The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-08-05
WATCHING THE TOWN BURN,


son February II, continued the Gem
eral, ".from q safe distance ne watched
Sherman's 3 army cross the river and march
upon the torn. could see the mayor
drive out in carriage To meet the
officers. From the carriage great white
sheet was waving. It was a sheet that
had been taken probably from the may
or's bed to be used as a flag of peace.
The mayor and Sherman's officers rode
into the town. together. 1t was hours
after that before We saw the blazes rising
from the burning houses. Beauregard,
Wade Hampton and myself took differ
ent directions. The Federals made no
pursuit" t.l.,ss
There are now in the Senate and House
iof Representatives twenty y.shree gentle
menwho we're then in Gen. Wheeler's
command, most Of them privates. Gen.
Wheeler and Gen. Wade Hampton had
not spoken to each other about the burn
ing Of Columbia since the event trans
'pired until the Post reporter draw them
together. They do not SEQ why there
should be any controversy about the
burning of Columbia, or that there should
be any doubt about who did it, inasmuch
as on October 5, 1885, Brig. Gen. o. M.
Poe, Gen. Sherman's chief Of engineers.
reported, and the Secretary of war after.
ward transmitted the report to Congress,
as follows: c,,,a. aye
s. 81 THE OFFICIAL REPORT. -
The 18th corps occupied Oranceburg
and destroyed the railroad thence to and
including the Congaree River bridge.
The left wing meanwhile was moving to.
ward Columbia by the nearest road.
The right wing now directed its march
toward Columbia, and after aome opposi.
tion at Thomas's Greek and Congaree
Greek, where the enemy waa found we'll
entrenched, arrived at point opposite
the city on 10th February.
The bridges over the Saluda, Broad
and Congaree Rivers were all found to
have been burned. a pontoon bridge
was Ibuilt at the, Saluda River bridge,
neal. the factory, and portion of
the 18th corps crossed during the night.
a left wing pontoon bridge was built
over the Saluda at Zion Church, nine
and a half miles above Columbia, and
some forces crossed. On the 18th pom.
toon bridge was built just above the
ruins of the former bridge over Broad
River, three miles above Columbia, and
the right wing crossed to the north bank
and occupied the city, the greater part of
which was burnt during the night.
Many reasons are given for this fragrant
violation of Gen. Sherman's orders. 1t
was principally due to the fact that the
citizens gave liquor to the troops until
they were crafty drunk and beyond the
control Of the officers. The presence of
large number of escaped prisoners ex.i
cited the intoxicated soldiers to the first
acts of violence, after which they could
not be restrained.
GEN. WHEELER. DEFENDS HIS OLD COM
MAND.
81 don't think I exaggerate," said
Gen. Wheeler, "when say Chat my com.
.mand was one of the best, if not the
best, body of troops in the Confederacy.
The impression that they were lawless
and undisciplined got about in this way:
When. Sherman started for Savannah
Beauregard telegraphed to me to drive
off all stock found within ten miles of
Sherman's line of march on either side.
This order gave free scope to stragglers,
deserters from the Confederate armies
and lawless people generally. At that
time there were upwards of hundred
thousand men absent without leave from
the confederate armies, though very few
NOT two hundred-from my command
These stragglers-not my men with
forged copies of the order in their pos
session, robbed and destroyed in all direc-
tions. It WAS because the depredations
were done under forged orders purporting
to have been issued by me that the blame
fell upon my men. But the papers were
forged and the wrong.doers were not of
my command. / knew my command
we'll. was with them constantly,
whether in camp, on the march, or in
action, and I assert that there never was,
and never can be, a braver or better
body Of men,"
Z - She: ri don't like my bonnet now
that I've got it. 1t doesn't match my
hair at all.n He: "You ought to have
thought. of. that before you bought it."
She: "My bonnet?" He: "No, your
hair"