The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-09-14
The Burning Of Columbia Who Did TT

The Burning Of Columbia Did It'll
The Plantation, published in Atlanta, Geor-
pia, contains in its last issue the following COM
munication, signed "R. A. A." in reference to
the burning of Columbia:
A few weeks ago saw the announcement of
the sudden death of Mr.. T. S; Nickerson, the
former proprietor of Nickersor's Hotel, at Co.
lumbia, South Carolina, and more recently in
charge of the Screven House, Savannah 1 saw
this i1eys with regret, as he was warm hearted,
amiable and benevolent man, and his aptitude
for his profession was remarkable. | have
heard it said that there were more met born to
make good Presidents of the United States than
there were to be good hotel keepers. Mr..
Nickerson certainly was one. During the war,
he kept the best house in the Confederate
States, and although he was known to be a
Unionist, yet his uniform kindness to our SOL
diers made him very popular. He accumula-
ted an Independent fortune, much OF which
was invested in his hotel. When Sherman was
at Dalton, happened to be in Columbia, and
Mr.. Nickerson asked me if thought, Sherman
would ever reach Atlanta? l replied yes. He
then said:
"Do you think he will get to Columba?"
I replied: "If he ever passes Kennesaw
Mountain, he will sweep over the country like
the waters of mill dam 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 L:
"When Sherman gets here, make friends of
| the mamrt1Un Of unrighteOusness place your
house. your horses, your wines, and everything
else that YOU have at bis disposal, and ask him
to protect you; This is the only course for you
to purstie: This may save you; L know OF
nothing else" :.
In due time, Sherman reached Columbia ;
the city was sacked and burned, and Nicker-
son, like every body else, lost all he had. After
the surrender at Charlotte, l was returning
home, and, in passing through Columbia, called
on Nickerson. He was living in small house
on the outskirts of what was once the city. He
looked haggard, and, may almost say, despair
ing. After bidding me welcome, he said:
! "Well, Colonel, I took your advice. When
him and his staff. I wore myself down in
waiting on them, and at o'clock iii the eveh-
inp I went to my room and put on my slippers
and threw myself on the bed for short nap.
I had scarcely composed myself when Isaac,
whom YOU we'll knew as my billiard marker,
came rushing into my room and 81 I'd to me :
| MIR. Nickerson, you had better get lrs. Nick
erson out of this hotel they are going to burn
this town at 8 o'clockv" He says he was so
bewildered, that he simply remarked: "Great
God, no p
General Barnes and the officers say that the
fire would commence at 9 o'clock, while was
waiting on them at supper"
Nicierson said the boys manner was SO
earnest, and his expression so indicative OF
alarm, that he rushed dotn stairs, and, as he
approached the Office, he saw the staff officers
examining his horse blankets.
| "Great heavens, gentlemen, what does this
mean?" They snecringly replied' I'VE just
thought we would appropriate these, as you
will not need them any. more" He then went
to General Barnes and begged him to save his
house. which he agreed to do, and ordered a
detachment of men to be in readiness Nick
erson then commenced to collect all the blank
cts and had them saturated, and even procured
an engine
Sure enough; at o'clock, the rockets went
up, and in ten minutes the whole city Was in
flames. and thousands of poor women and chill
dren were running to and fro, shrieking and
screaming in despair and alarm. Nickerson
succeeded in preventing the flames from reach
inp his house for some time, until band OF
| soldiers come rushing into the house and called
for him to bring out a Confederate flag, which
thew had heard he had. "Bring it out, d-n
YOU, or we will murder you" He brought it
out, and they tramped it under foot and then
proceeded to cut the hose and fire his house.
I'm ten minutes more, 1 was ruined man.
I stood bewildered and broken-spirited, looking
upon the charred ruins of all that was left me
| Of long life of energy and toll"
And yet Sherman says Hampton burned Co.
lumbia