The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-05-20
sherman and sheridan's Vandalism.

Richmond New-Leader Jol.r the
people of the valley in protesting
against the erection of such monu-
ment in their country. A subscrib-
er of the NewsLeader, who signs
himself Yankee" becomes indig-
nant because the paper protests
against the erection Of the monu-
ment, and defends the records Of
both Sherman and Sheridan.
He assures the News-Leader that
the memory Of both these barn burn
ing, woman insulting and children
starving vandals is warmly cherish
ed '.in the hearts of the Northern
people" and that mo better type of
man, no better or braver soldiers
ever lived" And finally Yankee
gives it as his opinion that you
know perfectly well that many
Southern generals would have done
exactly as Sherman and Sheridan
did if they had had chance in
Northern territory"
Naturally the NewS-Leader takes
advantage of the opportunity pre-
sented by Yankee" to call his "at-
tention to some of the records to
illustrate the difference in methods
pursued by some of the Southern
and some of the Northern generals
while operating in the enemy's coun-
try. AS starter the News-Leader
calls attention to Gen. R. E. Lees
order, issued only three days before
the great battle of Gettysburg, when
Gen. Lee was occupying the hostile
territory of Pennsylvania. After
complimenting his troops for their
previous good conduct, Gen. Lee
said:
There have, however, been in
stance of forgetfulness on the
part of some that they have in
keeping the yet unsullied reputa-
ton of the army, and that the
duties exacted of us by civilza-
ton and Christianity are not less
obligatory in the country of the
enemy than in our own. The
commanding general considers
that no greater disgrace could
befall the army, ard through it
our whole people, than the per-
petuation of the barbarous out
RACES upon an innocent and de-
fenceless, and the wanton destruc-
tion of private property that has
marked the course of the enemy
in our own country. It must be
remembered that we make war
only on armed men and that we
can not take ver raeance for the
wrong our people have suffered
without lowering ourselves in. the
eyes of all whose abhorance has
been excited by the atrocities of
our enemy, and offending against
Him to whom vengeance belong
eth, without whose favor and
support our efforts must all prove
in vain. The commanding general
therefore earnestly eXhorts the
troops to abstain with most Scru-
pulous care from unnecessary or
wanton injury to private property,
and he enjoins upon all officers
to arrest and bring to summary
punishment all who shall in any
way offend against the orders on
this subject.
Against this order OF Gen. Lees
the News-Leader sets this portion of
dispatch sent by Gen. Halleck to
Gen. Sherman, dated Dec. "a, 1865,
and which may be found on pages
223-22S Of Gen Sherman'sS sSMemoirs.
Here is the hint, amounting to an
order. that Halleck sent Sherman:
Should you capture Charleston
l hope that by some accident the
place might be destroyed, and If
little salt should be sown upon
its site it might prevent the
growth of future crops of nullifi-
cation and secession.
Gen. Sherman was no doubt de-
lighted by this hint, as the sugges-
tions was in keeping with his we'll
known vandalism on his march
through Georgia and South Carolina.
Here is the reply of the famous
barn burner to Gen Halleck:
/ will bear in mind your hint
as to Charleston, and do not think
salt will be necessary. When
move on, the fifteenth corps will
hring them naturally into Charles
ton first; and if you have watch
ed the history of that corps you
have remarked that they generally
do up their work pretty well.
The people Of Orangeburg and sur
rounding country can testify that
the fifteenth corlis did up their
work pretty we'll" while passing
through this section. Small wonder,
says The State, latter this inter-
change that. Charleston was 'acci-
dentally' pillaged and that Columbia
was accidentally burned by this
horde ,of uncontrolled ruftians.
Small wonder, after this given and
accepted hint, that sw2th a hun
dred or more miles wide Of ransack-
ed and burned h1lnos with their
airing Ci,;mueys marked the pds-
sa: . of this randai alr!y through
south Carolina
"rke fourth documen: presented for