The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-05-05
Gen. Wade Ha ampton,s Letter.

The following is Gen. WADE HAnIPToN's letter to
Senator REvERDY JOHNSON, which the latter caus-
ed to be read in the United States eenate on Tues.
day, as already stated; .............. 81
I WILD WOODS. MISS, April 81, 1866.
To the Hon. Recerdy johnson, u. s. Senate:
proceedings of 4 Congress that a petition G from
Benjamin 1sawles, OF Columbia, 8. O., asking com
PeIsation for the destruction OF his home by the
Federal army in February, 1865, had been pre-
sented to the Senate, accompanied by q letter
from Major: General Sherman. In this letter Gen
eral s. used the following language: "They"-
of bales Of cotton rolled out into the. streets and
which were burning before entered Columbia. l
myself was in the city az early as nine, and saw
tinguish them; but high and strong wind kept
them alive Igsve no orders for the burning of
your city, but, on the contrary, the reverse, and
believe tho conhagrstion resulted from the great
imprudence of culug the cotton bales, whereby
the Contents were spread to the winds 80 that it
became an impossibility to arrest the fire. I saw
General Wade Hampton, that on the approach of
tho Yankee army all the cotton should be burned,
and, from what saw myself, have no hesitation
Of your city,"
This grave charge made against me by General
q having been brought before the Senate OF the
to vndioate myself before the same tribpna Bas
my State has no, representative In that city.
Those who should be there are debarred tile
right OF entrance. In those Halls there are none
to speak for the southi mono to participate in the
legisiation which governs her; none to impose the
taxes she 10 called on to psy, and none to defend
her or to vindicnte her sons from misrepresenta-
tion, injustice, or alapder. Under these oircum-
stances appeal to you, in the confident hope
that you will use every effort to tb justice is
done In this matter. deny most empha aticaly
that any cotton WAS fred in Columbia by my
order; deny that her citizens set fire to thou
sands OF bales rolled out into the streets; deny
that any cotton was oa fire when the Federal
ask OF Congress- to appoint q committee charged
with tho duty OF and reporting all the
facts connected with the destruction Of Columbia,
enormous crime tho infamy il deserves.
am willing to submit the case to any honest
tribunal. Before any such I pledge myself to
Beauregsrd, that no cotton should be ired-that
not one bale WAS on fire when Sherman's troops
took possession of the city-that he positively
promised protection to the city-and that, in spite
of this solemn promise, his soldiers burned it to
the ground, deliberately, systematically, afro.
ciously. therefore, most earnestly request that
to investigate this matter fully Not only is this
due to themselves! and. to tho reputation of the
United states army, but to justice aud to truth
Trusting that you will pardon me for troubling
The reading OF the above manly letter made
quite scene in the Senate. Mr.. FEssEsDEN pro-
tested, Dir. SHERMAN waxed exceedingly valiant
aBhlubt tne aOb6nt man. lie confessed ne had
never shed many tears over the burning of Colum-
bia who ever supposed he did2l or HAMrros's
letter he said:
The impudepce Of this whole thing surpssses
imagination. He wrftes to this Senste that the
State OF South Carolina is excluded from repre-.
sentation in this body. And why Ia she excludedP
Because they violated their oath, and have for
years been trying to get out t0f the Union, and
new that they are beaten and defeated they whine
like whipped ours to get back. h..
Mr.. Johnson said lie had shown the letter to-
MIR. Sherman and he had adyised him to present
It. .
II Mr. Sherman, For tho purpose Of refutiug It.
~ Dir: johnson did not look upon tho letter as
whining because the State Of South Carolina was
not represented here. The writer had only al
legged that as cause FOR sending the letter to
him Mr j. -
.Mr: Fessenden hoped it would mot bc received at
al. II had no business here.I. u &El
Mr. Conness said he could not vote to send this
petition to any committee OF this body, and he
was only surprised that the Senator from Ohio
lMt, SheEmanl shopld think II necessary tovindi-
cate the character Of our distinguished General
againat the assaults Of such man as Wade Hamp-
t9n. Let these men expatiate their crimes before
they come here with thoir complaints. I "
Mr; Wilson hoped the Senator from MARYLAND
wonld withdraw the letter. = -
hr. johnson Withdrew it.