The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-12-30

The BURNING OF CoLUMBIA.--A correspond
emit Of the Louisville Courier furnishes, in
the following extract, some official evidence
of the spirit which animated the authorities
at Washington, as well as the commander of the
army, at the time OF General Sherman's campaign
through Georgia and the Carolinas
have lately been reading Sherman's report to
tho Joint en- the conduct OF the war, ="
and am struck with the total absence Of all dis
patches in regard to Columbia, S. c. Up to the
18th of February, 1866, his daily orders, &C., to his
subordinates are given UerbGtim, but when he gets
to that date all are left out with the except n OF
two seCmtnqty unlmportant ones, until he reaches
WinnsboroS, on the 21st of February. No mention
- not q hne-not a word h~ardly-is made OF Colnm-
bias beng burnt. No mention Of the place for a
day or two before he takes it-nothing atterward.
Strange! But may DO it was best LETT out: His
last order Of any Importance, before taking Column
bia, is, lin the field, twenty-one miles from
Columbia, February 18th, 1S65"-then comes, the
two seemingly unimportant ones of the 18th, one
of which I will copy directly, and then a clean
jump made to the 2lst at Winnsboro, 5. c.,
beyond Columbia. Gu page 2S7 of this work
(s;Conduct OF the War-Supplement-Part ~,
will be found these words, concluding y dispatch
from Haneck to Sherman, and dated at Washing
ton, Dec mber IS, 1864, and addressed to Major
General w.. I. Sherman" written when Sherman's
plans were decided: Should you capture Charles
NOu. i uODG lIoU ny SOHtO NaN9 %eAaNSJ
place may be destroyed and L a little salt be
sown upon Its site 1t may prevent the growth OF
future crops of publication and secession"
Now hear Sherlnan's reply COPIED from page
291), dated ''n thu field, Savannah, December "a,
1854" which, taken in conjunction with this
unimportant order OF the 18th of February, 1866,
will explain who burnt Columbia, and who allowed
it, If be did not order it. Listen all We who "hanker
arter crow :"
81 will bear in mind Your hint as to Charleston,
and don't think salt Will be necessary. When l
move, the FJ,e5nh Corp these and the following
italics are mine) Will be on the right OF the right
wing, and their position will bring them naturally
into Charleston first and ii you have watched the
history OF that corps, you will have remarked that
they generally do their work up pretty well. The
truth is, the whole army is burning with an insati-
able desire to wreak vengeance upon South Care
lima. / almost tremb!e at her fate, but feel she
deserves ali that seems in store for her. | LOOK
upon Columbia as quite as bad as Charleston"
Now for the little dispatch OF the 10th OF FebrI-
arv, the night before Columbia was plundered,
pillaged and burned. 1t Ia addressed to General
Howard Uhe Christian soldier () to whom an
insulted Georgia woman of his own name said,
upon his claiming relationship with her "No kin
1 thank God the blood Of all the Towards is not
in my veins"):
Dear General: l see the bridge over Broad
burning. II is very important that you effect i
crossing to night. If necessary, get over the
Saluua the bulk OF the Qook cut Grow caters
Fifteenth Corps, then take up enough p%ontoons
to finish one across the Broad"
The Fifteenth Corps Wa the first to enter the
city, aud went by Sherman's order and burned the
city, either ny his order or his want OF order.