American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-03-29

tne Columns marching lHIOusS5uIi IiiS oetSS'o
were beset on every side, it need be no
matter of wonder if some excitement fol-
lowed. South Carolina whisky moreover
is shade worse. even than Commilsary
whisky. The Mayor of the city was
anxious to have the whisky destroyed,
but the Governor of South Carolina said,
Z" No. let the damned Yankees drink it
and get drunk" 70 some extent they
undoubtedly did.
1t was discovered on advancing thro'
the city that Wade Hampton had had
large quantities of cotton piled in the
street. The bales had been cut open,
the cotton pulled out loosely and remain
ed all ready Tor the torch. la several
places it was actually on fire. \ high
wind was blowing at the time, which
had scattered the cotton through the
trees, and on the house-tops and piazzas,
and verandahs, the effect being in many
places as if snow storm had fallen on
the city. The fire had been set to this
cotton, the citizens said, by Wheelers
men. who was the last to leave the town.
The wind abating, the efforts which our
men made to extinguish the fire were
apparently successful. Toward evening
strong south westerly gale came up,
which famed the smouldering embers,
and the half extinguished cotton into a
blaze, and waited the newly burning tufts
of the cotton on the roofs and into the
open windows and doors of the houses
through a large, part of the city. At
the same time man who had store fill
ed with provisions which belonged to the
Rebel Government and to which our sol
diers were helping themselves, himself
set his store on fire. From the burning
co ton which had blown from the bales,
the city was soon on fire in as many as
twenty places, the soldiers endeavorins
everywhere to arrest the flames, the citi-
zens either sullenly looking on or rush
ing wildly about, and in either case max
ing no effort to stop the fire. Our escap
ed prisoners were to be seen rushing to
the houses Of those who had befriendel
them, and calling on the soldiers for help,
and they worked long and earnestly to
save the property of those who had been
kind to their comrades Before morning
however, nearly the whole city was in
ashes. Nearlp 5000 houses had been
destroyed The Old Capitol was burnt,
the new one somewhat damaged. The
Bank Note aud Treasury Buildings,
where the Rebel notes were engraved and
printed, were entirely burnt The Sis
.ers of Mercy Home was burnt, and all
the hotels. Only one church was des-
troyed.
Many of the soldiers were now intoxi.
Gated, barrels Of liquor were distributed, ;.
many women were drunk, and the city
appeared perfect pandomonium.
The day following, the arsenal and pub,
lie buildings were destroyed We found
43 heavy guns, 5000 standof small arms,
1900 rounds Of fixed ammunition, large
quantities OF heavy ammunition, and
great portion of the machinery that had
been sent here from Cha. lesion for say ETY.
at the time of the evacuation of that
place. The machine shops which were
Of vast Importance, ordinance stores of
all kinds, one complete battery Of Blakly
guns with cassions and Timber chests
were destroyed and thrown into the river
which as far as one could see seemed
black with powder This was all des-
troyed by Lieut.. Col. Baylor, Chief Ord
nance officer, who had a detail from the
Sd Division of the 18th Corps General
Clark's brigade, Tor this purpose. BY
the careless handling of the powder Il
terrific explosion occurred, killing and
wounding quite mum er Of our men.
OUR PRISONERS.
\ few days before Sherman's arrival
in front of Columbia our officers, who
were prisoners at that place, were aware
that they were to be removed. They i'm
mediately commenced tunneling, search
ing r place in which to hide until our
army could reach them All the prisou-
ers were removed The Rebels stationed
a small force around the outside of the
stockade to watch for any of the prison
ers who should come out, and to recap
ture them. A few were taken in this
manner, and the suspicious of the guard
were aroused. They came into the pris-
on, searched for the tunnels, and discov-
cred one place which looked suspicious.
Immediately they set fire to the shanty
over it, and then stood around with their
guns ready to shoot any of our prisoners
who might come out Of the hole. A
number were killed in this way, and 9TH
ers were burned to death in the tunnels.