The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1865-1866, 1866-07-20
from tie Hamilton (O1io) Telegraph.
The Truth at Last.


The Truth at Last.
Hk9 as Responsible for the Bwuiy 81
Coyumbia, $. C?-She5maS's Ga;yi
-tgainst Nads Hampton RJmed By Il
FEDERAL Participant.
WHAT I SAW AND HEARD At COLUMBIA sN
THE 10TH, l7Tn, 18TH AND 10TH FEp>
} RrAsY, 1865.
On the 18th of February the ARMY Of
General Sherman met on the right bank
% the Congarec river, opposite Columbia.
Tn uniting, the light came into position
on the left. The bridge over the Con-
sarcc and those over the Sauda and
Broyi rivers, which unite and form thr.
forihefAlout one mile above Columbia,
had been burned. (The latter streams
are about as large, and the former per-
baps twice rs large us the Miami at this
pnint.( TO facilitate the crossing and to
get into proper position, the army of the
Cumberland marched, by the left flank,
to position about five miles, and the
10Th army corps (army of,the Tcnnessec)
up to the SaIuda, about one mile from
i,sjurction with the Broad.
WISHING FOR A SCOOP EXCUSE"
Next morning, in company with the
same officer, l started to visit the ruins.
On our way we met crowds of soldiers,
who were yelling. singing, waving gold
watches, handfuls of gold, jcwclry, and
rolls of rebel slinpiasters in the air, and
boasting Of having burnt the town. One
was staggering under the weight Of Il
huge basket filled with silver plate.
The 18th army corps, army of Tcnncs-
see, went into camp on the banlss Of the
Congarce, within less than one mile from
the centre of the town. From onr camp
the whole city was in plain view. No
troops, save few skirlnishcrs along tue
river, or citizens, could be sren on the
streets or about the town. | had never
seen SO much carelcssness iu exposing
camps and troops, in plain view Of Il
place occupied by rebels, and remarked
10 captain Of artillery that they could
make lis scatter by opening 4 battery OH
our camp, and the column Of troops
marching on the road within musket shot
pfthc town. 'Sothev could, and l hope
they will fire at US. We wish for 4 good
cxcuse to blow the town to the devil, and
wil, do so On the first provocatiou. They
know better, however, and will not dis
-luro our sleep tonight" \ few shots
were exchanged between tho pickets of
the two armies across the Congaree and
SsluGa. Near our camp, and close 10y
the road on which the 18th army corps
was marching, were the remains Of Camp
Sorghum, where Federal officers had
been kept as prisoners of war.
COLUMBIA FoREDooMED.
The feeling Of the army of Tennessee
is well illustrated by profanc and fcro-
cious doggerel, which was sung by hun
d'eds of the 18th army corps:
HAL Columbia, happy land.
III don't burn you I'll be d.
This ctfusion was said to have Lecn
uttered by Maio General as he was
crossing the Saluda. (It was not S!,cr.
man. The doom of Columbia was deci>
led at Camp Sorghum, and neither Gen.
Sherman nor any other man could have
saved it from severe trratmcni.) The
10Th army corps crossed The Salnda with
but little opposition, ard rucampcd or
the tongue Of land between it and the
Broad. Next morning (l7th) about S
y. NJ, loud and repeated exp plosons ii,
the city were heard At 0 A. NJ. au
extensive fire was seen in the ueiyhbor.
hood of the Charlotte railroad depot
From this to II 4. NJ. cotton was seen
burning ip the streets. About this time
brisk skirlnislling MAS heard to the north
of the city. 1uwediatcly q squad of
soldiers from the 43shy Lows sprung into
two small boats aad padded across the
Consaree. On landing they started for
the State House, ip order to have the
honor of raising the flag Of their rcsi>
ment on the building in advance of the
10th army corps. White flags were
now seen on most Of the houses and in
the hands of citizens Oh the streets.
TIE FIRE TO De sEES WHEN sEERMAx's
AEMY ENTERED.
just then tue bugles Of our division
aoahded strike tents, anG wc were in
few Minutes on the route taken by til.
10Th army corps. AS the route was eu-
culnbtSed with the trains of these troops,
and some five miles in length, We did not
reach Columbia until about 8 y. VI. As
we marched through the town there was
no sign or appearance of Grc anywhere.
Crowds Of Intoxicated soldiers were in
the street crying, Here's your whiskey;
here's your tobacco"