The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-05-30
The Burning Of Columbia


The Burning Of Columbia
From the Richmond Whig)
There is controversy between General
Sherman and General Wade Hampton as
to the responsibility9for the burning fCo-
lumbia. This controversy was initiated
written by Gen. Sherman, who, in letter
by him on the subject to- Mr.. Benjamin
Rawles, Of Columbia, denied his own res
possibility for it, and charged it upon Cen
eral Hamptons. The correspondence be-
tween General Sherman and Mr.. Rawles
resulted from petition Of the latter to
Congress for compensation for the destruc.
ton Of his house by the Federal army. AS
soon as General Hampton saw this letter
in the newspapers he wrote to Hon. Rev
erdy johnson, Senator from Maryland, de-
nying that any cotton was fired III Colum-
bia by his order, or that the citizens set fire
to it, or that any cotton was on fire when
the Federal troops entered the city. On
the contrary, he alleges that he gave pos
tive order that no cotton should be burn
ed; that not bale was on fire when the
Federal troops entered the city; that Cen
eral Sherman promised protection to the
city, "and that, in spite ofhis solemn prom
Use, he I" burned the city to the ground, de-
liberately,a Systematically, atrociously.H
General Hampton asks the appointment by
Congress Of q commission to investigate
and report upon the facts of the case, and
pledges himself to prove his allegations be.
fore "any honest tribunal When Gene
raj Hamptonis letter was read in the SEN
ate Mr. Sherman, Of Ohio, brother of Gene
raj Sherman, protested much amazemeDt
aud disgust at the audacity of t"this most
impudent rebel in writing such letter,
and spoke in sighting terms of him. MIR.
Fessenden was opposed toreceivingo or con-
sideripg the letter. Mr.. CONFESS was of
the same opinion with Mr.. Fessenden, and
added that man who would attempt to
destroy the Government of the United
States would certainly not hesitate to baln
u city. Il. 39 d1Ao g.l1 q als fi0,
General Hampton is as lofty and honora-
ole man. we will not say as any of the
three Senators who thus expressed them
selves. for that might be scant praise, but
rs walks the earth. As fore Mr.. CONFESS
lie would not dare. in ordinary times, to in
sinuate anything rejecting upon the distin-
euished gentleman whose character he now
feels himself safe in impueniug. He takes
advantage Of the present state of public
affairs, and Of his official position. This is
very brave and manly! 1t is, perhaps, nat
ural that Senator Sherman, the brother OF
General Sherman, should evince sensibili-
ty, if not resentments, in regard to any
matter touching that distinguished officers
reputation. But we were not prepared for
the unseemly and puerile display be made.
Here is a controversy as toa matter Of
fact between two officers Of high rank, who
made reputation during the war. Both Of
them are esteemed men Of high character
and unimpeachable honor. 1t is not nee
essary to believe that either would deiibe.
rately and knowingly mike q false state.
ment. Like all mortals they are both liza
BILE to mistake. One General Sherman)
charges upon the other General Hampton)
responsibility for the burning Of town
during the late war. The latter denies it.
Why should he not deny it, if he is not
guilty.? He goes farther and resorts the
charge, and asks committee Of investiga-
ton, pledsing himself to prove to- the sat
isfaction Of any I" honest tribunal that he
is not guilty. and that General Sherman is.
Has he not the riehtto do all this? These
gentry, who from their :. bomb-proofs = as
sail him for it. will have to learn, and the
sooner they learn it the better, that though
the Southern people were defeated in the
late war, by mere dint of an overwhelming
numerical superiority, las five or six to one
individual SoutherDers did not lose their
manhood Of their personal rights, and that
success in that war did not give to mere in
diyiduals at the North any right to snub
sheer at, or insult individuals at the South
nor will they be allowed to do so with i'm
punity. 1t will be better for them to be
cautious and prudent and avoid creating
difficulties that may call for fortune settle
ment. Insults rankle and are not readily
forgotten. &
Mr.. CONFESS was pleased to say that ga
man who would attempt to destroy the
Government Of tho United States would
certainly not hesitate to burn a city -
meaning that Gen. Hampton would commit
any crime and make any false statement
because he had been WHAT'S called "a re-
bel" We shalln0t argue this .point with
Mr.. Conncss further than to say that the
SAME reasoning would apply to General
Washington and all the g rebels !" of rev.
olutionary memory. This convenient way
Of discrediting the testimony Of Southern
men and Of escaping responsibility saves
the Radicals great deal Of trouble, but it
cannot last always. The world has found
out that if in America truth and real man
hood are to be found, they are to be found
in these Southern States If it were not
contemplate it would be amusing to see
men without the spirit of harcs ensconce
themselves behind numbers and rail at itI-
diyiduals whom, man to man, they would
not dare encounter. ar. s o5i B5tt. q
But, we would like to know at what
time The use Of the torch in war came to
be considered 50 great a crime that to be
charged witt, it called for such indignant
displays on the part Of the friends Of the
person accused : The blackened ruins Of
| fifty Southern towns and villages, and Of
thousands of Southern ilomes5eads, wan.
tonly committed to the flames, attest To
this day the energy and zeal Of Federal
commanders in this line of service. Do
these officers all stand disgraced in North.
ern estimation, as these senatorial demon.
| seration, imply Gen. Sherman would be il
he had burned Columbia? We should
like to know. If SO, then what is to be
said of the performances OF that cockahoop
trooper Sheridan in the Valley Of Virginia,
| and of the chief under whose direct order
he acted in SO desolating by fire that beau.
tiful district that a crow flying over it
would be compelled to carry his rations9
The subject is fruitful one, but for the
present we forbear.