The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-09-17

Although actual orders for the burning Of
the town may not have been given, the SOL
diers OF Gen. Sherman certainly believed that
its destruction would not be displeasing to
him. That such was their impression We
have the authority Of q parsonage not less
distinguished than the officer OF highest rank
commandments himself. The proof Is
beyond impeachment. 1t comes from the
honored pastor Of one Of our city churches,
Rev. =. J. Shand, 10 whom reference has al
his written statement in the possession OF the
committee: "As we'll rs ] recollect, In No
vember, 1855. I went In Company with o friend
to see Gen. Howard Mt his headquarters, In
Charleston, on matters of business. Before
we left the conversation turned Oh the de-
struction Of Columbia. Gen. Howard express
cd his regret at the occurrence, and added the
following words: Though Gen. Sherman did
not order the burning OF the town. yet some
how or other the men had taken up the idea
that II they destroyed the capital OF South
Carolinait would be peculiarly gratifying to
Gsn, Sherman These were Ills words in the
order In which I have set them forth. Inoted
them down as having great signitlcancy, and
they are as fresh In my remembrance as they
were Immediately after ther were spoken.
Ny friend (whose recollection accords fully
with my own) and myself on our way home
talked the matter over, and could not but be
struck by the two following facts First,
that although Gen. Howard said that Gen.
Sherman did not order the burning, he did not
state that Gen. Sherman gave orders that the
city should not be burned. Second, that 1t
was surprising If Gen. Sherman was opposed
to the burning that his opposition should
have been so disguised as to lead TO the con-
v!ction on the part of his soldiery that the
act, SO far from mourning his disapprobation
or censure, would be q source, to him, Of pc
culiar gratifcatiOn.' The cotton bales In the
town had been placed in the centre OF the wide
streets in order to be burned to prevent their
falling into the possession OF tho invaders.
But upon Gen. Hampton suggesting that this
South Carolina Railroad had been destroyed
the cotton could not be removed, Gen. Beau
regard, upon Misrepresentation, directed Gen.
sbould not be Burned. Tho proof Of this fact
IA to be found In the written statement OF
Gen. Beaurcgard himself: Accordingly, and
In due time, the order forbidding the burning
OF the cotton was Issued by Gen. Hampton
and communicated to the Confederate troops.
The officer, then acting as Gen. Hampton's
a~djutant Capt. Rawlins LowndesO speaksa as
commander the cavalry, which he did on the
evening of the 10TH of February, he told me
that Gen. Beaurcgard had determined not to
burr the cotton, rs the Yankees had destroy
order that no cotton should be fired. This |
did ct once, and the same order was extended
10 the cavalry throughout their march
through South and North Carolina" Thu
forming the rear guard Of the Confederate
cavalry (Gen. NJ. G. Butler,) ,deposes; 'That
he was personally present with the rear
Wade Hampton withdrew simultan eously
with him. with a part of this deponent's com.
mand, and THAT Gen. Hampton, on the morn
Ing Of the evacuation and the day previous.
on fire. and this order. he adds, was commu-
nicated to the entire division and strictly OBJ
served" A clergyman, highly esteemed at
the North, as we'll as at the South REV. a.
Toomer Porter thus testities general
Hampton had told me at daylight, In answer
TO the question whether he was, going to burn
the cotton: No, the wind Is high 1t might
to burn the own" tsBctween Sand 8 o'clock
on the morning of the 18th of February" de.
poses the mayor, General Hampton, while
sitting on his horse, observed some cotton
piled not far of, in tho middle Of the street.
lie advised me to put a guard over 1t, saying
"Some careless ones, by smoking, might set