Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-03-07

,rapeh Of towards Cheiaw and Fayetteville, leav,
M Coln,nbia untouched. Pour days dispelled the
lnsion. Onr troops fell back until the Ronnds oil
.annon reyerberated through the city Then pub
IL officers for the first time began to think OF re-
ewing the Government stores The instructions
from Richmond had left many ofthemno other dis
.~ation. Hurry. excitement and some confusion
became the order OF the days Everybody, public
aud private wanted ear, The President OF
the Charlotte and South Carolina RAILROAD,
Colonel William Johnston, his assistants,
Cnptain Sharp the agent OF transportation, and
his aids now bent their energies 60 the Herculean
task before them, aud accomplished all that men
could do The trains from the South Carolina and
Greenville roads were upon the Charlotte track,
filled and hurried away TO return and NIL again
Engines shrieked their signal notes, morning, noon
and night The activity cesseleSs. The de-
pots we're crowded with goods OF every description
Passenger trains were thrOnged ladies' aud families
in their fright undergoing the most grieyo1s tor
tneuts of travel 10 escape from what they beleVed
was doomed city. The city resouEded with the
rumble of = thousand wheels, all bearing their
freight 70 the grand funnel out Of whichit was TO
be discharged. Horses, wagons, negroes-eVery-
thing that could aid in the removal OF property was
bronRht into TequiSitiOn, aud between force and
persuasion, an immense amount of labor was sys
tematically, rapidly and judiciously employed.
By Wednesday hight the tide was at ITS height
The enemy were within three miles. The little
army in their front had given back step by step ut
ti hanked cut OF the Notifications on the opposite
side of the Congaree they retired To the limits OF
The city ITSELF where line Of battle again Reform
cd. Three or four shells thrown at the bridge IN
creased the popular agitation until 1t became ie-
yer The stores we're closed. Militia aud detailed
men were at the front Army trains began toimOve
through and the truth at last flashed nPon the
minds OF all that Columbia must inevitably be'evac-
uated Few slept soundly in their beds duriag the
night that followed. r.."
THURSDAY, the 10Th, the enemy opened OH tue city
wiIh shells Some damage was done, but few casu-
allies gTe reported. Que gentleman only Is SAID to
have been killed. The Ststs House, Nicsersons
Hotel South Carolinian office, together with some
private residences, were paid an iron compliment,
and the inmates evacuated without the usual polite
iornaiitieS of les-e-iaking. Still the work of re-
moyal went braycIy forward and vast aEouat was
accomplished The time too brief, however, To
10 all and hundreds OF thousands OF dollars worth
of public and private property remained "a and
about the depot, AS prey 10 the Yankee torch and
pilirrer.
the day Of which / write. A party OF Wheeler's
cavalry, accompanied by their Officers dashed into
Gown, tied their horses and As systematically as u
theV had been bred TO the business, proceeded 10
break into tbs stores along Main street and rob them
Of their contents A detschment OF detailed men
Hamilton, the Provost Marshal, with aaolhar OIL
GER drew swords and pistols ON another party, and
succeeded ia clearing several establishments; but
the valiant raiders still Swarmed like lOcuSts, AMI
Today hundred miles away from ColumbiS you
NAV see men smoking the cigars and wearing Ou
their saddles the elegant cloths stolen from the
merchants of thai CHS u j. sold that two Of the
cavalry drew pistols ON Gen. Hampton WHO was
attempting to protect store, and threatened his
life.
Under these circumstances you may well imagine
that our people would rather see the Yankees or old
Satan himself than a party Of the aiofesad
Wheeler's eayalsy, The barbaritieS comBikied by
some OF them are represented 10 b. ffghttu life,
liberty aud the pursuit Ot happiness being perfectly
with their presence.
What transpired on Friday, do not, from per-
,onal observation, know. The city was evacnated
cotton burned having been previously piled IN diff
ferent localities tor the purpose, aud the enemy
marched in. Since that time the real condition OF
tnairs IN COla1sbia Is As sealed book Large fires
are reported; and, 9r.DIg others Yankee pickets
tate that the elegant MANSIONS of Hon. Mr. Tren-
aolm Gen. JnO. S. Preston aud Gen. Hampton are
DESTROYED The western portion Of the city Is said
TO be in ashes resulting from the Ignition of keat
ing & Balls Confederate note establishment, from
which the flames spread through the most elegant
portion OF the city 10 the Charlotte Depot These
statements are not reliable.
Common rumor SAYS that Sherman'S treatment Of
citizens and private property was uniformly e0ient
and concllat0ry HIS headquarters were at Nick
erson's Hotel.
The scenes up the railroad may be brieny de-
,cribed Crowds at every depot seeking Temporary
shelter; some getting oh more getting on; twenty
Grains laundering along one after the other quick
succession screaming locomotives, crying babies,
fearful women families travelling in box cars among
piles Of bacon, salt, bandboxes, trunks an bed
clothes a break down near Winnsboro; engine oil
Tie track ten hours delay; enemy reported coming
more CONSERVATION; long night; no wood, no
vater no breakfast. ten carloads of ladies OF the
Treasury Department IN most HnaStractlVe morn
ug disic4biUt with hair unkenpt ana hollow,
sleepy eyes slipping about IN the red muciaglous
mud: ten or twelve carloads of Yankee prisoners
lust ahead, likewise at dead halt; the guards
around their camp 6res, ana the Individuals OF
,erulean aspect singing with tremendous energy
Union songs; still ahead the section masters and
rack layers with gang ef laborers repairing tic
oad and holding post mOgtea consultations over the
remains of a deserted engine-inally, run back
hree miles a filling of tanks, fresh start, and AZ
rival at Charlotte, There an avalanche Upoa the
good people an appeal TO hospitality which is most
warmly heeded, and gradual simmeringd down OF
al the elements in agitation. Such, in bre is the
history Of cur execution OF Columbia.
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