The National tribune., 1901-06-27


which greatly excited their curiosity. They
gathered about us and in childish sim,
plicity asked us all manner of questions
such as, "Is it true; are you people real
Yankeesg
From 0rangeburg we marched 10 miles
along the railroad in the direction of Co
lumbia, making an occasional halt long
enough to destroy any Confederate stores
or manufactures that lay in our path. We
found the roads in good condition.
Feb. ii we marched Is miles. A por-
ton of the way our line of march was
along railroad, and about dark, just as
a cold rain began to fall, we camped in q
dense pine forest And, strange as it may
appear, with wood in abundance all around
us, get not a stick or rail could be found
with which TO build a camp fire.
Seven O'Clock the next morning found us
moving on. We marched 10 miles around
to the left of the Seventeenth Corps, and
toward night made our camp near Con
garee Greek, five miles from Columbia.
Before we had time TO make coffee we
were ordered forward to support our cav
airy, who were having Il warm engage
ment with the enemy at the crossing.
The bridge having been partly destroyed
by the enemy, our cavalry forded the
creek, at the same time we crossed over
on the partiy-wrecked bridge.
After crossing we proceeded to estab-
lish ourselves behind a hastily-constructed
line of works, where we remained until
morning. Great Importance was attached
to this move 10 get possession of the
west bank of Congaree Creek-a branch
of Congaree RiYeT-as thereby a shorter
road could be opened to Columbia. 1t
was thought that the enemy would make
a desperate stand in defense of Columbia,
but the next morning they were gone.
AS another day began to wane the
bridge being repaired, we were ordered
forward, and after march of five miles,
we went into camp on the bank of the Con
garee River opposite Columbia.
While resting on the banks of the Con-
garee, with the once-prOud city of Co
lumbia at our feet a company Of officers,
including our gallant 'Tecumseh," were
standing hard by observing the hustle and
excitement in the city, when one of the
officers remarked: IF those fellows should
throw a few shells this way wouldn't
there be a scattering among usF'
10 which remark one of our officers was
said to have responded:
Il wish they would. 1 should like to
have an excuse for destroying that city.
Yonder is where treason to our country
had its birth, that has cost our Nation
thousands upon thousands of noble lives,
and billions of treasure"
CAMP SORGHUM.
During our short stay on the banks of
the COngaree, a number of the boys visited
Camp Sorghum, a rebel prison pen, where
Union prisoners had been quartered. We
observed the surroundings, which i'm
pressed upon us the inhuman treatment
to which our men had been subjected by
the rebel authorities. With pleasant,
shady groves upon two sides, yet that
ar,1ra r1fr fa1 has., IL,
and protection from sun and rain could be
secured only by burrowing in the ground.
COLUMBIA IN FLAMES.
The afternoon of the 18th we moved
three miles to the left, where we crossed
the, ,Saluda and Broad Rivers, which form
the COngaree River at Columbia; then
turned to the right, and about 10 o'clock
at night went into camp in the city. Be
fore we reached our camp there was a
mighty fire raging in the city. How the
fire started is well known. Wade Hamp-
ton wantonly ordered the torch applied to
the cotton stored in the city; and instead
of defending the city he made a great bon
fire for our entertainment. 1t was said
that Sherman burned Columbia The
statement, however, was characteristic of
rebels who were in the last ditch, who
made their boast that they would burn
their bridges and cities before the Yankee
invaders.
Shortly after going into camp a number
of my comrades visited the burning city.
1t would take pages to describe the help
less misery which the inhabitants of Co
lumbia endured on that fateful night as
block after block was swept away by the
flames. Long, liyid tongues of fire
reached out everywhere, and desolation
followed to mark its path.
The falling of brick and stone walls; the
screaming of old and young as they saw
their houses swept away, made an awful |
picture, the result of treason, indelibly |
stamped upon each and every heart
Some writers have said that the Seven
teenth Corps did not enter the city at ALL
Our division of the Seventeenth Corps,
however, went into camp near Columbia,
and the next morning marched through
the desolated streets, down beyond the
smoking ruins and tOttering wallis to the
northern part Of the city, where a halt
was ordered to complete the destruction of
foundries, machine-shOps, and other Con-
federate property that had escaped Hamp-
toms torch. After completing the work
assigned to us, we took up our line of
march along the railroad in the direction
of WinsbOrough. and toward night went
into camp five miles from Columbia
Sunday, Feb 10, we remained in camp, |
enjoying rest. During the day our |
foragers were driven in by the enemy's |
cavalry, VINO IN turn ran up against our |
pickets, when a warm engagement ensued. |
Just at the close of day our brigade |
was ordered forward two miles, the object |
being TO cover our front and look after
any rebel force operating in our vicinity
Early the following morning we were
ready and eager to move on. Our line of
march lay along a line of railroad, the
destruction of which had long since be-
come skilled vocation. The problem of
converting a railroad into a wreck was
an easy one, and required no special
talent
Late in the day, after march Of II
miles we went into camp.
Feb. 81 we left the railroad at Wins
borough, and marched is miles in a north
east direction, facing all day long a de.
luge of rain, which continued through the
night. The next day our division was as
signed to the rear of the Seventeenth
Corps. After marching a short distance
we came up in the rear of the Fifteenth
Corps, when a halt was ordered for the
day.
From Atlanta Sherman's army marched
or parallel roads, the Fifteenth and Seven
teenth Corps on the right, and the Four
teenth and Twentieth Corps on the left
of one common center. Upon approaching
riyer-one that required the pontoons
of two corps to make crossing-tbe
head of column would diverge to the right
or left, and if upon reaching a road lead
ing to the river il was found to be clear
of troops, they were entitled to the right
of way.
CHARLESTON EVACUATED.