New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-06-11
WHO BURNED COLUMBIA.

STATEMENT OF THE OFFICER WHOSE UNION BRIGADE
GUARDED TIE CITY.
Gen. George A. Stone, who commanded the
Third Brigade First Division, OF the Fifteenth Army
Corps Of Gen. sherman army, which guarded the city
on the night burned writes an interesting letter
to The Chicago Tribune giving new solution to the
conundrum, Who fired Columbiai He says the army
was animated by feeling Of intense hatred toward
South Carolina and that this luminosity Increased as
they approached Columbia His recollection Is that
ouslde Of the town not house was left standing I'M
less occupied by negroes and from the dense clouds OF
smoke few miles each our right and left-plainy de-
nnpe the march OF the columns advancing In parallel
lnes-it seemed that the same destruction was follow
ing in the wake Of those columns" After describing
the entrance Of the army into the city Gen. Stone
says:
I'm IN this time no fires had occurred In any part OF
the CITY, save those OF public buildings and quarter
entsTed think but which fire had not extended, and
did not extend, to any other part OF the city Inc
which had been cut open, and these caught fire
twice or three times during the day; but these
81 he cty aided by detail OF soldiers under charge OF
an oflcer By this time realized how much too small
my ~ 2o re sn almost Beyond concepton ii
such stores as we coveted In addition 70 their own
Charleston had sent for saekeeping all their surplus
Represented Gen. Woods, commanding the division
how inadequate my command was 70 the task, parue99
larry as this was the capital OF South Carolina Ana,
while he expressed himself OF my opinion, he could 90
nothing further than refer me to Gen Logan command
ing the corps Logan expressed himself eyenmore strong
ythan Woods haddone, that my command was 100 small
for the provost duty OF Columbia but said HoHaIus
orders were ono brigade must guard the city, ana nc
could not change them. -, 1860.
Inow had inimaton that the Union officers released
by us from the city prisons had formed society 20
which had been added many members from oar
and the negroes and the object OF which society was 70
burn Columbia Col ID. j. Palmer, commanding my reg
iment the 18th Iowa. and TO whom had ntrusted tne
charge OF the dangerous part Of the city Wa that
on the river and in "Cotton Town." con con,
hrmed my opinion that there was plos
TO burn the city, by telling me several ntes
had started in hrs district that he haI huccetueHS
In putting them out far but could not hold OUT muon
longer and that his opinion, the next one would nle
the city The wind after sunset had Increased ln y9
ence aud about o'clock, was blowing almost hnrLl
cane from Col Palmers district right toward the heat
Of the city All at once, 10 20 flames. from as
many different places along the river, shot mp, ana IN
ten minutes the fate OF Columbia settled Most OF
the officers and many OF the worked Ike heroes All
night In gazing property and fe Gen sherman sol the
example and oiten during the night noticed him Us
hard ut IA any private soldier or fireman By tne
morning Id was the guard had been 700
small and although square mile OF the heart OF tno
city had been eateu OUT the mems appetite Tor TO
yenge tatiated.