The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-05-23
The Burning or Columbia.


The Burning OF Columbia.
Hessrs. Editors An erroneous report, by o
Northern reporter, of the "SHEnMAN meeting in
Columbia" has been published in the ". Y. World,
and copied into your columns. As you request
ed-and no one has sent you an account Of the
mes.ing-I take lesTe to give you correct re-
port.
Upon the Chairman announcing the object OF
the meeting, offered the following preamble and
resolutions:
who gain, d for himself by his systematic employ
ment OF the torch in the war upon the Southern
people and their homes, the well-merited title Of
responsibility of the Infamous act Of burning
Columbia, after being surrendered to him, and in
the actual occupation OF his army:,
ReSotUed, That q committee OF twenty-one citi-
zens, who were present at the confiagraton, be
appointed to collect sffidayts Of evidence thereof
and that said . attidsvits be deposited among the
Rrsolued, That the committee Of twenty-one
DO authorized to prepare carefully condensed
synopsis of the evidence, and publish it to the
world, certified by their names.
I stated that it would be impossible to give ex-
tensive publicity to the voluminous evidence which
would be collected, but that n short synopsis
would be widely copied by the press, while the
afidavits would be preserved until the proper oo-
casion occurred for using them in legal point of
view.
Col MoMAsrRR objected to the preamble aB
preiudging in advance OF the colleo lon of evil
denoe, and said it should be remembered that
he people If he North looked upon Gen. SHERMAN
as great soldier and honor to his country who
had done more than Gen. GRANT to bring the war
to cioae; that he was entitled to have the evil
deuce against him adduced before condemning
him.
Mr. TALLsY took q similar view, and so did the
Hon. E. J. ARTHUR, who offered 3 substitute Sim
ply proposing committee TO collect testimony
and report t., a subsequent meeting. Other reso-
utions to the came effect were offered by Mr. F.
@. Dn FcesTAfag. ..-. -
Not convinced by tho technical objections Of
these gentlemen Of the Bar, still replied that my
object was net discussion on matter upon which
oil agreed that in the preamble had simply ex-
planned, in o few words, the object Of tho meet
ing that, in stating propositions known and be-.
heved by all of us. did not consider that was
denounoing Gen SHERMAN; that I thought was
drawing it rather mild on the General in alluding
to him 40 gently; that the preamble WAS not ab-
solutely necessary; 30, for the reason above
given, I asked leave to withdraw it. DR.. w. REY-
NoLDo objected. but insisted, and it was allowed
Mr.. AnrHrHis resolution was then adopted, as
folloSs:
Whereas, 1t is highly important to the truth of
history that the circumstanoeB attending the de-.
rtrnotion of the City of Columbia, ON the l7th OF
february, 1885, should be fully and impartialIy
ouleoled and psrpetutte while the facts are still
fresh III tho lnesaury of witnesses; be it, there
fore
Resolved That a Committee OF twelve persons
be appointed hy tho Chairman to culect the tesri-
mony in rotation to the destructi Ut Columbia
at the time aforesaid, and repurt the same to an
aud Rlchland District, to be called by the Chair
man IT said Committee when he may be prepared
to make suoh q report.
Under the above resolution the Chairman ap-
pointed tho following named gentismen: Chan
oellor J. P. Carroll, Hon. VI. T. Desaussure, Hon.
E. j. Arthur, DR.. John Fisher, DR.. VIM. Reynolds,
DR.. D. Fl. Trezevant, DR.. A. N. Talley, Prof. W.
J. Rivers, Prof. JOHN LeConte Col. j. T. Sloan
and Col L. D. Ohilds.
In common with his Yellow-oitlzens. I am nnwil-
ling that an impression should be made that "re-
solutions Nndiosting HAMPTON, and indirectly
fastening tho blame on SHERMAN, fsiied"-no
such ,oere offered. Whsre Gen. HAMPTON 10 so
well known for his noble integrity and unsullied
character. the idea La prepoateroua.
As took part in the initiation OF tho proceed
ings, am not willing that tho published report
should 90 forth without correction. am perhaps
oAssAou w "oKu Al VAC PEouineos 40 bbH my
residence sacked, plaged, and deliberately eet on
fire by SHERMAN's sober soldiers, and when re-
monstrated with them for burning house filed
With women and children, they ehouted and jeered
st me:
"oni faeft per alios. taet per &C."
might even be pardoned were to denounce
the barbarous and wanton destruction Of my lite.
rsry scientific and historical treasures-the ssso
| oiations Of my life-and being rudsly driven into
tho streets, with my daughters aud grandchildren,
to wander through sHERn MS pltiless fre-storm
and licensed soldiery-but prefer to leave him to
his conscience and his God.
would, however, when Mr.. BANCROFT studies
tho truth Of history in tho evidence Of our com.
mittoe. to perpetuats 1t, commend to him tho fol.
lowing recent poetioAl tribute to the Great Incen.
diary of the Age:
"Tbe sno,ed laurel. naeed Of hero praise,
Would wlther. scorched, upoc . Dr.w lihe his"
Respectfully,
| B. ". GIBBEs, NJ. D.
Col.n,bia, 8. o., May al, 1885.
P.s. trust the NeV Pork World will oopy this
It has ever treated the subjugated South with Jus
tioo and fair consideration.
GeonMUNIoATRD.1