The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-08-10
BUTLER'S NARRATIVE
OF HIS LAST MARCH.
FROM COLUMBIA TO THE SUR
EtESDEiS AT GREENSBORO.

rasscu Sherman's Force in lts
MemtJfa bic Devastations.
At the Chester reunion Gen. Nj. g.
Butler was the annual orator. Instead
OF indulging in speech filed with
customary platitudes he recited q mar
rative VI tho retreat OF Joe JOh nstOn
from COlu unbia in the face Of Sher-
mans overwhelming army. GeH. But
Ter Is known to have been a asagacious,
as well as dashing cavalry leader and
his observations OF thai famous march
are we'll w,rth reading and remember
ing. Gen. Butler said:
Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemeh
Your committee has done me the
honor TO request me to deliver an ad-
dress before you to-day. Twill, with
your permi ission, appropriate the time
set apart for the purpose with o simple
narrative Of the operations of the
troops under my command from the
Evacuation of COlum bia to JohnsOn's 3
surrender. 1t has seemed to me we
have no. devoted enough OF the tiroe
OF our annual reunions to historical
purposes. Possibly such subjects
pr' not 81 entertaining for the time
being, but | am quite sure they would
be useful to those who come after us.
B sides, we have with us, | am pleased
10 say, our younger brethren, the Sons
Of Veterans, many OF them endowed
with the gift Of eloquence and oratory,
who will gratlfy and entertain us with
their worthy enthusiasm In the cause
OF their fathers. The period OF which
| shall speak will embrace the last
days ofA that constitutional repu bile,
the Southern Confed sracy, that came
into being by the spontaneous action
of its citizens, and flashed Its brief ex.
istence among the nations OF the earth
with a brilliancy and grandeur Of ac-
hievement In military and civic nc.
cOmpnshmcut never before equalleG In
the annals OF all history. 1t was u sad
day when this great light OF cons titu
tlOna government WAS put out, by
superior force and verwhelming mum.
bers. Its record will survive through
the ages among the grandest and
grea' ifJrts Of mankind to establish
and pCrpotuate u form Of government
best suited to the happiness and well
fare Of it's Inhabitants.
lis civic history Is no less brilliant
than lis military, and the tw0combined
effort.
The Turning of Columbia by Sher-
man was among the last acts OF the
great tragedy Of 1861 G5. This act was
wholly unnecessary, and clear, i'd
grant violation of all rules OF civilized
warfare. Bat the city had been
marked as the capital Of the" Cradle
Of Secession" land fell a victim to the
venom aud hatred OF her encmies.
Charleston, the splendid old city by
the sea, was really the Grad le Of Sc
cession," but for days, and weeks and
months, and years she had resisted
and repotlcu combined assaults by land
and water with a tenacity and skill
and pluck that challenged the admi.
ration OF the world and made ne
epoch in tAc science Of military d.
fense. Be it said to her glory, she
never surrendered.
Columbia, fair and beautiful Colum.
bia, suffered vicariously for the bull dog
ohs.lnAcy Of Monltrie, Sumter ard
Wagener, but, thanks to the energy,
patience and confidence 0. her inhab.
itants, she has literally risen from her
ashes and again put on the garb Of
new life, and is today a monument to
the batli I'd vengeance OF her enemics,
and the unilsmayed pluck OF her peo
pie.
The city was evacuated BY the last
of the Confederate forces on the morn
ing OF the 17th OF February. 1865 1t
was my fortune to command division
OF cavalry, composed Of Buffers ana
YOung's brigades, which instituted
the rear guard Of Beaurcgard's 5 retir-
ing army, ard 1T was my duty to super
intend the withdrawal Of our troops
In such q manner as not to give excuse
to Sherman's Incoming forces for q
violation OF the agreement made by
the mayor, that venerable and honor
able gentleman, DR.. Goodwin, and
General Sherman, that IL the Con fed
crates should withdraw without re-
sistance tho city should t3ve immuni-
ty from assault and violence. The
compact was strictly carried out on
our palTS. Lot ths charrcd remnants
OF this beautiful, disarmed and help.
less city speak for tho good faith and
honorable conduct of the other side.
General Hampton retired with
Youngs brigade, then commanded by
Col. j. G. Wright, early that morning
by the Winnsboro road, and lator
moved out with the other brigade,
commanded by Col. b. Ii. Rutledge, by
the Camden road. Reaching Taylor's
lano, cost OF the old Charlotte depot, |
halted for an hour or moro to witness
the movement of d column OF Sher-
mans army down the main street 20
tne oGato mousse. LEO Clty was Tree
from incendiarism at that time, but
that night the inhabitants OF the
doomed city were engulfed in walls
OF flaming fire, the demon OF hate hav-
ing been let loose on it's helpless vic
Tins.
1t Is not In tho best tasto that tho
pronoun l" should be frequently used
In narrative like this, but it. is sl.
most impossible to be imporsonal in
giving details so essential to a clear
understanding OF the operations Re
good enough, therefore, nv comrad az,
to bear in mind that in alludine to v, nv,
self / en- brace the officers AMI man ~
that gallant division OF Confederato
horsemen who had illustrated thar
splendid valor and dashing courage 90
long and 80 faithfully. 1t was sinpIv
my good fortune to be associated witS
them and participate in tho glory of
their achievements.
Sesuming the march about 8 or 10
o'clock IN the forenoon, we moved out
to Dents mill on the Camden road
thence through tho pine woods to XII.
lian's mill, whore We joined the other
brigade and bivOuacked for the night.
Exhausted by anxiety and loss Of
nf a 1o pi