. EADp, burn.
ing on her right and left--on the left up
to the building of j. ID. AIKEN, Esq, one
Of the lower floors of which is known as
the Bank Of Fairfield and on the right
to and including the, Odd Fellows Hall
the Aamds ragged with terrific fury, bid.
ding fair TO destroy esury house in our
town. This occurred on Tuesday; Feb.
81. T@.-@a y'f' % a'F" pa
Everything, after tho conhagration
had ,spentits fury, seemed to take lull
4