The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1866-06-02

due iIiiihplOn, WHICH was read the
other day by Mr.. johnson, in the Sen.
ate of the United States:
WILD WOops, Mss,
April q, 1861
TO lion. Reverdy JoAnsoa, United States
.Senate.
SIR: a few days ago I saw in the
published proceedings Of Congress
,hat petition from Benjamin Rawlcs,
If Columbia, S, C., asking compensa-
lon for the destruction Of his house hy
ne Federal army, in February, 1868,
had been presented to the Senate, ac-
rompanled by Il letter from Mai Gen.
Shcrman. In this letter Gen. SIern,an
uses the following language: 1T e
cit Aens Of Columbia set fire TO thous-
anls OF baIes OF cotton rolled out into
tn streets, end which were Turning
before we entered Columbia. I myself
was IN the CITY rs early as O'Clock,
and saw these fires, and knew that cf.
IorIS were made to extingush them,
out high and strong wind kept them
alive.
IL gave no orders for the burning
ofNour city, hut, on the contrary, the
tonila@ration resulted from the great
Imprudcnce Of cutting the cotton bales,
whereby the contents were spread to
the wind, SO that it became an imposs'.
biIity to arrest them.
saw in your Columbia ncwspartr
therrinted ordcr to Gen. Wade Iiamp.
ton that on the approach Of the Yankee
army all the cotton should thus lie
burned, and from | saw myself. have
no hesitation in SAYING that he was the
cause of the destruction of your city,"
This same charge, made against y G
by Gen. Sherman, having been brol eht
before the Senate Of the United StaIys,
! am naturally most sol;citous to Nindi-
cate myself before the srmc tribunal.
But my State has no representative in
that body. Those who should be her
constitutional Representatives and cv.
ponents there are lobarred the rigIt of
entrance in those halls There afe
none who have the light to speak for
the South, none to participate in the
legislation which governs her, none to
impose the taxes she is called upon to
pay and none to vindicate her sons
from Misrepresentation, injustice or
Sandcr Under these circumstances
appeal to you in the confident hope
that You will use every effort to see
that justice is done in this matter.
| deny cmphaticalIy that any cotton
was fred by my order. | deny that the
citizens 'sct fire to thousands of bales
rolled out into the Streets deny
That amy cotton was on fire when the
Federal troops entered the city.
| most respectfully ask Congress to
appoint n committee, charged with the
destruction of Columbia. and thu. ix-
ING upon the proper author Of the
enormous crime the inIamy he 50 rich
Iy deserves | am willing to submit
the cas-" t. any honest tribunal. Be.
fore any such | pledge myself to prove
that | gave positive order, bv drec-
ton of hcn. Beauregard, that the cot
ton should not be fired, tnat not enc
bale was fired when Gen. Sherman
troops took possession Of the city, and
that in spite Of his solemn promise he
burned the city to the ground. delibc-
ratciy, Systematically and atrociou,ly.
| therefore most earnestly request
that Congress may take efficient meas
ures TO investigate the matter fully.
Not only is this due to themselves and
the reputation OF the United States NJ
my, but also to justice and to truth.
Trusting that you may pardon me
for addressing You.
an very respectfully,
|. Your ohcdient servant,
WADE HAMPTON.