Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-04-05

| skill tha. proved readily the operatives wer
40 noviccs. Whilst the whole army was uni
ted in the great work of destruction, yet ac'
cordine to the inclinatons Of individuals. they
were diversified in the peculiar manner IL
which each lent his cooperation. Wills
thousands were plundering, pillaging ant
burning, others were abusing, drinking enc
insulting; others again were committing rape
adultery and fornication. { will say here
by way of explanation, that these three last
crimes we're perpetrated on the persons o
negro females, .and without any regard tc
their condition, situation, age or will. The
most brutal and horrid crimes, recorded o.
man in his most debasad condition, were
committed this night. / willdwell no Ion
ger on this part of the disgusting recital, and
will turn away. from it after saying that voiy
few neg.o females escaped the brutality Of
the 6endSh foe.)
In this manner was spent the night of the
1Tth of February. About daybreak on the
following morning General Sh'rman is re
ported to have, III person, issued. orders Tor
the Immediate cessation of piliage, piunder
incendiarism, &c, and forthwith his orders
we're put into execution. II must certainly
be confessed that the army was well dsCi.
plined, and yielded implicit obedience TO COM
manding officers. =
It is estimated that len thousand people
were rendered houseless by tho ,incendiary,
and sought shelter in the open lots and ad-
iacent woods.
In houses, have nadoa calculation that
nearly three.fourtEs of the city were destroy:
ed, aud these, in the aggregate, by iar the
best and most costly. About 100 squares or
blocks, each side Of the square All feet, we're
destroyed, and by allowing 10 houses, not
including negro quarters, outhouse-, Nc, to
each burnt square, would give grand total
of 1000 houses destroyed. The greatest
range. of fire was from the Charlotte depot,
East, to the Congaree bridge, West by South,
nearly distance of two miles, all which is
destroyed. Except. the squares which Gen.
Preston occupied. The Nuns, / am inform
: ed, requested the use of the Generals prem
ises, and their request saved hiscity property.
The next greatest range OF the fire was from
North TO Solth, which destroyed every house
on Main street Except one small cottagc):
and this measures in length about one and a
quarter miles. The area of land on which
houses were built, and extent of streets ad-
Joining, would measure over 600 square acres.
| have made the above calculations as slow
" as possible, and | have consulted with
others, all Of whom seem to consider that
they are as correct as comparison and obser-
vation could render them. 1t is authorita-
lively ascertained that seyen-eiShths Of the
entire city property is destroyed. In addition
to this, Government stores companies stores
and individual stock to an incredulous extent
became prey to the rapacty of the enemy.
There are not twenty families in the city
who escaped pillage: In many instances he
rr.cs have been robbed. Watches, rings.
bracelets, and in fact, ali the ornaments used
on the person have, ip gen raj, been torn vio-
lently from their places; and, in several in
stauces, rude aad savage hands have searched
he throbbing breasts of aged matrors and
trembling virgins. To recount the indigni ,
ties and insults offered to indiyiluals would
exceed the limits of a letter, and mist,
therefore, omit relating them. Private libra
res OF rare value, works of art, aud some
magnificent paintings, were DESTROYED in
moment
St. Mary's College. founded in 1852. hy
the Rev. j. J. O'Connell, Pastor OF the
Catholics in this city, was robbed: piaged.
nd then given to The flames. The C,llcgA.
vas vcry fine brick.bui!ding, ard capable of
accommodating ever 100 students. It had
an excellent library attached. which was Sc
lcc;cd with great care, and with no lmite'l
view to expense. 1t also possessed several
magnificent paintings executed in Rome, aid
presented to tie InslitutioA By kind patrons.
Besides ttc property belonging IL ST. Alary'*
college. that Of ia;r priests. vino wcce is
profe sors and lived there, w4sal>ocon,amed.
Each, rs is aixAys Tho case amongst be
Catholic c'e;ss5, li,l h:s Individual collection
a; ioeL3 : c.;s:in&S, stainary. a.:crcd Picture,
&C.. e.. NGa"jy Who is .ioI rigorous s.n
lem. I'd . iof.r U! iit"f>tYr- can p2s:iE!:
-r:;ize tho losses a,ita.eri ~ ta..-e Gentle
men. Manuscripts o. r:.ic y.!!::-, no;tS Aa;cn
rom lcc,mrc, Of tiie moSi eini-l>n: I:'ea *
Enropa a,.,! Amurira, orations, sern;os, 30.
are t:clsurcs mt nfen valued ~ 'io 'n:..ar,
1ut 10 Tho compiler hey '.r: more !Hiceicr'
than o;aurou;ls O.! th''oe vi" ios! =! in i.
Uary's. thr.c a'a hr'dhcr>. -: Revs. JSr''-
miahT.I. OCnnanl' LaE. err L Q'Coana'!
s.d Joseph +. G. Unnnc'i. u. ~: and Ia.
tLer. H.y. Augustus j. AicSic,l.
TIC wsi.cr .4s ne only Girr%yoien III tie
c C,le.c vi IL. t:nlc ni t..:, l;:ycuii..ai!i Qic
~: ) ajsan. on MS .!:s..':il a.'1li:rr was ~
charge al t;le ii. =. Sacramcn'. aud III" Pa
tor vas trying 10 can,:irt ;!ie Mn. J :s+s,
by order ot :, Licu;cnari: ,akcu prisoner. a'.!
though earnestly legged 10 b. alir"ed 70
save the Holy t,il:, Was refused. with curses
and b!asphe,Mies. S2c:cd vcsmlenis. cpn,c
GRATED vessels used for ti.c ce!ehralioa yf ih,
Mss. baneiicti4n of N. D. s., and all hils,
apper.aiuirs to tils. exercise Of Sacardoi;:
inictifns wcre s,ai.i:, rroiam'rl aad d.,,:rc.'a!
ted. / wsai iniorned by y Yankee Insh
Catholic that sacricgions gan:. drank wills.
key isoe. ill.,. Gagged Chalicc and exalted in
TIE conscious r5rlr. oF Tho College, rs
property, and all ii con;sined, not singlo
itca, was saved. Tie Clcrgymea saved ;:b-
so!ntely aolhiag, except the clothes on Their
perfoha.
In single moment the Pastor lost tao L.
hors u. Is years, which lie expended in reu-
dsring lis Institution q suitable place for the
education Of youth, aul lie and The other
Priests were driven out as naked Us When
thew came inio tho world.
.-.rn, t,,o r-.,o, v,,,, $50.