The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-05-07
Sherman's Memorable March to the Seas.
Editor The Manning Times:

Editor The Manning Times:
The death of General Wade Hampton
has brought forth in the public prints,
the Historic Letters" that passed be-
tween Gen. w. r.. Sherman command
inc United States forces and General
Wade Hampton commanding Confeder-
ate States Cavalry dated February 24th,
1865.
With many more old Confederate
soldiers we dare say we can quite cor
rectly recall many words as printed IN
these ''Historic Letter" that passed be-
tween Sherman and Hampton at the
time.
The writer at that time was in the
army Of the immortal General Lee and
known as the army of Northern Eir-
gjnia then entrenched around Peters
burg and Richmond.
1t will be remember that afte" being
many times repulsed by General Johns
tons inferior army in numbers Sher-
man by several flank movements caused
Johnston to have to evacuate several
positions of advantage and Withdraw
his forces to keep them from being over
Tapped by the wings of Sherman's
strong thanking columns, and to lose At
lantic.
After short occupation OF Atlanta
Sherman and his army commenced that
march known as and called by many
yankees ''Sherman's memorable march
to the sea-"
Yes, that march will ever be momor-
able for it was g. march of raplne, arson
and murder.
Sherman we think met but feeble
resistance till he reached the west
banks of the Congaree river. When
he reached that point he found that
there was a Confederate force under
the gallant Hampton to try to check
the advance of him and his randall
horde.
On reaching this point he was not
long in planting his batteries on COM
manding positions and without any
warning was soon sending his missiles
death and destruction among defence
less woman and children.
How long he occupied his position
and carried on his cowardly work we
cannot now remember. but we do re-
member that it was said that at about
II o'clock on the morning OF February
18th. 1865 his advanced forces entered
Columbia: the city having been surren-
dered to Sherman by the city authori-
ties under the promise, it has been said
from Sherman, that full protection
should be given to life and property
A little further on and the reader will
leave how this promise was observed
on the part of the valiant Tecumsek.
About the latter part of the evening
of February l7th, the rest of this great
army OF robbers had reached, and was
in Columbia among was Sherman's de-
tailed fire corps.
At this time it has been said that one
of the Sisters of Mercy was then plead
ing with a Federal officer quite high in
rank for protection for the people from
the cowardly violence OF Sherman's s
horde of maranders.
During this time this same officer $50
it has been said observed Sherman's
fire corps. On his observing the fire
corps he said to this lady; Columbia is
doomed. The order has gone forth.
The Capital of the most rebellious OF
all the Rebel Stotes must be reduced to
ashes. When the rising sun on the
morning of February 18th, 1865 spead
its genial rays over the face oftnat part
of nature, the ordess of the inhumane.
Sherman had been well carried out,
and the most valuable and business
part of Columbia was mass Of smouI-
dering ruins.
General Hamptons force being too
weak to cope with Sherman's army,
caused him to have to retire before him
Tor the purpose, if we now recollect
correctly of ieining forces with General
Johnston then some were in the viclnl-
ty of Bentonville, n. c.
After leaving Columbia, Sherman's
army continued to plunder, burn and
murder and his troops being allowed
without any restraint on the part Of
General Sherman. to continue these
atrocities, compelled General Hampton
to order every house burner every muir
derer and every insulter of our women
to be shot on the spot.
Sherman was not long in finding out
that killing was game that Hampton
could play as well as he, add that
Hampton's men could shoot as straight
or litter straighter than his could.
Anyway Sherman became solicitous
about the lives and the safety of his
bummers, so much so that he tried TO
work the game of great big yankee
bulldozer by threatening General
Hampton to have murdered certain
number OF his (Hampton's) men in re-
taliation for the killing of his mex by
the order of General Hampton.
This threat did not work as Sherman
thought it would, for General Hampton
gave him to understand that for every
one of his men he (Sherman) had killed
that he would have killed two or more
of his men.
After this bold stand by General
Hampton was taken, it has been said
that General Sherman made his SOL
diers behave themselves better until
the surrender of General Johnston,s
forces at Bentonville April 26th, 1895.
If we remember well we believe
General Hampton's forces was consid-
cred as a part OF General Johnston's
army and was surrendered with it.
General Sherman has passed away
and for several years now, gone to his
final account.
General Hampton after receiving all
the honcrship his people could bestow
upon him have at a ripe old age too
passed away and gone with the love
and veneration not only OF the people
of his State, but of thewhole Southland
to his eternal rest.
GEO. r. JONES.
Davis, S. c.