The tri-weekly news. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1865-1876, 1866-03-27
WINNsBoRo, s. G., TUESDAY. MORNING, MARCH 81 1866

knows tito be so. A distinguished citi.
zen OF this State-whose name, were
ut liberty to give it, would be sufi.
cient voucher, even at the North, for
the truth of any statement made by
him-has given to the public minute
history Of the destruction Of the city.
From this document, which is too
long for insertion in your paper I will
make a few extracts, which will show
how true is General Sherman's solemn
disclaimer of "any agency in this fire.
and his claim to have Saved what oil
Columbia remains unconsumed." The
Mayor had been informed that he would
he notified when to surrender the city
knowing that Intellectual resistance on
our part would furnish the ready excuse
for all lawlessness ON the part of tho enc
my. / would not allow my troops to
become engaged in the city. and they
were withdrawn on the morning Of 18th
of February.
At nine o'clock A. NJ. on that day,
the Mayor, at the head of the deputa.
tion from the City Council, went out to
meet General Sherman for the purpose
ofsnrrendering the city, which he did in
the following letter
"CoLuMBrA,' s. G, Feb. II, 1865.
"7o Major. General Sherman:
"The Confederate forces having
evacuated Columbia, deem it nv duty,
as Mayor and representative of the city,
to ask for its citizens the treatment ac.
corded by the usages of civilized war.
fare. ], therefore, respectfully request
that you will send sufficient guard in
in advance Of the army, to, MAINTAIN or.
der in the city, and protect the, persons
and property OF citizens. ID
"Very respectfully,
"Your obedient servant,
TSignedl G. 4, GOODWIN,
~ d a Mayor"
The deputation met the advance
guard of the enemy. under Colonel
Stone-Fifteenth Corps-outsde of 'he
city, and Colonel Stone returned with
them to the town in their carriage.
The Mayor reports that on surrender.
ing the city to Colonel Stone, the latter
assured him Of the safety of the citizens,
and the protection Of their property
while under his command. He could
not answer for General Sherman, who
was in the rear, but he expressed the
conviction that he would fully confirm
the assurances which he Colonel Stone)
had given. Subsequently General Sher.
man did confirm them, and that night
seeing that the Mayor was exhausted
by the labors of the day, he counselled
him to retire to rest saying, "Not
fingers breadth, Mr.. Mayor, of your
city shall be harmed. Y ou may lie
down to sleep, satisfied that your town
shall be as safe in my hands as if wholly
in 20, gown"
"At about eleven o'clock the head of the
column reached Market Hall. Hardly
had the troops reached the head of
Main street when the work of pillage
was begun. Stores were broken open
in the presence of thousands within the
first hour after their arrival. No at.
tempt was made to arrest the burglars.
The authorities, officers, soldiers, all
seemed to consider it a matter of course.
And woe to him who carried watch
with gold chain pendant. or who wore a
choice hat, or over coat. or boots, or
shoes. He was stripped by ready ex.
perts in the twinkling of an eye." -
About twelve o'clock the jail was dis.
covered to be on fire from within. This
building was Immediately in the rear of
the market or city or City Hall, and in
q depsely built portion ofthe city. y
The fire in the Jail had beeT Tpreceded
by that Of some cotton piled in the
streets. Both fires we're soon suLdued
by our firemen. At about u o'clock
T. NJ, that of the Jail was rekindled and
was again extinguished." 4
"The experience of the Rremen in
putting out rhe fire in the cotton in the
Jail was of a sort TO discourage their
iftIfthar efforta They ware tb,aor,n1