The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-09-15
WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON, Sept. ~ The postof11ci
authorities here have been informed By
the Government Of Germany that newspa
per tax is no longer collected OF person.
In the kingdom OF Prussia 10 whom may
be addressed newspapers printed In tht
German language IN the United States.
The President has directed the remov
al OF the land Office at Oaklake, Mich, tc
Detroit, Mich.
Attorney General Williams leaves TO
night for Hartford to look alter the Credit
Mobilier suits which comes up In tht
United States Court Tuesday next. After
a conference with the Government Coun
sci the Attorney General will return tc
Washington.
WHO BURNED COLUMBIA.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 14.-The Chronicle
tomorrow will publish the following let
ter from General Sherman In relation to
the burning OF Columbia:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY U. s., !
WASHINGTON, Sept. 19.
To Editor Of Chronicle
DEAR sm-When you applied to me
some time ago for material bearing on the
controversy Of "Who burned Columbia"
I gave you two printed pamphlets which
had obtained from Judge Holt contain
ing all the testimony taken in the cotton
cases growing out Of that event and sub
mitted to the mixed commission which
had been appointed to adjudicatc these
cases under tho treaty with Great Brit.
ain. Judge Holt could have obtained
the testimony Of all tho 5000 or 10000
officers and soldiers who were at or near
Columbia when the eonilagration oc-
CURED, but he thought he had enough
without putting the government to the
expense Of bringing more witnesses from
a distance. I suppose he did not sum.
mons Colonel Stone, who commanded the
leading brigade Of the 10th corps because
he did not know where to find
him. l surely did not know bis where.
abouls till he voluntarily published bis
statement. In my official report OF the
affair, published before the close OF the
war, when General Wade Hampton was
fighting us, and not when, as he alleges,
he was o prisoner OF war. lreierred IN
cldentally 10 TACT OF which had knowl.
edge, that small detachment of the 18th
corps had passed over the Congaree, had
entered Columbia and hoisted flag on
the now State House in advance Of the
regular entry Of the 18th corps which had
made a circuit to cross the two branches
Salmda and Broad which make Congaree.
| treated the performance OF this detach.
men as somewhat irregular, but the men
who composed 1t now became important
witnesses, and I herewith enclose copies
Of their written statement with the official
reports which explains the whole affair.
These witnesses 60 back TO three
quarters Of an hour before the entry
Of the head of Stones brigade, and about
two hours ahead Of time. l personally
reached the piles Of burning cotton, OF
which there were many, and l invite your
careful perusal of their statements, for
they are positive that they saw rebel cav.
airy soldiers spring of Of bales OF cotton
and applying fire. They also saw rebel
soldiers plundering the stores on Main
street, which Gen. Hampton attributes to
our men, and they further positively assert
that Hampton had already gone out Of
Columbia, so that he could not and did
not see his men applying the fire. Now
Hampton admits that the cotton was
rolled out in the street for the purpose Of
burning, but that he forbade the burning
lest the fire should extend to the houses,
and reiterate that no matter what his
orders were, men Of his army, or rear
straglers did apply the fire, and that It
was sufficient cause for all else that fol-
lowed. With great respect, yours,
w. T. SHERMAN, General.