The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-01-15
Burning Of Columbia.

A correspondent Of the Louisville Cou-
rier furnishes, in the following extract,
some official evidence of the infamous
spirit which animated the authorities at
Washington, as we'll as the commander Of
the army, in shermans campaign through
Georgia and the Cato!inas
| have lately been reading Sherman's
report to the Joint Committee on the
conduct of the war;" and am struck with
the total absence Of all dispatches in regard
to Columbia, S. G. Up to the 18th of
February, 1865, his daily orders, &C., to his
! subordnates are given oerbahm, but when
he gets to that date all are left out with
the exception of two seemingly unimpor-
tant ones, until he reaches Winnsboro', on
the 2lst of February. No menton-not
a liue-not word hardIy-is made Of
Columbia's being burnt No mention Of
the place for day or two before he takes
it nothing afterward. Strange! But
maybe it was best left out. His last order
of any importance, before taking Columbia,
is, 9" In the field, twenty-one miles from
r Columbia, February l3, 1867 then comes
, the two seemingly unimportant ones of the
) 18th, one of which | will copy directly, and
t then clean jump made to the 2lst at
( Winnsboro', S. c., beyond Columbia, On
8 page 297 of this work {" Conduct Of the
War-Supplement Part /" will be found
e these words, concluding dispatch FROM
5 Halleck to Sherman, and dated at Wash
5 ington, December Is, 1864, and addressed
= to Major-General W. I. Sherman" writ
S ten when Sherman's plaes were not
3. decided "Should you capture Charleston
e | hope that by some (his italics) accident
Is the place may be destroyed and liza little
( salt be sown upon its site it may prevent
N the growth Of future crops of qualification
l. and secession"
d. Now, hear Sherman's reply (copiedfron
D. page 201,) dated Gin the field, Savannah
D. December "a, 1854" which, taken in con
ar junction with this unimportant order 0
W The 18th of February, 1868, will explain
" who burnt Columbia, and who allowed II
he if he did not order it. Listen all ye VIII
s. z" banker arter crow =
er II will bear in mind your hint as t
or Charleston, and don't think salt will be nc
re cessary. When l move, the FVleent
ch Corps these and the following italics ar
al mine) will be on the right of the RICH
ed wing, and their position will bring thet
D. naturally into Charleston first; and if 20
nd have watched the history of that corps, 20
of will have remarked that they generally d
mt their work up pretty we'll. The truth i
ts. the whole amy is burning with an insati'
N, bic desire to wreak vengeance upon Sout
IA Carolina. I almost tremble at her fat
he but feel she deserves all that seems in stoI
H. for her. look upon Columbia as quite
on bad as Charleston
iu- Now for the little dispatch of the l6t
of February, the night before Columh
sa- was plundered, pllaged and burned.
OF was addressed to General Howard (tf
get Christian soldier (?) to whom an insult'
ia. Georgia woman of his own name said, upt
led his claiming relationship with her: \
md kio! thank God 'the blood Of all Il
MS Towards is not in my veins"
em' "DgAr GENERAL: see the bridge ov
n atn Broad burning. It's vety important tn
,s,, you. effect a crossing tonight If neces;
' w: ~, ret over the Saluda the bulk OF t
am dook out crow eaters) Fifteenth Cor
1e' then take enough pontoons to finish o
US. 70 across the Broad" -+
anu The Fifteenth Corps was the first to
,ia Ter t,le city, and went by Sherman's or
nv nv and burned the city, either by his order
, !. :. his want of order.