The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-08-30
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We extract. from Col. Harry Gil
mbrsA book tbs tdaSw;ng: i tss
a sAi@fE9e had bfsekfasta ~ $hs

AotcA, 0cu. NfCC8uS00Q ordered me
to arrest fifty or more of the most
prcnainentJ citizens land pot them
under guard. had arrested about
forty, when he sent for me and said
there was no time to be lost-the
town must be burned; he was sorry
Tor it on account OF the women and
children, but it, must be done to
check the burning of private property
in Virginia, and they had none TO
blame for. it, but Gen. Hunter, and
their own press for extolling such
fiendish acts Of vandalism. He then
ordercd me to fire the town, and
showed me Gen. Early's order to that
effect Deeply regretting that such
me, I had only to obey. T then di-
rected my men to fire the town, but
be kind to the women and children,
and lend all the assistance in their
power. While 7 could remain in the
streets, I did nothing but assist the
people, and see that no excesses were
committed Several times I received
peremptory ordersto make q thorough
work of it, and was especially di-
rected to destroy all fine dwellings,.
When the town was no longer ten
able, took two men with me to fire
fine brick dwelling, beautifully
situated on an eminence Northwest
OF the town. Dismountipg, 1 went
IN and told the lady who came to the
door that I was there to perform the
unpleasant duty of burning her
house, which I much regretted; that
we were obliged to resort to such ex-
:reme measures in order to prevent
or check the terrible devastation
committed by such men as Gen.
Hunter. 1 told her that the people
of that town haI seen us twice befort0
and TINT all had spoken in the high
est terms Of our behavior, saying
that our soldiers behaved better than
their own. She was weeping, evi-
IDENTIFY much distressed, but she ac-
knowledged the justice of my re-
marks, and declared that she blamed
none but the administration for al
lowing such horrible acts of cruelty
to go unpunished. She was in deep
distress and shed many bitter tears;
did not beg me to spare her house;
only asked time to remove some arti
cles of value, or clothing. This was
readily granted. Breakfast was on
the table, and she asked me to eat
something while she was getting her
things together. Being hungry, I
accepted the invitation, and drank g
glass of wine before sitting down.
delayed as much as possible, in
order to afford her more time, and
when arose from the table I had.
mind to disobey orders in regard to
this house. She then came in and
entered into conversation. ] asked
her the name of her husband. She
replied:
+ 3 s'Col. Boyd, of the Union army"
-'''What! 80 Col. Boyd, Of the 1st New
York Cavalry"
ssThe same, sir.
Then, madam. Your llousc shall
not be destroyed"
now understand why she had not
pleaded for it. The reader will recol-
lect that this officer has been already
mentioned as operating in the valley.
BE had ever been kind and lenient to
the citizens, men, women and chill
dren. warning only against men in
arms. The fact of her being the wife
of Col. Boyd decided me at once. I
told her that I knew her husband,
and had fought against him for two
years in tho Valley of Virginia; that
he gained reputation among the
citizens for kindness and gentleman
ly conduct; that while we were there
for the purpose of furnishing vandal-
ism, we were ready and anxious to
| repay acts of kindness done to our
sople, who, when unprotected, had
IN exposed, by the fortunes of war,
to the mercy and harsh treatment of
our foes. told her that her house
shonld not be burned, blame for it
who would, and that 1 would leave
guard for her protection until all
were gone. She seemed to be COM
pletely overwhelmed, as though she
did not comprehend what said; but
when I assured her that neither her
house nor anything that belonged to
her should be molested, her gratitude
knew no bounds.
| FINANc1AL.-The Washington .Si,n.
says:
In consequence Of the amendments
made to the tax laws by Congress.
and which We're unnece cessariIy deferred
until the last days of the session, the
sixty millions due to the Government
from the people on account of the in
Gonna fav corld NOT $b,c ,,oor l,o ol