The New York herald., 1873-09-18

The claims of David Jacobs, amounting to about
100000, and twentythree other claims OF less In.
dividual magnitude, but sggregating millions OF
dollars, have been presented to the Commissioners
and in each case the United States has been rep
resented ana had it's ''day In Court" Every le-
gitmate effort has been made on behalf OF the
United States to sustain General Sherman's theory
that he did not, and the Conlederates did, burn
Columbia. After the counsel for the United States
was fully possessed OF the positions ana alIega
tions OF the twenty-four claimants, through their
respective memorials and primary proofs, Gen.
eral Sherman's testimony was taken at length
III Egypt more than year ago. and, to make "as-
cember. put himself upon the witness stand and
testified through ity-eight printed pages support
ing himself by seven generals, one colonel, one
MAJOR. one adJutant, one c0mmissary, one signal
officer and nineteen colored witnesses, their united
testimony filing 329 printed pages Upon this mill
tary and contraband testimonial General Sherman
rested his case. He had all the power and re.
sources OF the United states at his "beck and call
Tor the eucidation OF hs grand historic question:"
and IL Is to be presumed he made the record for
TINS tribunal and ior posterity to his satisfaction.
The claimants severely criticised the omission OF
and his ocers and en wo ss suss2ed ssgea
Columbia and knew whether or not they set fire
70 the nee cotton and the
officers who confessedly did not enter Columbia
until one or two hours after the cotton might have
been set on fire by Colonel stones brigade. But not
withstanding this criticism request for perms-
sion to call Colonel Stone or his ofcers and men Was
made by the counsel ior the United States, and no
effort was made to find any OF them. so far as Is
known. General Sherman says he did not know
where to find Colonel Stone. This would probably
for. Colonel Stone has recently made q statement
adverse to General Sherman's position and an
being called as witness by The United States
counsel will probably be imagined.
General Sherman's theories and witnesses were
met and overwhelmed by mass OF direct fntelli.
gent and unimpeachable testimony on behalf OF the
claimants numbering sixty or seventy witnesses IN
David Jacobs case alone. The evidence mas been
discussed at great length on both sides. and nnay
submitted to the tribunal for decision, and that
triounal % must M render q decision before the 2eth
fest from "Arny Headquarters ?"
No intelligent and latr person who will take the
trouble to examine the testimony and the argu-
ments will doubt that the claimants have demon
atrated completely not only that General sherman,
but tina: ne had intended to do co. This Is
conclusively shown through the admissions,
eyasons ana OF the United
claimants: Numerous unimpeachabIe witnesses
threatened for Columbia Just what happened. This
testimony has been printed and in his hands for
his recent letter deny it, Did he threaten to burn
and destroy Columbia before he took it Ii not,
why does ne not deem q denial by himself Of that
sworn allegation as important at least as the tss-
tmony OF others upon lmmateria facts9 II he did
threaten 20 destroy Columbia and upon capturtngit
almost certain Columbia would pc pilaged and
burned, as it was, ts 1t not natural conclusion
that he enforced his threats either by direction
indirectionf General Sherman now parades in
the newspapers with 0fiicia flourish statements
cross-examlnstion and contradiction. The ss' sub.
stance OF his letter ts that the Seventeenth army
CORPS under his comm command, sent into surrendered
hour before Colonel Stone arrived there, that
Colonel stone S arrived there one or two hours be-
and that this ektrmtsh line can prove
that the rebel soldiers ripped open and set
es s IL sas R a
mts that this cotton was originally placed in the
streets for the purpose OF burning but he does not
say as the truth is, that this was done by General
Beauregard against General Hampton's Judgment,
and that the first order General Hampton issued
ing OF It's destruction and before Its surrender 10
the United States Army, was not to burn the cot
On reading General sherman's letter the follow
ing reflections arise:-
FirsLwhy did not General Sherman prove
formation, power and opportunity, and. having
failed to prove them, why does he publish them
Second General Sherman, at page es Of testi-
mony and elsewhere, swore that Stones troops
were nrst in Columbia and most OF hts witnesses
sustain him. This, true' aontradicts the sKrmiSh
ThtYu-Even il it is admitted that the Conteder-
proved prov that they did mott tnst would not relieve
General Sherman from the responsibility OF the
pilage ana burning Of Columbia No witness on
either side swears the burning cotton originated
the general connagration, and every witness upon
both sides, including General Sherman page 65)
the connagratiOn should SO originate: as,
for instance, that the extinguishment Of the
burning cotton occurred nve or six hours before
impossible or sre starting st the &c cotton to fol.
that throngs Of infurated soidiery, with torches,
irebrands and saturated cotton balls, were every
as TSrs S
Fourth-Is 1t very strange that after General
Sherman had limited 70 General halleck that he
'.who usually did their work wen," the destruc.
dentaiy through the "weii GoneS performsnces man Of
the same Fifteenth corpsY
Ntth-when General Sherman started on his
devastating the South' and destroying the
enemy's resources;" when he marked his track
and beyond, with cnders ana ashes, and all OF the
people OF the North were applaudng him for II,
why did ne not then deny that he was not entitled
people were devastating their own country' Is 1t
just the thing to wait until pay day is upon the
mankind is msnacing the Generals laureis, and
then attempt to SHIFT honors, now become obnox.
to those Of the DOW poweress s,orerss rSsS '''
Seversth--lf It was justfable TO devastate the
South a. war measure tending to lessen the emu
sion OF blood las IL doubtless was subject TO the
responsibilities incurred under the code OF war; is
1t honorable or quite safe for great nation, In
order to get rid OF compensating neutral sufferers
or for great general, In order 20 wipe from his
otherwise fair fame real or fanced odium, to
deny as fact the burning Of city when 10000
interested persons looked on2
Eyghth-fs IL assumed that this raid from the
headquarters OF the Army Of the United states''
is to affect the judgment OF Q high International
TRIBUNAL which ought to be and presumably will be
founded on sworn legal evidencef Your obedient
servant, B. r. WATSON.
Counsel for David Jacobs
NOT WITH THE REFORMgRS