Daily globe., 1881-06-09
eyes the burning cotton which had been set on
fire BY the confederate soldierY.i


Twas in supreme command inside OF Col
umbia during the night of the confagration,
| and allow no man, not even JEFF Davis, to
question my statement of the facts as seen by
myself. The fire on the night of February
II, 1865, in my Judgment then and now, was
caused by particles of burning cotton blown
against the fences and sheds, which spread to
the houses and finally consumed the center
but not the whole of the town. The
cotton was unquestionably set on fire
by the confederate cavalry, which
in the day time, whilst the trains of Gen. Lo.
gan's corps, 18th, were passing, but after the
trains had passed and night begun, the men
ceased carrying water, the fire spread anew,
and finally reached the sheds, fences and
houses, which, built of pitch pine, burned
with rapidity and fury under tornado OF
wind. What of Columbia remained next
morning, was wholly due to Gen. Logan's
troops. Without them not q house would
have escaped.
Ny orders were made two days before we
must be still in Gen. o. o. Howard's posses.
sion. They are recorded in the war depart
ment and have been often printed. These or
ders were purposely most merciful, because
have none but the most kindly feelings to.
wards South Carolina by reason Of the old as
sociates and friends made before the Mexican
war, some of whom were known to be in
Columbia and to whom extended personally
and officially every possible assistance.
Gen. Joseph E. Johnston disobeyed. his Davis
orders to retreat through thel Carolinas,
Georgia, etc., towards Texas by a route along
which supplies for the purpose had been col
lected, so as to prolong the war ad infnitnm.
Now, many humane and good men believed
that after Vicksburg and Gettysburg the civil
war should have ended, and all the horrors
and devastation which afterwards
resulted are chargeable to the
confederate authorities. Whatever may
be the Judgment of mankind on that propo-
the North, OF South, but what will feel a debt
of gratitude to Gen. Johnston for his good
sense and humanity in stopping the war when
he did, in defiance of Davis orders. To have
resolved the war in April, 1865, from one by
grand organized armies into one of partisan
guerillas, would be. an unpardonable crime
against humanity. At that time many of the
United States army dreaded such an event.
would not have believed that a man of such
weight and experience could have advised and
ordered it., had not Davis in his new book re-
vealed the truth over his own signature. Gen.
Johnston still lives, and in vigor and health,
is abundantly able to vindicate his soldierly
fame against this and other filings which JEFF
Davis has cast at him. I may allude
to a case in this connection, to
showed how blind Davis seemed to have be-
come to the humanities of war, how little
sympathy he felt for the marches, tolls, priva-
tions and deaths of his own soldiers, to advise
and order that the remnants of his army
should flee towards Texas, thousand miles
through country already devastated, pursued
by relentless foe, delaying for a few short
weeks and months his own hopeless fate.
Mark Twain followed Gen. Sherman.
The President of the United States was re-
ceived with immense applause. Secretary
Lincoln was also greeted with warm wei.
come. He made speech, which was also well
received.