The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1865-04-04
Burning OfCOlunbla, s. G.

u 7 =
cinnati Gazette, we extract the account
given, Of the burning of Columbia, after
the entry of Gen. Sherman's troops.
ESIERING COLUMBIA.
Between qne o'clock p. NJ, the
18th corps began crossing the river
All the bands broke their long silence,
and every horn bugle, drum and fife in
the army, seemed straiuing to increase
the volume of music that herald the
coming of the victors. Every regi-
ment flung its tattered banner to the
breeze. Every soldier stepped within
the pride and. precision of movement
he would observe when on parade.
There was no struggling. Every horse
had on its finest trappings.
1t was an inspiring spectacle. To
one who had mingled with the troops,
and knew the bitter hostility fostered
against this naughty center of luxury,
fanaticism and wealth, the spectacle
was almost present of eiH
"a rebel city. tower and spire.
ReddeniDg the midnghtsky with fire."
I entered the city with the column.
A heavy wind was blowing, and the
air was thick with cotton flakes. All
the cotton in the city was neatly piled
up in the streets, generally at the cros-
sings, 3precaution taken by the author
tiles to prevent the burning of the city
in case we fred the cotton there. f'
APPEARANCES IN THE CITY,:
As the celumn marched. down the
principal street, the upper windows of
stores and dwellings were thrown
open, and alive with anxious and curi-
Gus spectators. The negroes had cnt
open many of the cotton bales and
strewn this valuable staple in all direc-
tions. We seemed to be marching in
a heavy snow storm, so thick was the
air with flakes ofcotton. These, catch
ing to the clothing of the troops, gave
the coluins the appearance of aproces-
sion of factory hands. There We're
large quantities of liquors and wines in
the city, and these Of Course were eager
ly sought for by the soldiers.
There are hundreds of daring and
ventursome soldiers in the army who
are continually scouting through the
country without authority, and who
seize every occasion like this of search
ing for liquor, These soldiers to whom
I have referred, many of whom are
away from their command for the pur-
pose ofplundering, and who are hearth
ly despised by the soldiers of their. reg
iments, failing to cross at the bridge,
swan the river above and below, or
crossed on RATS or in skiffs, and swan
their horses over. When l entered
the city, found representatives ofthis
class from every corps IN the army.
They were entering houses, demanding
whiskcy, and, in some cases, riHng
drawers. Many of the citizens, fool
ishly fearing, from the example of these
rumaging desperadoes, that the city
woo to be given to pillaGe and plumber,
in order to prevent the searching Of
their houses, actually brought liquor to
their gates and offered it to the troops.
Negroes who knew where liquors were
kept, led on the soldiers, broke open
stores, and distributed it in buckets.
All the negroes in the city were out
on the steets following the column, and
endeavoring to keep step with the
music. Men, women, children old and
young, were shouting welcomes to the
troops, shaking hands with each other,
dancing, laughable pranks and making
all manner of joyful manifestations
Some were drunk, and these approach
ed officers and soldiers with n freedom
that cost many a bic ody nose, or an
unpleasant conclusion tergo.
A BURNING CITY.
During the evening troops began
pouring in from the camps to see the
city. The wind increased in violence,
and burning cottonilakes were flying in
all directions. Some houses took fire
from these, and others were fired by
the troops. The flames spread with
wonderful rapidity, and by ten o'clock
were making rapid headway. BY this
time fires were breaking out in every
direction. Women and children, chill
ed by the cutting wind, and trembling
with fright, stood shfvcring in the street,
weeping, oh, you who have seen the de-
vouring clement lick up your little all
on earth, and leave yon poor indeed,
know OILY how, bitter tears, or wiring,
ing their hands in spcechfess agony. II
prayers and cries could now avail to
check the fire, darkness with the speed
oflightning would have covered all. As
the hours passed the circle of fire ex-
tended. The scenes | Witnessed Tshud-
der now to recall. %
was besought in the most frantic
terms, begging me to save their build
ing for the sake Of their little ones.-
Some had sick relatives that they i'm
plored me to save from the conflagra-
ton, and my ears were beseiged with a
multitude of prayers and supplications
that l could not grant. l started with
a lady to carry out little bedding for
o sick child, when another seized me
and begged MY assistance in another
direction. On the main street the ter
rible tumult dcfics description. The up
per stories of the business houses were
generally occupied, end these families
were the first driven from their homes.
Buildings were being ransacked by
some while others were assisting fami-
lies to save portion of their property.
Everybody seemed to be talking. COM
manding, begging, cursing, ch;ding,
screaming, mourning, crying, sciiffling
or fighting. Imagine street full OF all
classes of people of both sexes, whole
city blaze, and in this particular local
ity the conhagration so furious rs to