New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-05-01
BURNING OF COLUMBIA.
GEN. TOWARDS TROOPS THE NCEN-
DIARIES.

RFGAGD AND OTHERS - Tux CITY PEACEFUL
RrroPE THE ENTRY OF THE FEDERAL TROOPS
GIN suERMNNs ADMISSIONS THAT THE FEDERAL
TROOPS HAD FIRED THE CITY.
tyRoN AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE rRInuNE
BALTIMORE, Md, April 29-In the burning
O, The Oily Of Columbia s. c., the night of Feb II,
1888 lorca quantities cotton consumed, some tot
which belonged to British subjects. several Of whom
have filed CLAIMS before the Mixed Commission on
British and American claims at Washington Ono OF the
largest losers was David Jacobs who claims S5O0ooO
His counsel visited various parts of the country TO
obtain testimony. and last week in this city took the
statement Of Gen Wade Hampton. who commanded the
Confederate calvary at the time of the evacuation OF
Columbia.
GIN HAMPToNs STATEMENT.
Being duly sworn before United States Commissioner
Brooks Gen. Hampton made the following statements
the night OF the 10th OF February he received ee
graphic dispatch from President Davis announcing MS
promotion the position OF Northumberland ana III
recting him to assume command of all the cavalry I'D
Sou Carolina. Gen. Beauregard was the Commandern
Chief Gen HamptOn's command consisted OF Wheeier
corps Of cavalry and division o. cavalry under Gen. NJ
Butler amounting in all TO about 4lOj men IN anu
Columbia when Sherman advanced on the city WIN
5000 men, The only attempt check the advance OF
the Federal troops made at Congaree Creek by Gen.
putlar who had under his command few OF his own
and Wueecrs men and a small Kentucky brigade under
BrccknriiCe the whole number not exceeding 6JO men,
This occurred the 18TH after which the advance
NJ
opposte Columbia the 10th, and without any warning
hegan 10 shell the town in every direction. Hunts
Hotel, where Gen. Beaureglrd had his headquarters,
was struck by piece of SHE'LL two three shells struck
the workshops passed through the old Satehouse
and three struck the new Statehouse. the marks OF
which still be Some of the shells were
thrown the Charlotte road, which il two miles
from river and passed the asylum which
Is the northeastern boundary OF the city. The Smelling
took place early the morning OF the l6th and during
the Federal troops commenced the passage OF
the river. On toe morning OF the nth Gen. Hampton
directed the officers under his command TO withdraw
their men from Columbia and its vicinity as the city
was 10 b. surrendered and offensive acts were to be
committed Tie Confederate troops ordered to be
moved to Winnsb TO- when Gen. Beauregard was
advised OF what had been done he left
the city and also went or toward Winnshoro
feeling quite unwen at the time. Cen HamP
ton then instructed the Mayor OF Columbia
Dr. T. j. Goodwin to send flag OF truce TO meet the
advance guard OF shermans and 10 announce that
the city evacuated and that he had come out TO sur
render it, This about o'clock on the morning OF
the nth Gen. Hampton gave The Mayor directions how
10 proceed, where 10 20. aud what he TO do;
he then called his attention to the cotton that was lying
along RlchardsOn-st, and recommended that lie should
put guard it, telling him there was danger that
il would ire and that II 1t did So 1t would endanger
the city THIS cotton had been removed from the ware
houses where 1t stored in order to transport it
to open fields adjoining the city, where it might be
burned bat finding there not sufficient means Tor
transportation, il left in Richardsonst The Mayor
with flag Of truce, met the leading column OF the Fed
era army composed OF Stones Brigade and surrendered
the city Gen. Hampton had moved out by the Asylum
road with one of Buffers brgades and stationed himself
at upper boundary street. facing toward Richardson
st. From the position he occupied, he commanded a
of the whole town and vicinity He saw the Mayor
come back with the nag. and surrounded by columns OF
troops II was about 10 a. when the Federal troops
Coi onda mt "A IN HamD
ton had the conversation with the Mayor in the vicinity
of the cotton There were Confederate troops
I'm Columbia when the Federal army entered
Gen Hampton was the last officer in the
town. and he left lust prior to the entry
of the Federal army. He states positively that
up TO that time there were fires progress in Column
bia Wien asked what orders were given in reference
IN the dspOsit1on tic cUtOn III Colombia i'm nadatoy
,r 10 the 18th of February Gen. Hampton stated that
an order had been issued by Gen. Beauregard on the
I4th 10 Major Alien j. Green, the post commander 10
have the cotton of the warehouses 20 place
where could be burned, if il became necessary 10 do
so, without endangeung the town. Not having the
transportation at his disposal Major Green had placed
it in the Ga the night Of the 16th when Gen.
Hampton assigned to duty at Columbia, he called
Gen Beauregards attention to the position OF this cot
ton telling him that burned 1t would endanger
the town. and urged him order thai the cotton should
not be burned This he did. Being asked whether that
order not t. fire the had been carried out by the
COnfederates, answered that he knew by official in
vesgaOn and by personal observation that 1t had not
been fired by them.
APFIDAvITs AND LETTERS OF CONFEDERATE OFFICERS.
Gen Hampton then produced number Of atidayits
bearing upon this point The first was that OF Capt
Rawlins LOwndes, A. A. G.. OF the Confederate Army,
addressed to Chancellor Carroll Chairman Of the Com
ntee appointed Investigate the facts connected with
the burning Of Columbia Capt. LOwndes states that
after Gen Hampton assumed command Of the cavalry,
on the morning OF the 18th Of February, he told him
owndes that Gen. Beauregard mad determined not TO
burn the cotton and he HamptOn) directed LOwndes TO
Issue an order that no cotton should be fired This
did at once" says LOwndes, land when left Columbia,
which did after the entrance Of the Federal troops
not one bale Of cotton burned, nor had any been
fred by troops the time was acting as Assistant
A. A. G. for Gen. Hampton"
The next affidavit produced by Gen. Hampton
that OF Gen. NJ G. Butler. Gen. Butler division
commander under Gen. Hampton. He swears that he
withdrew from Columbia about 10 M. on the morning
of the 7h Just the OF the Federal troops had
reached the suburbs Of the town; that cotton
burning when he left, far as he could observe, and
would have been fred without his orders that he
remained suburbs OF the city for two hours after it
had been occupied by the Federal troops that when
he left he could evidence Of cotton burning He
further says that LeutGen. Hampton, the morning
the evacuation had directed him that the cotton must
not be fired, inasmueh the Mayor had gone out TO
meet Gen. Sherman surrender the city and 10 ask his
protection Cen Butler further states that the Confed
crates retired from the city quietly without firing, or
doing anything which would provoke and justify VIC
fence on the part Of the troops coming in. Gen. Hampton
went on 70 state that from the aay of the Mayor Of
tIe city and other citizens and from his Obserya
ton that the cotton not fired by the Confederate
troops but Il caught from the smoking Of the Fed
ersI soldiers who stacked their when they in
and sat down cotton. There had been no fires in