The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1895-04-26
Burning of Columbia.
(C6afiaued from pdgs one.

prevent it's destruction. heard DIR. Goo d.
wyn, then mayor ofthe city, tell Dr. Thomson
that General Sherman tsld him to 60 TO bed,
that the city would not be Destroyed, when
ut the moment his men were engaged in set
ting fire to the homes OF helpless women aud
children. AS an eye witness to those awful
scenes, more bald, untruthfui stateme mt
was never uttered than the one said to have
been made by General Sherman, that GEN
eral Hampton burned Columbia. In this
strain wrote the letter and gave it to the
Lieutenant, who kindly matted il and 1t
reached its destination in due time. Ac-
compauying the letter was one written by
the Lieutenant, in which he expressed but
little regret for the terrible punish ment
meted out to US.
From the time the troops passed the Col
lege campus till about 8 o'clock nothing of
very special interest occurred. 1t Is true
fres in different parts OF the city had oc-
Cured during the day, but it was not un til
a'ter dark on the 18th Of February that the
work OF fiendish destruction began. The
troops from the various camps began TO pour
into the city like locusts, the fires becoming
more numerous rs darkness set in. Dr. Thorn
son and l took our position i'll the cupola Of
the College bulldog to watch the progress
of the flames. We saw the Federal soldiers
plainly setting fire to tho State Honse, the
light from the burning buildings making it
light rs day. While viewing this awful
scene the cry reached us that the hospital
buildings had caught fire. The wind at this
time was blowing turiously and the burning
embers were falling thick hail. Before
reaching tho ground the cry Of ire had
reached the ears of helpless and dying
q, mtn in the hospital. Those poor creatures
we're crawling on their hands aud knees from
the bulldog to avoid what they feared
would DC n more awful death thau the one
period would relieve them their from
mental aud physical sutferngs.
The scene II; At presented nsclf TO me ct
that hour eau never be cflaced from my mem
Ory. Tue sight 6 those brave, dying men
crawling in their hclplcsSn ss from the
different wards, the burning embcrs falling
~ fast that it required TIE cxertIons OF au
active person TO keep their clothing from
being burned on their persons, the screams
Of women and children, hous ls falling. tho
jokes of the drunken soldiers,-to me II
sounded then, aud does now on looking
on that night, mat no picture by pen or
brush could possibly be drawn of the inferna
regions that would strike greater terror TO
The beholder than that presented on the
campus OF the South Carolua College Oh
The night of the 9Th February, 1868
The news spread rapidly taat the hospital
buildings had caught on tlrc. The few of
us left on duiy weIe ina measure power!ess
We, however went TO work, aud II seemed
If supcr-hnnan Stren2th was gwen us. Ii
was discovered that 1t was not the hospital
bui'diDgs proper that were ON fire, but the
Ioof Of Dr. LuIjordes house the hospitut
buildings being ON either site OF IL. White
engaged iu tearing uowa sJme fencing 20
prevent The sp'eii oil the flames tho Federal
provost marshal guard came on The scene NJ
The double quick, having becn apprised o:
hnt a
then in the hospital some OF their own men
they soon succeeded IN getting on the roof
OF Dr. LaBordc house and eAIiDguisAed The
flames. The sense Of relief md yruti,udc
we all felt Tor the prompt action OF those
men was shared 10y al who witnessed the
daring feat they performed.
Ali immediate danger having passed the
sick and wounded were conveyed back to
the different wari>. Ihe ierccuess Il the
flames was saos!diug for lack OF material 1,
suosist upon. As y began to dawn those
OF us who had oeen actively engaged during
the night went Il bed, hoping 10 get some
steep, but that gent Z restOrcr would not
come TO Us. We were completely unuerveu
by the ordeal we had passed through, and
could u ~ mud rest aud cJmposure IN MN
istcrlng io the wants ot those whose end hn1
teen ha.t"rct ~ the thrilling sceacs OF
that never 10 DC forgotten nIght. Saturday
aud Sunday thc wug III trains of the amy
were passlug through the city in great mum
bcrS. j WAS ANXIOUS TO see to what extent
the work OF destruction had been carried ia
the CITY. made application .tD the Lieu
tenant in command Tor IL permit 10 90 into
the city, which he caiIly granted. can
never forget the llc,urc Vf utter desulat on
that presented itscf tome as | entered the
Sta'e House yard AMI looked down Main
streci iiom ihat PU!nt u what was then
known as Cottoniown, now near the site of
the present PosIoifice Tncre was bat one
small house left standing, everything had
been swept by the de,Ounng flames.
The beautiful grauilc COrIAthau caps that
TOOK expert worAmen from eighteen months
to TWO years 10 carve one cap were stored
III temporary wooden SHEDS; those caps were
To be used 10 suruouuL the columns to be
placed 1T the man cutrauct To The state
House. These, with vast amoun, of in
terror decorations IUr the State House made
out of beautiful Tennessee marble, were
destroyed, the sheds containing them having
been set hTe To and entirely consumed
While walking down Main street met ,
n riIu