The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-06-19
VINO Burned Columbia,
ATCH1soE, KAN, June q,

IL ne C0tkOT OF WS IHtCtLyO 1Ft0UHe:
SIR: AS it appears every wrong answer
has been given to the conundrum, who
fred Columbian" (unless it be the one,
propose to give you true ono. The
answer is contained in half dozen
| words; but, as qnite lengthy exp!una-
ton would have to follow, I'll make the
explanation first. and lead up to the an-
swer-keeping. like novelists, the ipte-
| rest intensified till the last moment. An
intensely bitter feeling was manifested
by our troops from the momen: they
stepped on South Carolina soil. In no
other seeded State land we had iol.
diered in all save Texas) was there any
particular ill-feeling shown toward the
Inhabitants. But. from one end of the
first named State to the other, it might
be truly said that our march was marked
by "a cloud OF smoke by day and pillar
Of fire by night"
My recollection is thnt, outside of the
town, pot house was left standing, un-
less occupied by negroes; and, from the
dense clouds Of smoke g Jew miles each
to our right and ieft-plainiy defining
the march of the columns advancing in
parallel lines-it- seemed that the same
destruction was following in the wake Of
those columns. One instancc--I could
give twenty-will illustrate and chow
the auimus of the troops
One evening" just at dnsk, Lhad halt
ed within three miles of camp, at a very
fine mansion, whore strong guard had
been posted by our advance. I had
command Of the rear guard, aud. up to
this place, had picked up all the sick and
all the stragglers. Fearing this house
might meet the fate Of all others, T sent
everything ahead, and relieved the house
guard myself, aud kept with it till we
arrived inside our picket line. About
midnight, my attention was called to q
firein the direction Of that house; and,
upon an investigation next morning,
there was nothing left to mark the situa-
ton of that mansion save heap of
smouldering ashes. Although the men
had marched twenty seven miles that
day, some OF them added six more, in
order to apply the torch to that house.
Their dreams would have been troubled
had that building remained as monu-
ment OF their oversight or neglect.
This remark would often be heard
Here is where treason Began. and, by
G-dl here is where il shal. end" :" This
feeling was intensified as We approached
Columbia. My brigade, Third Brigade,
First Division, Fifteenth Army Corps,
composed OF the Fourth, Ninth, Twenty
fifth, Thirtieth and Thirty-frst Iowa
Regiments, had marched and skirmished
almost necessarily for the two days pre-
ceding the capture OF that city. The
| night we reached the Saiuda and Broad
Rivers, we pushed over silently in can
| vas-bottom pontoon boats, two miles
above the city, laid on our arms till
dawn, and then attacked, carrying every
thing before US. The Mayor met us
near the city, md made formal sun
conditional surrender" had refused
any other; but, upon his accepting, at
once promised protection for all private
property.
AS we entered one OF the principal
streets. the sidewalks were lined with
negroes OF every nge, sex and condition,
holding in their arms vessels Of every
conceivable size and shape. filled with
almost every conceivable kind Of liquor.
Here was an old white -wooled man, who,
with ''Lord bress you, massa, try some
dis" offered brandy from o gourd that
bud been filled from the bucket held in
his hand. Others were Offering wines,
champagne, etc, from oriA;na! packages,
tin cups, crooks, etc. Officers were at
ouSC ICdtbuSu luhI tuGlI utu, COQ6lQeT'
ing their fatigue Of the past few days,
their sharp fight of the morning, their
loss of sleep and food for the pnst
tweuty-fonr hours, we're in no condition
o.drink much liquor. The temptation
offered was too great to withstand by all;
and, in spite Of strenuous efforts Of Of
ficers. within thirty minutes o no incon-
siderable number OF my command were
Intoxicated. This had occurred during
my absence to plant our national colors
on the State House. and I had returned
in great haste. as General Hampton S
cavalry had attacked my advances guard
and threatened charge on the brigade.
Harsh measures had to be adopted at
once, and those drunk were put under
guard. and, so soon as the enemy had
been compelled to retire. at once had
the entire brigade distributed through
the city.
Up to this time, no fires had occurred
in any port OF the city save those OF pub
lie buildings and quartermaster's stores,
fired by the enemy tho day before we
entered. I think, but which fire had not
extended, and did not extend to any
other part OF the city. The streets in
some places had contained bnles Of cot.
ton, which had been cut open, and these