Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-04-05
From the fae:dss.or.
An Account Of the Burning and Sackins
OF Columbia.

:
OF Columbia.
Occupat;on caa Destruction Of 'Calaai5i" hy
tss Observation-Disclosures Treatment Of tie
}1sadalism Of tie Iarendiary,
". T.. Sherman, ard las Stcrilsgions -ir-
my-Burainy Of St. MsrY's Catko:'c Coz
lsye, Hnnnsry, dc, dc. -
CoLuun1a, S. c., March Il, 1865.
Eplross PAclelcAroE: I preface the fol-
lowing remarks by stating, on the 7eracity Of
nv sacerdotal character, that every fac! hal
iege hiss been witnessed by myself CT related
c. me- by aest respectable authority. This
Letter will be read by the citizens here who
have passsd through the same shocking scene
as u.9spl. and personal motives reqrSre ne,
even if otherwise disposed, ~ relate TIE plain,
simple tratl. will therefore, Supprsss ex-
agperated r,mors and all reports which
could not fully su5stantiete be:are court Of
Oa the 9Th u,t, Columbia was occupied
BY Confederate forces in snail numbers. Gen
eral Wade Hampton was in full command,
and used all his military skill to keep the en-
e,ny ct BAY, evidently with the object Of re-
mesincas much of the public property as
possible. He succeeded in thi.. only to q
very limited extent.
The enemy, in the meantime, were drawn
,n IN line of battle, on the hills overlooking
Columbia and separated from it BY the
Bread and Saluda rivers, as well also rs the
Coucaree river, which magnificent and navi-
sa5l. stream is formed. at Columbia by the
confluence OF both tie former rivers
Eariy on the 18th, the enemy opened fire
IN the city from their guns, and discharged
.ono one hundred aud fifty or two hundred
shells, which ferl, with great accuracy, into
the most crowded and densely populated sec
tons 4 few shells were thrown ct various
other points. And this was the first act Of
unwarranted cruelty which the inhabitants
exo.rienced at the hands of tke foe. There
we're few, il any, soldiers, perhaps some strAg-
glers, at the points selected by the Yankee
fire. and no notice whatsoever was served On
cur military authorities or the citizens.
j scene of horror, confusion and alarm
wss tie result Women running away dis
,rs,,ed from their houses, and bearing OF
,,c:r tsrobbing bosoins oHc, and IN several
;,s.arce.. two infants--tiie united shreks
su,i ;..mcntstittns of whom reminded one vi
vjdiy of similar scenes in the destruction OF
Jerusalem, has described by the historian
Jo.ephus. Old men, too, shared the ssne
spo,e., and all were benunbed VITA fear
a,I stricken with terror. Others, who had
Witnessed similar scenes, and were aecus:on-
ol t. tic roar OF caanon, looked on calmly
nd v.inlv cndeavorcd to assuage the fears Of
the striehtel. 1T is amentable to relate that
whilst this istragedy was taking place, SOM, Of
Whecler's man we're busily engaged plunder
inc tue houses df the wo-stricken fusitivcs;
j.ii neyertheless. such IVES truly the case.
OF course, rs ri-aal, little damage WAS done
,,r tie si..lls. sud no bodily injury was in
a;5ie4. i f,,g houses were struck; the new
State uoaso bears a few slight marks-mere
indenta:ions. II the ineendiary and sacEi'i
reous Sherman witnessed the fight -ot thc
and tlhecs, or'if lie could, by sop:e
m.,;,. c,ntriynncr, hear tie throbtnEs .
;.,... + 49,. &,i-ccnilt the vibrations o
-. 3ui,, IS li>l,;l,ieat,a 10 t;sr vitai;tr, h
;..i..,3 .a,:,i h.-,a rayeii.', Ia fast CT aea
sr,liry hlch lcw tirarts ever tasted.
But all this is only triAins With the grand