The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-09-20
iC.,10l|,I C0I1IJNBIEAl B:E,ll G. G.;
~ X 4 y J = =
Saturday Morning, September 30. 1879

tu6 Wukulu8sOu OOUtUW laCotlpubly
commentaeat the last batch of .'evidsnce'
pu. forth BY Gen.. VIM. Teoumseh Sher,
man, relatiye,to the burning of Oolum-
bia.e He hasS proven himself skillful
IasasF1.a::Sozz, 80 hs. mixes enough truth
in,his ''eyidenoe" to give 81 the appear
anSs' OF ,gennineness. That q party of
three Federal soldiers or ofioers did
CROSS the Oongares In batteau, and
drive through the streets Of Columbia.
and we're ared ;upon by some struggling
members OF Wheeler's cavalry, is, true /;
that some Of the stores In the city we're
robbed by Qonfed derats soldiers or strsg-
glersl bsicEs and during the retreat Of
the army, is also true; but that there
was any cotton on Are in the streets be-
fore The Federal army entered. is false.
The bead OF the column halted near the
mAikst. AZ half.psss II O'Clock, on tho
motning OF she lin February. Shortly
afterwards, the soldiers we're scattered
about the ssr6ets; and in half an hour
the Jail was fred; shs flames, however,
were soon extingdished-some OF the
soldiers assisting. This was followed by
the firing Of the cotton on Main street,
on the block between Washington and
Lady streets. This last fire was so
effectuafly extinguished, that by 8
O'CLOCK, the "Bee Store" Immediately
Opposite where the cotton had been
aburntshwas sacked by party of SOL
d1iters-tin1cups, t frying pans. etc., being
seized with avidity-while others stood
IN the street, looking on and applaud
ing. Gen: sherman. with his staff. en-.
tered the oity. and rode down Main
street, shortly after the cotton was
fired. About 6 o'clock in the evening,
the Charlotte depot was fred and de-
'stroyed; shortly afterwards, the wooden
buildings on Gervais or Bridge street
wore burnt .down-these confagrations
being located from one quarter to three
quarters Of mile from the scene of the
then e1tinguished cotton fire; and about
half-past 2 O'Clock, the stores on the
West side Of Main street, directly oppo-
site where the cotton had been burnt
during the day,) we're fred. The work
Of inoendiarism was then carried on so
rapidly in different portions of the city.
that it was impossible to keep pace
with it. These are the facts of the case
the statements of Gen. Sherman and
his officers to the contrary. notwith-
standing, The Journal says:
''Sherman having got reinforcements,
is trying to make another stand against
the charge OF burning Columbia. This
time he brings in the Secretary of War,
General Bslknap, not as witness who
knows aey.hing, but rather as man
that knows another man that knows
something, thereby getting the benefit
of having that high officials name on
his side. Mr.. Secretary Belknap writes
to those officers OF his command who
were tho first of ShermAn's army to
enter Columbia for their recollection of
the matter. taking especial care to tell
them that his own recollection is that
'cotton.: piled in the streets of Colum-
bia' by the rebels. was burning when you
entered the city Considering that the
Witnesses are Mr.. ,Belknap's own wit
nesses, that would seem to be clear
case of leading One of the letters re-.
ceived in reply is Of Importance, as it
shows the style in which the Federal en-
try wns first made in the South Carolina
capital: Sr
"'Ool. Kennedy. Major Goodrell.
colol bearer. with Aag,) and myself
took horse and buggy and prooueled
rapidly on way to the State House,
says Major Macarthur. This formidable
party of three officers and flag il one
buggy. while proceeding rapidly on way
to State House, saw rebel soldiers pull
ing ,out tufts of cotton and firing the
bales; others breaking open and pillag
ing the stores;' but they staid not long,
for upon the appearance Of the buggy
and horse, with the three officers and
flag, 'the rebels fed, taking with them
what they could carry The fright pro.
duced by the advance of the martial
host in the horse and buggy was not
exactly unanimous, however. for 'one
squad OF four cavalrymen' had presence
OF mind enough to fire upon them as
they passed up Main street, though Nc
damage was done, and the gallant threo
IN their horse and buggy continued to