Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-20

below we give tue icttersOi 0eherai W auS
Hampton and General w. T. Sherman on
the above subject-the former written in re-
ply to the official report Of the latter of his
march through the Carolinas, and the latter
| in relation to the endorsement Of petition
to Congress for reparation Of losses by the
fire:
LETTER FROM GEN. HAMPTON.
COLUMBIA, S. c., June l9, 1865.
To the Editors Of tie Neae York Day Book.
GENTS: In your paper of the 9th May
have Just seen General Sherman's official re-
port Of his march through thetwo Carolinas.
As this report misrepresents me in the
grossest and falsest manner, trust that you
will not deny me the right TO vindicate my
self 1t is due to history, if not to me, that
the falsehoods of General Sherman in refer
ence to the destruction Of this city should be
exposed This shall be done in the briefest
possible manner.
The report says: General Wade Hamp
ton, who commanded the Confederate rear
guard of cavalry, had, in anticipation of our
capture Of Columbia, ordered that all cotton,
public and private, should be moved into the
street and fred 10 prevent our making use of
it.
Some Of these piles of cotton were burn
ing, especially one in the very heart of the
city, near the courthouse, but the fire was
partially subdued by the labor of our sol
diers. Before one single
public building had been fred by order, the
smouldering fires set by Hampton's order
were rekindled by the wind, and communi-
Gated TO the building around. About dark
they began to spread and got beyond control
Of the brigade on duty within the city. The
whole of Woods division was brought in,
but it was found impossible to check the
flames which, by midnight, had become un-
manageable, and ragged until about o'clock,
A. NJ, when the wind subsiding, they were
got under control. ] dis
claim, on the part Of my army, any agency
in this fire. but, on the contrary, claim that
we saved what Of Columbia remains uncon-
sumed. And, without hesitation, charge
Gen. Wade Hampton with having burned
his own city Of Columbia, not with ma
licious intent, as the manifestation of a silly
Roman stoicism, but from folly and want
of sense in filling it with lint, Gotten and
tinder. Our officers and men on duty worked
well to extinguish the flames"
1t would be difficult, if not impossible, TO
express, in an equal number of paragraphs,
a greater number of falsehoods than are con-
tanned in the above extracts. There is not
one word of truth in all that has been quo
ted, except that statement that "Gen. Hamp-
ton commanded the Confederate rear guard
of cavalry" | did not order any cotton
moved into the street and fired" On the
contrary, my first act on taking command of
the cavalry-to which | was assigned only
the night before the evacuation of Columbia
was to represent TO General Beauregard
the danger TO the town of firing the cotton
in the streets. Upon this representation,
he authorized me TO give orders that no cot
ton in the town should be fred, which order
was strictly carried out. | left the city after
the head of Sherman's column entered it,
and j assert, what can be proved by thous-
ands, that not one bale of cotton was on fire
when he took possession Of the city. His
assertion to the contrary is false. and he
knows it to be 80. A distinguished citizen
Of this State-whOse name, were l at liber-
ty 10 give it, would be sufficient voucher
even at the North, for the truth of any
statement made by him-has given to the
public minute history Of the destruction of
the city.
From this document, which is too long for
insertion in your paper, / will make few
extracts, which will show how true is Gen.
eral Sherman's solemn disclaimer of "any
agency in this fire." and his claim TO have
"saved what of Columbia remains uncon-
sumed." The Mayorha been informed that
he would be notified when TO surrender the
city, knowing that Intellectual resistance on
our part would furnish the ready excuse for
all lawlessness on the part of the enemy. l
would not allow my troops to become en-
gagged in the city, and they were withdrawn
on the morning Of the 18th CT February.
At nine o'clock, A. n, on that day, the
Mayor, at the head of the deputation from
the City Council, went out to meet General
Sherman for the purpose of surrendering the
city, which he did in the following letter:
COLUMBIA, S. c., Feb. IL, 1865.
"7o MAJOR General Sherman:
"The Confederate forces, having evacuated
Columbia, l deem it my duty, as Mayor and
representative Of the city, {, ask for its citi-
zens the treatment accorded by the usages of
civilized warfare. therefore respectfully
request that you win send sufficient guard
in advance of the army, to maintain order
in the city, and TO protect the persons and
property of citizens. Very respectfully,
your oDodlent servant,
[Signedl I. q. GOODWIN, Mayor"
The deputation met the advance guard of
the enemy, under Colonel Stone-Fifteenth
Corps-outside of the city, and Colonel
Stone returned with them to the town in
their carriage
The Mayor reports that on surrendering
the city TO Colonel Stone, the latter assured
him Of the safety of the citizens, and the
protection of their property while under his
command. He could not answer for Gener-
al Sherman, who was in the rear, but he ex-
pressed the conviction that he would fully
confirm the assurances which he Colonel
Stone) had given. Subsequently General
Sherman did confirm them, and that night,
seeing that the Mayor was exhausted by the
labors of the day, he counseled hiir to retire
to rest, saying, "Not fingers bresdth, Mr..
Mayor, of your city shall be harmed. You
may lie down TO sleep, satisfied that your
town shall be as safe in my hands as If
wholly in your own" i' "At about
eleven o'clock the head of the column reached
Market Hall. Hardly had the troops reached
the head Of Main street. when the work Of
pillage was begun. Stores were broken open
in the presence of thousands within the first
hour after their arrival No attempt was
made to arrest the burglars. The authori-
ties, officers, soldiers, all seemed to consider
It a matter Of course And Voc to him who
carried a watch with gold chain pendant, or
who wore a choice hat or overcoat, OF boots,
or shoes. He was stripped by ready experts
in the twinkling of an eye"
About twelve O'Clock the Jail was dis
covered te be on fire from within. This
building was Immediately in the rear of the
market or City Hall, and in densely built
portion of the city. The fire in
the Jail had been preceded by that of some
cottOn piled in the streets. Both fires were
soon subdued by our firemen. At about II
clock, p NJ, that Of the Jail was rekindled
and was again extinguished."
"The experience Of the firemen in putting
out the fire in the cotton in the Jail was Of a
sort to discourage their further efforts. They
were thwarted and embarrassed by the con-
tinued interference Of the soldiery. Finally,
their hose was chopped with swords and
axes, and pierced with bayonets so as to be
rendered useless. The engines were in some
cases demolished also. And 80 the miser-
able day wore on in pillage, insult, and con-
slant confusion and alarm. We have shown
that the robbery of the persons of citizens
and the plumber Of their houses commenced
within one hour after they had reached the
Market Hall. 1t continued without inter-
mission throughout the day. Sherman
traversed the streets everywhere, so did his
officers. vet they saw nothing 10 rebuke or