The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-09-07
From The Plantation.
The Burning Of Columbia, Who Did
It?


ment of the sudden death of Mr.. I. 5.
Nickerson, the former proprietor of Nick
ersons Hotel at Columbia, s. c., and more
recently in charge of the Scrcven House,
Savannah. saw thi, news with regret, as
he was warm-hearted, amiable and bcncv-
olcpt man, and his aptitude for his profes-
sion was remarkable. / have heard it said
that there were more men born. to make
good Presidents Of the United States than
there were to make good hotel keepers.
MIR. Nickerson certainly was one. During
the war he kept the best house in the Con-
federate States, and although he was known
to be Unionist, yet his uniform kindness to
our soldiers made him very popoular. He
accumulated an Independent fortune, much
of which was invested in his hotel When
Sherman was at Dalton, I happened to be in
Columbia, and Mr.. Nickerson asked me If l
thonght Sherman would ever reach Atlanta
replied yes. lie then said:
"Do you think he will get to Columbian"
| replied, IF he ever crosses kencsaw
Mountain he will sweep over the country
like the waters of milldam broke loose,
and the very point he will make for will be
Columbia"
At this Mr.. Nickerson looked concerned,
and he asked me in very earnest manner
what would advise him to do in such an
event. Said I:
"Whcn Sherman gets here make friends
of the mammon of unrighteousness; place
your house, your horses, your wines and
everything elso you have at his disposal and
ask him to protect you. This is the only
course for you to pursue. This may save
you: I know of nothing else."
In due time Sherman reached Columbia !;
the city was sacked and bnrned, and Nick
erson, like every body else, lost all he had
After the surrender, at Charlotte, 1 was re-
turning home, and In passing through Co.
lumbia called on Nickerson. He was living
in small house on the outskirts of what
was once the city. He looked haggard 1
may almost say despairing. After bidding
me welsome he said:
"Well, Colonel, I took your advice
When Sherman got here turned over all |
had to him and his staff. I wore myself
down in waiting on them, and at o'clock
in the evening 1 went to my room and put
on nv slippers and threw myself on the bed
for short nap. I had scarcely composed
myself when Isaac, whom you knew as my
billiard marker, came rushing into my room
and said to me: Mr.. Nickcrson, you had
better get Mrs Nickerson out of this hotel,
they are going to burn this town at nine
O'clock" He says he was so bewildered
that he simply remarked: "Grcat God, no.
"Ycs they are," said Isaac, "because l
heard General Barnes and the officers say
the fro would oon,n,onoo OF o'oloeh, While
I was waiting OH them at supper"
Nickerson said the boys manner was so
earnest, and his expression so indicative OF
an alarm that he rused down stairs, and as
he approached the Office he saw the staff
officers examining his horse blankets -
"Great heavens, gentlemen, what docs this
mean ?" They snecringly replied; We
just thought we would appropriate these, al
YOU will not noed them any more. He then
went to Gen. Rarnes and begged him to save
his house, which he agreed to do, and or
dered detachment of men to be in readl
ness. Nickerson then commenced to collcc
all the blankets and had them saturated
and even procured an engine. $780,.
Sure enough, at 8 o'clock the rockets
went up, and in ten minutes the whola cit.
was in flames, and thousands ofpoor womel
and children were running to and fro
shrieking and screaming in despair ant
alarm. Nickerson succeeded in preventing
the flames from reaching his house for some
time until band of soldiers came rushing
into the bouse and called for him to brinl
out Confederate Aug which they had hcar'
: he had. "Brins it out, d-n you, or "
, will murder you" He brought it out. AM
they tramped it under foot, and then pre-
ceeded to cut the hose and fire the house
, He said: ...
5 In ten minutes more was ruined man
|, I stood bewildercd and broken-spiritec
looking upon tho charred ruins of all tina
, was left me of a long life Of toll and cnel
gy."
7 And yet Sherman says Hampton burne