The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-09-07
WHO BURNED COLUMBI1e
A New Version of an Old Story.

writer in the Atlanta, Ca, Plantation
writing over the signature of "R. A. A.,
says:
A few weeks ago saw the announcement
of the sudden death of Mr.: T. 8. Nickerson, the
former proprietor of Nickerson's Hotel, at
Columbia, 8. c., and more recently in charge
news with regret, as he was warm-hearted,
amiable and benevolent man, and his aptitude
for his profession was remarkable have
heard 1t said that there were more men 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 q
Unionist, yet his uniform kindness TO our SOL
ders made him very popular. He accumulat-
ed an independent fortune, much OF which
was invested in his hotel. When Sherman
was at Dalton, l happened to be In Columbia,
and Mr. Nickerson asked me If thought Sher-
man would ever reach Atlanta? | replied,
Yes" He then said:
'Do you think he will get to Columbia !"
/ replied: "If he ever passes Kennesaw
Mountain, he will sweep over the country like
the waters Of a 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
I would advise him TO do, In such an event.
Said 1:
"When Sherman gets here, make friends OF
the mammon OF unrighteousness; place your
house, your horses, your wines, and every;
thing else that you nave, at his disposal, and
ask him to protect you. This Is the only course
for you to pursue. This may save you; know
of nothing else"
In due time Sherman reached Columbia; the
city was sacked and burned, and Nickerson,
like everybody else, lost all he had. After the
surrender at Charlotte, 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:
We'll, Colonel I took your advice. When
Sherman got here, turned over all had to
him and his staff. / wore myself down in
waiting on them, and at eight o'clock in the
evening went to my room and put on my
slippers and threw myself on the bed for q
short nap. 1 had scarcely composed myself
when Isaac, whom you knew well as my bill.
lard marker, came rushing into my room and
said to me 'Mr. Nickerson, 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 re-
marked: "Great God, mol"
"Yes they are" said Isaac, "because heard
General Barnes ana tne OMCers Say LnaL lue
fire would commence at o'clock, while was
waiting on them at supper"
Nickerson said the boys manner was 80
earnest, and his expression so indicative OF
alarm, that he rushed down starts, and as he
approached the office, he saw the staff officers
examining his horse blankets. "Great
heavens, gentlemen, what does this mean %
They sneeringly replied: 1--WE just thought
we would appropriate these, as you Will not
need them any more" He then went to Gene
raj Barnes and begged him to save his house,
which he agreed to do, and ordered detach-
ment of men to be in readiness. Nickerson
then commenced to collect all the blankets,
and had them saturated, and even procured
an engine.
Sure enough, at nine o'clock, the rockets
went up, and Ia ten minutes the whole city
was in flames, and thousands OF poor women
and children were running 10 and fro, Shrek
ing aud screaming in despair and alarm.
Nickerson succeeded In preventing the flames
from reaching his house for some time, until
band of soldiers came rushing into the house
and called for him to bring out a Confederate
flag which they had heard he had. Bring II
out, d-n you, or we will murder yoil.' he
brought 1t out, and they trampled it under foot
and then proceeded 10 cut the hose and fire
his house. He said
"1n ten minutes more was ruined man.
| stood bewildered and broken-spirited look
ing upon the charred ruins Of all that was left
me of q long life of energy and toll"
And yet Sherman says Hampton burned co.
lumbia