Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-05-10
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
WILMINGTON, n. c., MAY 10, 1866 /
The Burning of Columbia

We publish below the candid ana eApncl6 letlel
Of General Wade Hampton, in reply to one from
General Sherman to Mr.. Benjamin Kawies, OF 90
lumbia, in regard to the burning OF that city =
When General Hampton's letter was presented III
the Senate by the Hon. Reyerdy Johnson, MI
Sherman. the Senator from Ohio and the brother
of Gen. Sherman, said he could not allow this
charge of this most impudent rebel against the
whole army to be entered upon the records with
out some answer The charge OF General Sher-
man in relation to the burning OF Columbia was
in an official report and was fully sustained oy
reports of other officers. Gen. sherman dld not
cbaroe that Wade Hampton gave an explicit order
on the subject but simply that his previous order
in relation to the burning of cotton, &c, led to
that result. Mr. Sherman read from various OIL
cial reports to confirm the charge against General
Hampton. .-.H
Mr.. Fessenden was opposed to receiving or con-
siderinp the letter. Mr.. CONFESS remarked that a
man who would attempt to destroy the Govern
ment of the United States would certainly not
hesitate to burn city. ..
Mr., johnson seeing that the Senate of the Uni
ted States would not receive the latter, Withdrew
it. ..
Thus we see that serious charges without any
foundation in fact, are permitted to be made IN
the Cn1teO OItlIeS COuSIeSo ny OAiiOSA" - 49,
thoritv against one of the most distinguished and
honorable citizens of the South, and when he
asks that they may be properly investigated III Or
der to fix ''upon the proper author OF that enor-
NOUS crime (the burning of Colunbia) g the III
fanny he richly deserves '2-he Is denounced as
"most impudent rebel =" by Oneh0nO'u6e Senator,
and as one who would mot hesitate to burn
city," by another neither of whom, most truth
fully and happily suggests contemporary, II they
were face to face with Gen. Hampton, would nav e
given utterance to the expressions for the tame OF
Grant or the wealth of Butler.
That Gen. Hampton could substantlate the tacts
stated in his letter is not more certain from the
treatment other and districts received through
which Gen. Sherman passed, which rendered his
path like the the track of Attila, than from the
extreme nervousness and unnecessary boldness
with which these 50 bomb proofs attack him.
Such party trickory may for awhile keep historic
truths smothered, but time will yet demonstrate
that it cannot long be crushed to the earth, and
these bold Senators may yet be taught that Official
position will not license them to abuse honorable
men, or protect them from future responsibility.
The defeat Of the South has emboldened some,
who fought not for its accomplishment These
men, thus rendered valiant, may yet be taught
that Southern manhood was not crushed, and the
result of the war does not authorize individuals at
the North to wantonly insult Southern men, nor
will it be permitted with impunity.
We are glad, however, to notice with what We
hemence the Radicals denounce the burning of ii
CITY, It is a crime that most of their officials have
to account for and Justify to the world, for the
blackened ruins of hundreds of towns and villages
and thousands Of homesteads throughout the
South are so many Columbias i'll miniatures that
will yet rise mp in Judgment against them.
We have already too long deferred the frank
and manly letter of Gen. Hampton. 1t is as fol
lows; -
WILD WOODS Miss, April II, 1866
To Hoa Rtce,ty IolrSo", L. $. Senate:
SIR: A few days ago 1 in the published proceed
of Columbia S. c. asking compensation for the desruc-
ton of his house by the Federal in February 1863
had been presented to the Senate accompanied by let
ter from Maor-Gen. Sherman
In this letter Gen. Sherman uses the following IAN
suage otior Of Columbia set fire to thousands of bales
cotton rolled out into the streets and winch were burn
ing before we entered Columbia myself, was IN the
city as early O'clock and saw these fires and knew
that efforts made to cXtnSulsh tel but hSh anu
strong wind kept them alive.
gave no orders for the burning OF your city, but, on
the Contrary the conagraon resulted from the great
mprndence Of cutting the bales whereby the
tents spread to the wind, that 1t became an I'M
possibility to arrest the fire.
saw in your Columbia newspaper the printed order of
Cen Wade Hampton that the approach of the Yankee
army all the should thus be burned and from what
saw myself, have hesitation Ill saying that he was
the cause of the destruction of your city: -.
This same charge made against me by Gen. Sherman,
having been brought before the Senate OF the United
States, naturally most sohcltous to vlndcae myself
before the same tribunal But State has represent
that body. Those who should be her constitution
al representatives and opponents there debarred the
right of entrance into those halls There are none who
have right to speak for the South none to participate
in the legislation which her. mono to impose the
she called upon to pay and none to vndcae her
from misrepresentation injustice or SANDER.
Under these circumstances appeal to you IN the con-
dent that will effort to see that justice
is done in this matter.
deny emphaticay, that cotton was fired IN Col
umbia by my order.
deny that the citizens set lire TO thousands OF bales
rolled out into the streets"
deny that any cotton was on hEe When the Federal
troops entered the city.
most respectfully ask of Congress to appoint Com
ttee charged with the duty of ascerainnS and report
all the connected with the destruction of Column
ba and thus fixing upon the proper author OF that enor-
NOUS crime the infanly he richly deserves.
am willing to submit the case to any honest tribunal
Before such pledge myself to prove that gave
positive ORDER by direction of Gen Beauregard that
cotton should be fred that not one bale fire when
promised protection to the city, and that spite of his
solemn promise he burned the city to the ground debe
rately, Systematically and atrociously.
therefore most earnestly request that Congress may
take prompt and efficient measures to investigate this
fully. Not only this due to themselves and to
the United States Army, but also in Justice to truth.
Trusting that you will pardon me for troubling you,
/ am, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
WADE HAMPTON.
Right Majoritics.
IL 49, e II