Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-03-01
OF and From Columbia.

a last We have definite and reliable news from
Columbia; and sad and sickening tale it is
One Corps of the Yankee army entered ypur oapi-
tai on Friday, the 18th of February, between IL
and IL o'clock A. NJ. Tho remaining corps en-
canred around the town, but did not enter it.
Our informant, physioiaa and gentleman Of
high character and intelligence, well known to
many of our citizens, who was in charge O.!
Hospital in Columbia during tho Yankee occupa-
ton, and who left two days after its evacuation
by them, says Sherman's force is between sixty
i've and seventy -five thousand strong-the finest
looking men, and the most splendidly equipped,
he has ever seen and that he has no negro sol
,iiers-only negroes in his pioneer corps. The
raptoc army was in and around Columbia
from O'Clock on Friday until II on the follow
ing Monday Previous to the near approach Of
thi.ovcrwhtlming horde of vandals, Gen. BEAU
REGARD was in or near the city with between ten
and eleven thousand mon; he withdrew towards
winnsboro. Gen. Hampton, with seven or eight
hundred cavalry, kept the enemy at bay on Fri
lay morning. FROM early dawn until 10 o'clock,
when he was forced to give back; be also retired
in tho direction of Winnsboro.
Upon entering tho town, tho Yankees began
Immediately to apply the torch, and before they
ceased their work Of destruction, three fourths Of
/ our fair capital were smouldering ruins. All
houses of every kind frem Congaroe Bridge to
Main Street, and all houses of every kind, on
either side of lain Street, in its entire length,
were burned to the ground. They hoisted the
Stars and Stripes upon the old State House, and,
.Aaftcr seeing it float for few hours, hauled it
down, and burned the building. They threw shells
against tho new State House, and defaced Ii con-
silerably. The Arsenal, the ArmOry, Evans d
Cogswell's immonss Printing Establishment, the
Lutheran Church, tho Washington ST. Methodist
Church, the old Baptist Church, Christ Church
| (Episcopal,) the Roman Catholic Convent, the
Ladies Hospital the Wayside Home, and all the
Hotels arc among the buildings burned. Nor
was the fire confned to Bridge Row and Main
Street; very many elegant private residences, in
! the blocks adjoining Msin Strset were destroyed;
among them, Chancellor Carroli's, Or. Gibbes's,
DR.. Trcz.vant's, Judge DoSaussurc's, Col. CLARK
/
wr:ght's-and vast number of others. The South
Carolina College was not burnel-nor any build
ing connected with il. The Methodist Female
| College was also not burned. Sherman made his
headquarters in the elegant residence Of the ats
Mrs Hampton it was not burned. The Yankee
soldiers behaved with The greatest brutality and
fcrocity during the occupation: many ladie: who
rushed from their burning houses, carrying in
their arms clothes and, valuables Of different
kinds, had these sratched away from them and
tossed back into the flames All houses not con-
sumcd by fire, were entered and ruthossly robbed.
Vast quantities Of val uablO furniture china, glass,
&c, wcro wantonly smashed and destroyed No
white jlays '-erc displuycl-nor any trucking to
the invader!
After rcisu of terror Of three days, Sherman
evacuated Columbia and marched towards Winns-
boro. considerable number of negroes follow
cd him from the town and surrounding country !;
Of thosc, all the woman and children speedily rs-
turncd, he having refused to feed them. Many
of the men likewise returned. The train which
vas conveying Of tho Yankcc prisoners lately
confnol in Columbia, is said to have been overta-
ken by Sherman, the prisoners rocaptured, aud
Capt. Sem Confederate Officer in charge Of them,
killed.
In Columbia, the Yankee: surpassed all thsif
former barbariy .ndiuhumaiiity. 'Tis thus they
glut The sectional animo:iles the envy, hatred
and malice Of thirty years growth. In the con-
sciousacss of poacr, they goad the. South to ,ho
Gght, witll5Le fell determination Of crushing its
pride and humbiing us in the dust at their feet.
There is nothing left FOR TIC Confederate people
but 70 put themselves in condition of Thorough
organization, and the whole country in anSntti-
tuic of determined and undying defence. The
issue is determination or slavery.
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