New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-03-18

procession of broken down mules ragged "bummers,
and the Quaker guns" The cost-tas Of the lEebes
disappeared at one end OF the town the do Boys
entered at the other.
When The army was marching toward Midway NJ
above described smoke horse ranger was reen rush
ing toward the front with an old bit of carpet on his
mule for blanket and couple Of ropes with nocses for
stirups in which his feet rested This hero came rush
ing up 10 Gen Howard, and shouted out: General
the bummers have taben the railroad and are in Inc OF
battle fighting 10 hold it, and II you only hurry ~
think they'D hold it, Tie General did hurry up. and
found the railroad Us the smoke ranger had said. IN
possession Of about seven bummeIs. who were busly
engaged shrinking at long range with detachment
Of Wheee.'s cavalry.
AT Congarec Greek just in front Of Columbia The On
envy was met in force on the 10Th OF feoruafS'
Wade HGmptOns cavalry there making its hrst appear
arce. The army was then entirely IN hand all He
corps being united. and Hampton discovering the con
dion Of affairs and the number Of the enemy he mu't
expec. to meet disappeared burning the bridges after
him on all the roads This made II necessary TO pIbs
the poontoon isains 10 the front. bridge was toWh
across the Sauda Biver just below tie dam OF the SAN
da cotton factory ard abon FIVE miles above tie eiiy Of
Columbia The Sauda and Broad rivers join just above
Columbia. forming a peninsuar, TO which tie l1th
Corps crossed the evening Of the 10Th OF February
During the night aud following morning most oil
the Seventeenth Corps crossed. The men were at once
sent over a swing ferry the Broad River nrTiv
ing on the main land the same side as Columbia
The Fifteenth Corps started on tie same morning To
march into the city. Col Stones brigade having the
advance and entered the city about the middle of The
day. Meantime tie 18th Iowa, under Lieuf.Col Ken
nedy Gen Giles 4. Smiths division Of the Seventeenth
Corp9 crossed The river on ponoons directly opposite
The city Gen. Smith wrote the following nNe to Gen.
Blaii:
HDQEs. FouEIH DIVISION, SLvIN1EINlH \. G..
CoLUNBIA. 8 G, Feb. Il. ls6J.
Noioy- Gen. T. =. BLAIR. ConmGndi 'R ia 4. C.
The cocrs OF he 18th Iowa were suspended over the
Capitol at ID o'clock National salute Is now being
f.ed by Capt Clayton list Minnesota Baiief! 10 CON-
rnemopsie this event.
GiLrs A. sM1H, Brevet Major'Gen.
As there has been some dispute about the hosting Of
these oolors give this in order to put record the
.c declaration Of the fact that the honor belongs TO
the 18th Iowa.
On our entrance into the city tie women rushed fran
tically into The with bottles ofvsky aud ba
fns Of whisky and cups Of whisky and whisky every
sort Of vessel The soldiers naturally were not aYors
TO little WHISKY When II was pressed upon them IN
this manner. ard thel columns marching through
the tsreets were beset on every SIDE II need
be no matter of wonder II some excitement
followed. South Carolina whisky moreover is shade
worse even than Commssary whisky. The Mayo. u he
city was anxious have the whisky destroyed bat 'ho
Governor Of South Carolina said No let the damned
Yankees drink II ant get drunk. To some extent the.
undoubtedly did.
Ii was discovered Oh advancing through le city hist
Wade Hampton had had large quantities Of cotton
piled IN the street The bales had been cnt open the
COTTON pulled out loosely. AND remained oil ready Tor
the torch In several places it was actually on ire
high wind was blowing at the time, which had scat
tered the cotton through the trees and on the
louse.tops and pazzas. and verspdal'. the e.
feet being in many places as If snow storm
had fallen on the city. The IRE had been set 10
This cotton. the citizens said by Wheeler men, who
were the last leave the town The wind abatng the
efforts which made 10 extinguish tie fire were
apparently successful Toward evening strong south.
westerly gale came up which famed the smoudering
ember. and the half eItingusbed cotton into blaze
and waited the newly burning tufts Of tho cotton ON to
the roofs and into the open windows and doors of the
houses through large part Of the city. AT the same
aim. man who had store filed Will provisions which
belonged 70 the Rebel Government, and to which our
soldiers were helping themselves, himself so
his store on FIRE From the burning cotton
which had blown from the bales, the city
WAS soon on fire in rs many ~ twenty places
the soldiers enAeavoriDg everywhere 20 arIest tho
fsnc the citizens either sulleDly looking on or rust
ing wildly a0out and in either making DO effort 20
stop To fire Orr escaped prisoners were to be seen
rushing to The houses OF those, who had befilcnded
.hen and calling the soldiers for help, AMI they
worked long and earnest! 10 sese the property OF
those who hat been X nd 20 their comrades. Before
incoming however nearly the whole city was in ashes.
Nearly 900 houses had been destroyed. The Old Cap
itol was bucui The new one somewhat damaged The
Bsnk Note and Treasury Buildings. where the Rebel
notes were engraved and printed were entirely burnt
The Sisters o; Mercy Home burnt, and all the ho
tcls Only oYe church was destroyed.
MANY Of the soldiers were now intoxicated barrels 81
liouor were distributed many women were drunk aud
the city appeared perfect randemonium
The day following. the arsenal and public buildings
were destroyed W. found - heavy guns ZOO stand
Of small arms p 900 rounds Of fixed ammunition large
Quantities Of csvy ammunition sud great portion %
ito machinery that had been sent here from Charleston
for safety at tie time Of the evacuation Of that place
The machine shops, which wore of vast importance,
ordrance sores q sil kinds, ole complete battery Of
Bakiy guus with caissoas and timber chests we've &c
stroved and thrown into the i'er which ~ far a. one
cord zee seemed black with the powder This Was al
rroycd Nv Lieut.. Col Baylor, Chief Ordnance oicrf
who had de,ai, from the I'd Division OF tie 18th Corps
Cen Ca,l brigade. foT Til. purpose. Dy the caeess
handling o. the powder a terrific explosion occurred,
killing and vounding quite number OF our men,
OUR PRIsoSgRs.