The tri-weekly news. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1865-1876, 1866-09-13

phan children, and that his family were
brutally insulted by well.mounted and
well-armed men in the, uniform of the
United Statesl" For aught I know, it
may be usual or even necessary to grant
this license, while the denial ia equally
absurd and wicked land TIE attempt to
implicate other people is the consun1a,
ton of bothl But this is the end that
such things come to, and the natural
consequences of calling witnesses to prove
what the witnesses themselves know to
be false. I saw those who were appar.
emily plying their vocation deliberately
Set fire to houses, carrying with them
combustible preparations for doing so.
Of the effort made to prevent them I
say nothing, because 1 saw nothing. 1t
gratifes me, however, to relate this IN
stance of Kindness. My own house was
about 70 be destroyed by the firing of
an adjoining building. There were two
Western men looking on-soldiers in the
true sense Of the word. I asked one of
them (their names were Elliott and
Goodman, one from Indiana, the other
from Iowa). "Have you,a family at
homer" he answered ess." 1 said
to him, "My family are i'll in that room
have you no thought of your own 2"
The man showed that he had heart,
and, as the incendiary moved OFF to 9TH
or objects, he did assist me, without be.
ing 'sent," and with my servants and
the only child big enough to hand
a bucket, we saved the house, with it's
helpless inmates, thanks to this good
Samaritan. e
My conviction is that Columbia was
cruelty and uselessly sacked and burned
without, resistance. after being in coun-
plete possession of Gen Sherman's army;
bui who gave the order to apply the
torch, is not for the victims either to
know or to care. Hundreds of helpless
women and children were turned out to
their fate. 1t is the historians business
to find evidence to meet the case, not
mine, and my voice would never have
ben heard had not been tnjustly
dragged before the public. The 'truth
and the whole TRUTH" will probably nev.
er appear but it is recorded in the
High Chancery Of Heaven" where no
human power can make the erasure.
Mr. Edtor-I crave your patience a
little longer, and beg your attention to
the first sentence in the articleof which l
complain. 1t reads thus. "If Mr.. Wade
Hampton is anxious to add q deeper
shame to dishouored name, he has at.
tanned that end by his renewed attempts
to hold General Sherman responsible for
the burning of Columbia and its terrible
consequence" SO. Now, sir, 1 speak
for every honest mah between the noun.
tains and the seacoast, and between the
Savannah River and the Peedee, when
! say, "If this opinion and this epi,het
are not equally revolving and insulting,
then the common sensibilities of nature
rrs made extinct by the sufferines we
have endured" If Hampton Isl ''dis-
honored name," there is none within the
limits of this dowh.trod den and persecu.
ted State chat can be considered as un.
sullied. Here in South Carolina, and
throughout the South, every human be-
ing feels that where the name OF Hamp
ton is best knownit is the most revered,
and he who bearsit is the MOST beloved.
Before the present incumbent saw the
the light that name was identified with
all that was brave and honorable and gen.
erous. What noble sire (who emphati..
eally and habitually "did the honors" Of
his native state) has left impressed
upon the hearts of his countrymen as a
legacy to his children, this slandered Mr..
Wade Hampton. late Lieutenant. Gene
raj Of the Confederate army, will trans
NIT to- another generation, bright and
unta.nished. If fthere is one among us
more cherished than the rest, it, is he
upon whom this gratuitous assault is so
brutally end yet SO faebly made. And
If to-day or tomorrow canvass should
be opened for our Representative man"
to fll the highest office in tho g,ft Of
a broken.hsarted but grateful people,
mono could be found strong enough to
coueueSe with hin, for theiS favor. and