The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1884-02-05
From Our Regular Correspondent.

side of Richmond, Va, no other in the South
suffered as did this little city, the capital OF
South Carolina. Columbia is numbered among
the historical cities OF the world, and like her
sister city, Richmond, Va, will ever hold n warm
place in the hearts of the Southern people, and
especially devoted to this city and people are the
brave sons and beautiful daughters of this
grand old commonwealth The suffering, priva
ton and hardships endured by the women and
children Of this city during its occupancy by
Sherman and his army cannot, nor never will be
told Almost every day something appalling of
those dark days is related and made known for
the first time. War, in its last analysis, is the
blood of brave men," and heroic history is the
living soul of nations renown; but in the dy-
ing hours of the young COnfederacy the noble
matrons and beautiaaffsAidens OF this city were
called upon to give up their lives for cause they
held dear-their homes burnt over their heads,
death following from fright and exposure. When
the future historian comes to write the history OF
the South, the Southern women will stand forth
prominently grand On the 14th of February,
1865, Sherman's army confronted the worn and
tattered remnant of the cavalry force of Generals
Hampton, Butler and Wheeler, which were the
only force left to protect the city. Finding the
Confederate forces inadequate, a council OF war
was held and it was decided to cross the Broad
Sauda aud COngarec rivers and burn the bridges,
which was accordingly done under the immedi-
ate command of General Hampton, and that was
the only burning done by our forces. Sherman,
without making any demand for the surrender
of the city, commenced Smelling it. The exodus
of the terror stricken women and hel less chill
dren was simply appalling, asexpressed by an eye
witness The widest confusion prevailed in every
department Of life. In the wild excitement
loving mothers would get separated from their
young children and would be running wildly in
every direction, calling for their loved ones
And this great moving mass of humanity were
out with hardly change OF clothing, only too
glad to escape with their lives, and without food
some few took with them enough provisions to
sustain life day or two. General Sherman as
sured the mayor OF Columbia that the citizens
would be safe two hours later the sodery
We're breaking into stores, residences and
public halls the work OF pillage fairly
under way; helpless men, lovely women,
and children were jeered. insulted and slapped
in the face; blows were alike admins
cred 10 women who dared TO enter protest to
the plunderng. The horde o. thieves were com
posed of rank and file now and then an officer
would make AN endeavOr to check the mob in
their march of rapne and desolation, but such
officers were few. This state Of affairs had been
going on all day fearful it was yet still
greater calamity waiting this terror stricken
city. The reader will bear in mind that General
Sherman and his army had been in the city all
day-had assured the people OF protection. Now
the sequel: About 8 to 10 o'clock nj night small
rockets or signals were being sent up from every
quarter Of the city. At about II o'clock at night
large rocket or signal was sent up from Gene
| raj Shermans headquarters, which was signal
| for the commencement Of the incendiary work.
| The perpetrators of this most infamous work
| were well supplied with material consisting OF
| cOmbustible liquids in which were soaked large
| balls of cotton which were placed in and around
the houses to be destroyed. The wind was very
| high at the time and drove the flames wildly
| through the air, igniting everything that was in
tho may .f th~ -A~-ch cf tl.~ fir fond. Tie few
| fireAen that attempted to subdue the flames
| we're driven away and their hose cut to pieces.
| During all this fearful, indescribabe scene the
soldiers were constantly in search of spoil.
| Houses and safes were broken into, new-made
| graves opened and collins taken out and the
| dead bodies searched ladies driven from their
bedrooms and their Jewels snatched from their
| persons These and thousands of other equally
| as atroci0us acts were committed by Shermans
| clans The loss OF property was great. The
| large unsightly State House that meets your eye
| us you approach the city was nearly completed
when Sherman came to Columbia, and the mate
rial Tor its completion all in shape and ready
| for the wOrkmen. That toe was destroyed
The old State House was burned, and the pres
| ent one would have shared the same fate only ii
| is iron and stone; the roof was of wood being
only temporary one, and that was burned and
| all the fine marble material and the vast amount
w
knows where-the people here do not. Even
| the iron fence around the Capitol Grounds was
stolen. Eighty-four out of one hundred and
twenty-four blocks or squares, containing over
five hundred buildings, including residences,
| stores churches schools convent and factories
were burned in this dreadful Sherman fire. The
old gentleman who related the facts to me said
| "Oh God, spare me from ever witnessing
other scene like thisr'
Now where was Hampton during all this
time? Sherman says Hampton burned Column
bia, which assertion has long since been proved
false. Hampton, with part OF his command, was
some distance from Columbia, and in front of the
Federal lines, and was the only Confederate force
left to engage Sherman. The remainder of Hamp-
tons command was at Cheraw, S. c.
Now this destruction was soon followed hy
carpet bag plumber" reconstruction" and gen
eral plumber OF what the people had left. Can
you wonder that every South Carolinian loves
Columbia the beautiful city of ante beum times
that is fast getting back to her former beauty and
grandeur? Yes, this city is resurrccted, and will
ere long be AS beautiful as in the Olden time 1t
is vet the home OF brave men and beautiful wO-
men who love TO honor South Carolina, and will
ever guard her fair name and well merited fame.
PhPniX-like this city sprang from the ashes of
war; and the citizens OF Columbia are fast regain
ing their former prestige in every respect bas
ness In every branch is rapidly ncrensng new
stores and residences are being built in every
part of the city; you cannot rent a store on Main
street; property is steadily advancing. The ad-
mnstTation Of the Stale government under Dem
ocratc rule has brought prosperity to every in
dustry; South Carolina bonds are being sought
after in the money market The people of South
Carolina are for a tariff reform, and The people
will surely be heard | find that Senators Hamp.
ton and Butler live in the hearts of this people,
and the rebuke given by Senator NJ. G. Butler
to Mr.. Edmunds is very generally approved
South Carolina scores one in favor of Butler for
voting against the confirmation of Emory Speer,
and also expresses surprise that Ceorgia's Sena-
tors should have voted for Speer's confirmation.
But if Georgia wants Mr.. Speer South Carolina
can stand ~. | am informed the State is about
to utilize the incomplete canal by completing it
with convict labor at bend in the Congaree
river about three miles above Columbia. They
open The canal and empty the water passing
through it back into the river about two miles
below the city. This canal will afford ample
wafer power to prope any number of large
mills and factories, and the State proposes to
rent mill sites at reasonable amounts on long
lease. and il will not he long until you will hear
the click Of their looms and the whrr of the
spindles in good old Columbia, South Carolina
The factories in operation in this city are max
ing money and call for revision of the tariff on
a just and equitable basis. The people of South
Carolina believe that DR.. Meyer is correct
DR.. X. Meyer writing at Berlin, says the time
is by no means remote when American manutac-
lures and produce will alike overflow the world"
We agree with the DIR. Only give us an equit-
able tariff, Democratic President, and we will
make such rapid strides forward in every indus
try that the old world will be amazed
ANDERsON