The National tribune., 1907-10-17

of capturing the Capital of South Caro-
lima. Now, / have never doubted the
right of the 18th to share in this honor,
as these brave men might have been
captured or killed in performing this
brave act, but they are not entitled to
all.
Now, then, win tell you VINO it was
that captured Columbia, and / am not
talking thru my hair and am not bald
headed yet. Along in the forenoon some
time my regiment, the 3eth Iowa, was
ordered up the river. and / can't re-
member whether the whole brigade
went OF not. We marched up the river
a mile or SO, and when we arrived found
two pontoon boats lashed together, with
boards put across them for us to stand
on and rope stretched across for US
TO propel ourselves over the river. All
the while we were crossing the Johnny
rebs were shooting at us, and when We
landed we drove them out Of the woods.
We then came to another river con-
nected with the one we had crossed at
or near the main street of Columbia,
where the wagon bridge had been burn
ed. We crossed this river and fired a
few shots at the rebels, who made them
selves scarce. We were then marched
into an open field. stacked arms and
remained there a short time. While
We were there the Mayor and City
our officers not to destroy the city.
About the time these officials got back
to the city, we were ordered to march
into Columbia, which was probably one
mile away. My regiment was the first
troops to enter Columbia, with Col. A.
Roberts in command, and we did so
] very distinctly remember that lady
waved the Stars and Stripes at us from
the third story of brick block, and
the cheering that our regiment gave
that lady is fresh in my mind to this
day. A woman came into our ra 1ks
with bottle of, l presume, the two
kinds of whisky Comrade Phillips spoke
about. She wanted to treat the officers
as we marched along the street, and !
remember very well that Col. Roberts
ordered her out of the ranks. We
marched few blocks, halted, and
stacked arms at the edge of the side
walk, and right there We were served
TO dinner good enough for a king.
The ladies of Columbia had ready for
us all kinds of pies and cake, roast
chicken, and ] think also turkey, and
cigars for those who smoked. This
friendliness towards us was done for
the purpose of saving the city. but il
did NJ good. i don't know where the
brave 18th boys who raised their flag
on the State House were at this time,
and don't know whether they got any
MT, as they had quite enough honor
that day on account of the great victory
they obtained by their bravery in cap
turing Columbia with a little raft and
NO rebels in sight
With regard to the burning of the
City of Columbia, Gen. Sherman may
have seen cotton bales on fire, as oubt-
less he was over more of the city than
] was; but ] will say this, that l did
not see baie of cotton burning myself.
Yet there might have been some burned
which ] did not see. ! do not dispute
the General On that point. ] did not
see light from a burning building un-
: til some time after dark. This came
from a large frame building directly
in front of my beat, some two or three
blocks from the main business part OF
the city The wind raised, and the
flames We're carried from house 10
house, which were all of wood, to the
main part Of the city Before this build
ing took fire i saw three soldiers, not
belonging to our Fifteenth Corps. going
over the house with candle, ransack-
ing the rooms and all the bureaus. As
] had been commanded to let no one &c
inside the yards, / went upstairs to or
der them down, and noticed they had
their bayonets on their guns. / con-
cluded the best thing / could do would
be TO let them alone, and when they
finished looking for yaluables ] saw
them set fire to the building, and this,
will say, was the first light of a fire
that was shown in the city. / was on
duty two hours Overtime-that Is, put
In four hours On my beat before ] was
Believed. all on account Of two or three