The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-03-21
REBEL REPORTS.
incidents Of Gen. Shernan's March
Through south CarOlina-Further
Particulars Of tho Capture Of CO.
I'm

Particulars Of the Capture Of CO.
iumbia.
From the Richmond Dispatch. March IA
Our southern exchanges, irhich hare
gotten thyoaqk the mail blockade, gives us
some intelligence of the scenes OF barba-
risIn which have attended Sherman's
march. Dr. Glover, of Orangeburg, South
Carolina, who was capturedby Sherman's S
troops between Orangebnrg Court House
and Columbia, and held as prisoner un-
til the Yankee army passed Lancaster
Court House, was with the enemy in
their march through Columbia and
Winnsboro'. and gives the Charlotte
North CarOlina) Democrat an interesting
account of their conduct in those places,
and on the line of march.
There was no regular battle at Colnm-
bia-only slight skirmishing on the part
of our cavalry The enemy commenced
marching into the city on Friday, the
18th. and very soon after the city was
in flames The conflagration extended
from the capitol, on both sides of Main
street, to Cotton Town, consuming about
eighty squares of buildings. The old
capitol, the Catholic convent, the court
house, and JAIL and the printing offices,
were burnt, along with hundreds of other
buildings. The new capitol, our inform
ant thinks, was partially destroyed,
though others say 1T was not injured be
cause it would require large amount OF
powder to blow it up. The South Caro-
lima College buildings and Lunatic Asy-
lum escaped 1t is said that the firing
was done before Gen Sherman himself
reached the city, and that he afterwards
expressed regret at it; but all that Will
pass for hypocrisy. After Sherman reach
ed the city he posted guards, with orders
to shoot any soldier caught setting fire
to a house; and our informant says three
Yankee soldiers were shot Child's fac
tory, near the city, was burnt. General
Sherman occupied General Hampton's
house as his headquarters. When the
enemy went into C Columbia, number of
white and Union flags were found flying
but the Yankee soldiers did not seem to
respect them much, and told those who
sought protection in that way that they
were found ''in d-m bad company
But when the enemy left the city, num-
Der of citizens (supposed to be northern
ers and foreigners) went Oft with them,
the enemy furnishing transportation for
women and baggage. AT Winnsboro'
about % buildings in the business portion
of the town were burnt, and all resi-
dences and stores We're robbed of provis-
ions, clothing, spoons, knives and forks,
&c. We learn that the citizens of Col
umbia and WinnsborO' are now suffering
very much for food, everything of the
kind having been taken from them
Thousands of the citizens of Columbia
are houseless The Charlotte and South
Corolina Railroad was destroyed from
Columbia to Blackstock's ca station be-
tween Chester and WinnsboroD a dis
tance of about fifty miles. The cross-ties
were burnt and the rails twisted Our
informant says that, so far as he could
see or learn. no personal injury was in-
flicted on persons found in their houses.
Instances of violence may have occurred,
but he saw nothing of the kind Every
man they met on the road was captured
and held as a prisoner unless he could
produce evidence that he was not liable
| TO military service. In regard to he de-
struction of property through the coun-
try along the eneny's line OF march, we
are told that all cotton, gin-bouses, ard
mills were burnt; also, dwellings unoc-
cupied. Where the owner of house
had left and put some one in possession
TO take care of it. the enemy would re-
move the occupant and burn it
Horses, mules and provisions of all
kinds were seized wherever found. But
few negroes were forced otf-some went
voluntarily. 1t is said the Yankees gen.
orally treated the negroes very badly,
compelling them to carry heavy burdens
on the march, and, when they broke
down, beat or shoot them. Agentleman
who remained in Winusboro' while the
enemy was there, says that they treated
the negroes great deal worse than the
white people. The army, in marching
through the country, did not deep the
roads unless they ran straight i'll the di-
rection the enemy wished to go. For
whole DAYS the march was through the
woods. Companies of foragers were
sent out in all directions to procure sup
plies The army consisted of four corps
the Fourteenth, Seventeenth and
Twentieth, besides kilpatrick's cavalry
The rations OF the soldiers appeared to
he short, and those who were held as
prisoners suffered for food-our inform
ant going four or six days without any
thing TO eat Our informant, DR.. Glover,
was held prisoner until the Yankee
army reached Lynch's creek, between
Camden and Cheraw, in or near Chester
field district, when he was released by
General Blair, commander of the Sew
enteenth corps From the direction the
army was then marching, he thinks they
were making for Georgetown. The talk
among the soldiers was, that they were
going to Georgetown, but there was no
certainty about their destination The
Yankee cavalry remained few days in
Lancaster district, forag;ng and plunder-
ing, and were met two or three times by
our cavalry aud scattered. On Sunday
morning, the 26th, General Wheeler met
. small body of the sneny'seavslry three