Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1873-01-23
The Burning Of Columbia

!
Ny DEAR CHANcELLoR I have been
requested to furnish you the facts, con-
nccted With the evacuation of Columbia
by thS Confederate forces. just before its
ocupation and destruction by the Federal
/ forces under Gen, Sherman IL February,
1865. . y = ''4sl = ''7t'Is-
+ u have heretofore, RETAINED from parti-
'clpatihg in the controversy which has
arisen as to who is responsible for the de-
structien of that city, because l felt conf.
dent, that. very few, south of certain lat
;itude, believed n word of Gen. Shcrn,au's
official report, wherein he attempts to
saddle this responsibility upon Genrnl
Hampton; and that very few north of the
same latitude would believe word to the
controry; and, therefore, that oil tes-
timonys upon, the subject would have to
pass through the crucible of time, diyest-
ed ofiprejudicc and passion, before, the
real truth would be admitted, both, North
and South. - .H,
/ Gen. Sherman, in his official rcpor Of
the operations Of his armies in Carolnas
in the spring of1S65 ,andupon difterentoc
casionssi since, charges Gen. Hampton with
the destruction Of his native city. OF
course wherever honor, truth dignity,
and integrity of character arc recognized
aid respected, Gen. Hampton's denial
will outweigh Gen. Sherinan's charge and
requires no corroborativc statement to
give it strength. But it may not be i'm
proper that | should put my testimony in
an available shape. Cen Sherman may
attempt 10 back up his accusations by his
unenviablc notoricty, by the prestige Of
military success, by bluat and high SCUM
ding bombast; but the naked, pure and in
dcstructiblc truth, in The hands of i'm par
tial postcriiy, will scatter hi. pretcntions
to the winds. The spontaneous comics,
slons OF Il cuIprit arc thc highest evidences
OF guilt. The admissions Of his officers
and soldiery, and his own admissions of
that tcarf i night hf the 18th of Fcbru-
airy, are cnousho Of themselves to convict
Gen. Sherman Of the crime. The act Yas
in pei,!cc keeping with his whole career
in the war, and why should he labor so
induatriousiy to deny il. The reasons are
to be found in three facts lst That Tie
Gown had been evacuated by hostile FOES,
and he entered it without resistance, and
consequently could not avail him clt o.
thc rights OF war, which he wonl,. in.gt
ma:ciy have had, il he mad take! i. hv
assault. ID. L. And been surrenie,i be
fore he reached tie suburbs, BY the town
authorities; and Cd. lie had promised
protection to the helpless Inhabitants
Close upo,. the heels of shis promise; nj
Is guilty oi pcriidy, BY conniying at toc-
rating and encouraging their destruction
q viii moi say that lie ordered it,! Know
Ing tha1 there trnths. and others too uu-
mcrous 10 cmibrac. III the limits Of this
paper, would one day come to light, and
damn him forever, he undertakes to fore.
stall them under the sanction ofanosicial
report, by attempting to refer the odium
tof destruction and suffering consequent
upon his perfidy and umustiifabIe mail
ignity, upon one who is rs far his sup
crior in everything that constitutes true
man, as he !, less capable cf such inhu-
nonity and craclty>
In the aforesaid official report, General
uses the following language:
General Wade Hampton, who com
mandcd the Confederate rear guard of
cavalry, had, in anticipation of our cap
tnre Of Columbia, ordered TINT oil cotton,
public and private, should be moved into
the streets and liree,!, t. prevent our ma
king use of it. Bales were piled every.
where &c,
Aud again:
Il disclaim on Tie part Of my army,
any agency in this fire; but, on the con
trary, claim that wc saved what OF Colum
bin remains unconSuHlcd. And, without
hesitation, charge General Wade IIamp
ton With having banned his own city, OF