The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-08-18

Saturday Morning, August 1s, 1865.
The Burning OF columbss.

contains detailed statement of the
most prominent facts connected with
the destruction of this city by Gene
raj Sherman's army, written by one
of our fellow-citizens, and who has
very accurately grouped the most
striking of all the incidents connected
with the sacking and the plunder of
the Inhabitants. The World, refer
ring. editorially to the. communica-
tion, says Of the work of demolition
and plunder, that it was after the
capture" of the city by General
Sherman. It is almost useless to re-
peat that the city was not captured,
nor was there any defence of it made
by the Confederate troops. It was
surrendered, and the assurance given
by the United States officer to whom
it was surrendered, that private pro-
perty would be respected. This fact
itweuld be scarcely necessary to re-
peat, but for the seemingly studied
purpose to make it appear that Co
lumbia was captured after military
struggle, and that therefore ''such
horrors as were witnessed on that
night were copmon accompaniment
of war in all ages, and that they were
generally the work of "captors." So
says the World in the following para
graph:
'"The facts stated by our CORES
pondent do not warrant all his infer
ences;' nor do we suppose it can ever
be made to appear that Columbia was
burnt either by the order or with the
connivance of General Sherman.
Still less is it to be believed that Gen
eral Hampton, wealthy and respect
ed resident, would be the author of
such calamity to himself and his
neighbors. Such horrors have been
a common accompaniment of war in
all ages; and they have generelly been
the work of the captors."
We had expected more candor and
fairness from the World, one of the
few Northern newspapers apparently
disposed to do the South limited
amount of justice, after all she has
suffered. If the World knows any
thing of the destruction of this city,
it knows very weV it was not cup
tused. As to the attempted pallia-
tion of the outrages following this al
legged capture, and the language of
the editor. when he says that he ss1 sti5es
not suppose it can ever be made to
appear that Columbia was burnt
either by the order or with the con-
niyance Of Gen. Sherman, we have
only q few words to say. On that
evening, the writer Of this resided on
the same square on which stood Gen.
Sherman's headquarters, and he
knows, that if the General did not
order, he certainly must have been
cognizant Of the work of destruction
that was going on. That part of the
city was as light as day, and the yells
of the destroying forces were loud
enough to have awakened the sound
est sleeper. The writer further
knows that it was not until after seve-
raj aours when the opening fires
broke out-not until the hours of the
morning-that Gen. Sherman made
bis appearance-the bugles sounded,
and fresh brigade came up from
camp and put o stop to the work of
destruction.
We do not charge that Gen. Sher-
man ordered the wholesale destruc-
ton of the city, but it was almost
impossible for any one within the
bounds of the city not to know that a
terrible confagration was going on.
We have thought it our duty to say
thus much, in addition to all that has
already been written on the subject,
and to reiterate our assertion that
Columbia was not destroyed by the
captors, but by the forces to sohich it
rdS surrendered &.
-----s-s-e-----
- ID