Was The Burning Of Columbia, South Carolina A War Crime

Jim Klag

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Kirk's Raider's

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February 17, 1865 - The Union forces, under Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, USA, occupy Columbia, SC. Lieut. Gen. Wade Hampton's Confederate cavalry set fire to cotton bales before fleeing. Union soldiers uncover barrels of whiskey, and that night the majority of Columbia catches fire and burns. Yankees blame the Rebels.

https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/03/10/was-the-burning-of-columbia-s-c-a-war-crime/
As well they should . The dam rebs brought on all the problems themselves.
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Andersonh1

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I'm consistently surprised that anyone would not blame the Union army for burning Columbia, but people do. Post-war depositions by people who were there and witnessed what happened would seem to lay the matter to rest. It was bad enough that the US Government investigated the arson.

Considering that Sherman's men were itching to take revenge on South Carolina, and considering how many other towns and homes they'd burned on the way to Columbia, the culprit seems obvious enough to me.
 

Andersonh1

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Confederates did not set the cotton on fire. And Sherman even admitted that he lied when he blamed Wade Hampton "to shake the people's confidence in him".

http://www.thestate.com/news/local/article13944398.html

Thousands of highly flammable and valuable cotton bales, each weighing 500 pounds, had been stacked in the streets – particularly Main Street, then known as Richardson Street – in preparation to be burned to keep them out of the hands of federal troops. The intent was published in the press.

But on the night of the 16th, Hampton ordered troops to not burn the cotton because there wasn’t transportation to haul the bales out of the city and the wind was dangerously high. But when Sherman and Union Gen. O.O. Howard entered the city at about 10 a.m. on the 17th, some bales were on fire. Sherman had to ride his horse on the sidewalk of Richardson Street to avoid the flames.

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“A Union prisoner’s account said the (cotton) fires were set in retaliation for Camp Sorghum,” a prison camp in Lexington County near what is now Riverbanks Zoo, said Tom Elmore, author of the book “A Carnival of Destruction: Sherman’s Invasion of South Carolina.” “Every Confederate account but one said the cotton wasn’t burning when they left. If the Confederate accounts are correct, the only possible explanation would be escaped prisoners.”

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During and after the conflagration on the night of the 17th, Union soldiers torched the homes of prominent citizens. The three-story “fireproof” home of Dr. Robert W. Gibbs on Plain Street, now Hampton Street, across from the First Baptist Church, survived the main fire but was looted and torched, destroying world-class collections of books, paintings and historical and natural artifacts.

Wade Hampton’s plantation, Millwood, four miles from the city, was torched, as were the homes of Goodwyn, Confederate Secretary of the Treasury George A. Trenholm, Dr. Daniel Trezevant and many others.

“There is little doubt that (Union soldiers) would be out for revenge,” Hamer said, noting that Columbia was where the first Secession Convention in the South was held. “In the minds of the northern soldiers, these were the men that started the war.”

But McNeely noted that humble structures, stores and even a convent also were torched. Some Union soldiers also spread the fire using turpentine-soaked cotton as torches and impeded firefighting efforts by cutting fire hoses.

“They were destroying almost everything in their path” throughout the march from Savannah, she said. A Union cavalry general “called Barnwell ‘Burn-well’ after he torched it.”

So, was the torching of houses a political statement or a means of stealing loot?

“Yes,” Elmore said.

------------------

Hamer noted that Sherman actively tried to distance himself from the event in official correspondence and testimony after the blaze. “He couldn’t control his army of 60,000, who had been allowed to forage to feed themselves. And he and his high command underestimated the ability of the men to create havoc. I’m not absolving Sherman. But with that invading Army, something was going to happen.”

Elmore added that Union soldiers viewed South Carolina more harshly than the rest of the South, because the war started here. “It was like the anger for the Taliban on Sept. 12 (after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S.). It was a perfect storm. I don’t think Sherman ordered it. I think he allowed it.”

McNeely said Sherman knew all along that his men would burn the city, but failed to issue strict orders against it, as he had in Savannah. “It was part of his strategy. And when he finally did (stop the destruction), he said, ‘You should be grateful that I saved what’s left.’ He was in total control.”​
 

Andersonh1

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https://books.google.com/books?id=0AJMAQAAMAAJ&pg=P***0&lpg=P***0&dq=I+was+one+of+Hampton's+rear+guard,+and+was+probably+the+very+last+Confederate+to+leave+the+city,+yet+I+saw+no+cotton+burning+in+the+streets+of+Columbia,+nor+did+I+hear+any+order+from+any+one+to+fire+the+cotton,+but+I+did+hear+one+just+the+reverse.+It+was+given+to+a+detachment,+three+companies,+from+the+9th+Kentucky+Cavalry+that+was+ordered+back+to+Columbia+as+a+provost+guard+after+the+Confederates+had+evacuated+the+place+and+before+Sherman+entered+it.&source=bl&ots=JBCb7J2pTr&sig=cH5jbCG1-QZRtKeJRLXq6oqyBvw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjR3fCZvpXVAhUKNiYKHcsEBY0Q6AEINTAC#v=onepage&q=I was one of Hampton's rear guard, and was probably the very last Confederate to leave the city, yet I saw no cotton burning in the streets of Columbia, nor did I hear any order from any one to fire the cotton, but I did hear one just the reverse. It was given to a detachment, three companies, from the 9th Kentucky Cavalry that was ordered back to Columbia as a provost guard after the Confederates had evacuated the place and before Sherman entered it.&f=false

The Burning of Columbia - February 17,1865
The Last Confederate Soldier to Leave Columbia
By Lieutenant Milford Overley
9th Kentucky Cavalry

I was one of Hampton's rear guard, and was probably the very last Confederate to leave the city, yet I saw no cotton burning in the streets of Columbia, nor did I hear any order from any one to fire the cotton, but I did hear one just the reverse. It was given to a detachment, three companies, from the 9th Kentucky Cavalry that was ordered back to Columbia as a provost guard after the Confederates had evacuated the place and before Sherman entered it. I asked and obtained of Col. Breckinridge, the Brigade Commander, permission to accompany the detachment, and was present and heard this order given the officer commanding: "It is Gen. Hampton's order that you return to Columbia, bring out any straggling Confederates you may find, and see that no cotton is fired." Having no time to lose, the detachment immediately proceeded on its mission, passing down in front of Sherman's skirmish line, which was in plain view, and entering the city in advance of him. In the suburbs we met Mayor Goodwyn and other municipal officers in carriages, with a white flag, going out to surrender the city. During the parley, which, however, was a brief one, we hastily visited different streets in search of straggling Confederate soldiers, but found none, neither did we find any cotton burning. Falling back as the Federals advanced along the street, the detachment passed out toward the east. I remained in the city after the detachment had gone, just keeping out of the enemy's reach by falling back from street to street till pushed out by the advancing infantry (they had no mounted men in the city at that time), yet I saw no cotton burning in Columbia. Basing my conclusions on what I saw (the Federals, in possession of the city), on what I failed to see (any cotton burning in the street), and on what I heard (the order to see that no cotton was fired), I can safely say that the Confederates had no hand in the burning of Columbia, Gen. Sherman's official report to the contrary notwithstanding."​
 

Andersonh1

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I find that were I to continue in describing the incidents of that eventful night that I would greatly lengthen what I, at first, intended as merely an account of the conflagration, so I will conclude; but must mention that I was present in the office of Governor Orr, some time in 1867, when Gen . Howard, then visiting Columbia, was there. Seeing Gen. Hampton across the street, I hailed him from the window, and when he entered Governor Orr introduced him to Gen. Howard. The first thing Gen. Hampton said was: “Gen . Howard, who burned Columbia?” Gen. Howard laughed and said: “Why, General, of course we did.” But afterward qualified it by saying: “Do not understand me to say that it was done by orders.” - Account of James Gibbes, Philadelphia Times
 

Andersonh1

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8th. W ere you in Columbia on the night of the burning?
A Yes, sir.
9th. By what means was the city burned ?
A. By General Sherman’s army of United States troops. I saw a man, with the uniform of a United States soldier on, enter the store of Mr. Robert Bryce, on the block immediately opposite where Mr. Browne kept his store, and with a fire brand about four feet in length, wrapped on one end with canvas, put fire to the store of Mr. Bryce under the roof. All the buildings in that neighborhood were destroyed on both sides of the street. Previous to the general conflagration, I saw a number of soldiers pass me with tin cans and balls of cotton tied up with cord. In an hour or two the city was in flames. A United States soldier told me himself that he set fire to Col. Clarkson’ s house. The United States soldiers were then all over the city. They appeared to have selected the northwest corner of every square on Main street, in the city, and fire broke out simultaneously from different portions of the city. The wind blew strong from the northwest at the time. Houses standing in detached grounds of from 3 to 40 acres were burned at the same time. There were ‘no other soldiers in the city at the time, except the United States soldiers under General Sherman. - from the Deposition of Wm. D. Stanley, Sworn to and subscribed 2-7-1872 before Albert M Boozer, U. S. Commissioner Circuit and District Courts for District of South Carolina

http://books.googleusercontent.com/books/content?req=AKW5QaemMlAIMYaOgP6SWwlyv6FoWOmdenU7HO6joT7dgxTcFukBJ8r0KgyQMFkJdCHMgyR3j-eNvuw84V0ba2PRulU7OheBN0A9uQYUB1J7QhuTzAVUb2ZHWTnKsmgnz_cL0gVxWwbVHovjK3SyA25-7dw41efTPVphhnr6iNipHXU2DNVD26g8BhWp1Qkle1g6-iPaYPtcWmggsEnakGtekykhITZ677C-I3AoZQx_Z54Ujlp-qcXaGeiNQXlu6U2fVtRHsmfC
 

5fish

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What about this... https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.c...1770C99C55A8C9619D5&gwt=pay&assetType=PAYWALL

Snip...

In 1872 an international commission assigned to adjudicate insurance claims arising from the fire determined that the destruction “was not to be ascribed to either the intention or default of either the Federal or confederate officers.” This decision had legal consequences, but it didn’t dislodge the prevailing Southern conviction that Columbia was intentionally burned by a horde of barbarians led by a demonic, vengeful general.

Snip...

To keep the cotton out of Union hands, on Feb. 14, Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard, who headed the defense of Columbia, ordered that the stored cotton be taken outside the city and burned.
But there was too much cotton to move by carriage, so the Confederate officer in charge of the operation decided to move the bales into city streets, to be burned there. His order was published in Columbia’s newspapers on Feb. 15.

But early on Feb. 17, mere hours before Union soldiers entered Columbia, Beauregard’s subordinate Wade Hampton persuaded him to reverse the order, out of concern that the flames of burning cotton in the streets might spread throughout the city. Around 7 a.m. Hampton issued an order not to fire the cotton, but it was too late. The Confederate withdrawal, then underway, was confused and chaotic. The chain of command had broken down, so the order was at best fitfully communicated to soldiers remaining in the city and private citizens. By the night of Feb. 16-17, before any Union soldiers entered the city, cotton was already burning.

In at least two places witnesses saw cotton burning in Columbia, including on Richardson Street, the city’s central cotton market. It’s unclear whether these fires were started by looters in a city where order had dissolved, by soldiers following Beauregard’s order or by Union shelling. Nevertheless, by 3 a.m., as one Confederate officer recalled, “The city was illuminated with burning cotton.”

Besides cotton, Columbia held a remarkable amount of alcohol. Since early in the war, Charleston merchants had shipped in vast stores of whiskey to save it from naval bombardment.
Columbia also had a government distillery that produced several hundred gallons of whiskey a day, and a large quantity of medicinal supplies had been abandoned and left unguarded in the confusion.

As soon as Sherman’s soldiers entered Columbia and began to march down Richardson Street, jubilant blacks and placating whites plied them with whiskey. This went on over the next several hours as unit after unit paraded through Columbia and then took up camp north and east of the city.

But this army wasn’t the greatest threat that came in from the north. Since before dawn on the 17th, a strong wind had blown into the city. Around noon Sherman rode down Richardson Street and took note of the scene. Cotton bales were torn open. The wind had scattered the cotton thickly, catching it on buildings and tree branches. Sherman remarked that the result was like a Northern snowstorm. Southern witnesses agreed. The Columbian Mary S. Whilden, for example, noted the city’s “peculiar appearance” from streets and trees being covered with the “most combustible material.”

The command decisions from Sherman on down demonstrate at least the intention to act in accordance with the rules of war, even if they lost control of some of their men. But Southerners also contributed to the destruction. Black and white Columbians looted, rioted and committed arson. And they plied Union troops with whiskey. If the burning of Columbia was a “carnival of destruction,” as critics of Sherman have put it, some Southerners were themselves avid, gleeful revelers.
 

Andersonh1

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Orders were given for the Union army under Howard to destroy parts of Columbia. So when he told Wade Hampton "Do not understand me to say that it was done by orders", either he wasn't being truthful, or he is admitting that he went well beyond his orders.

SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS No. 26
HEADQUARTERS,
MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI

In the Field, near Columbia, SC
February 16, 1865

The next series of movements will be on Fayetteville, North Carolina, and thence to Wilmington or Goldsboro, according to events. Great care must be exercised in collecting forage and food, and at the same time in covering the wagon trains from Cavalry dashes. Howard will cross the Saluda and Broad Rivers as near their mouths as possible, occupy Columbia , destroy the public buildings, railroad property, manufacturing and machine shops, but will spare libraries and asylums, and private dwellings. He will then move to Winnsboro, destroying en route, utterly, that section of the railroad. He will also cause all bridges, trestles, water tanks and depots on the rail road, back to the Wateree, to be burned, switches broken, and such other destruction as he can find time to accomplish consistent with the proper celerity. For movements of his army, he will select roads that cross the Wateree to the south of Lancaster.

-----------------

By order of Major General W. T. Sherman :
L. M. DAYTON,
Assistant Adjutant General.​
 

Andersonh1

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From "Who Burned Columbia?" by James Ford Rhodes, pp 486-487

I have not, however, discovered sufficient evidence to support the assertion of Sherman that Wade Hampton ordered the cotton in the streets of Columbia to be burned. Nor do I believe Sherman knew a single fact on which he might base so positive a statement' It had generally been the custom for the Confederates in their retreat to burn cotton to prevent its falling into the hands of the invading army, and because such was the general rule Sherman assumed that it had been applied in this particular case. This assumption suited his interest, as he sought a victim to whom he might charge the 'burning of Columbia. His statement in his Memoirs, published in 1875, is a delicious bit of historical naiveté. "In my official report of this conflagration,” he wrote, "' I distinctly charged it to General Wade Hampton, and confess I did so pointedly, to shake the faith of his people in him, for he was in my opinion boastful and professed to be the special champion of South Carolina.”

Instead of Hampton giving an order to burn the cotton, I am satisfied that he urged Beauregard, the general in command, to issue an order that this cotton should not be burned, lest the fire might spread to the shops and houses, which for the most part were built of wood, and I am further satisfied that such an order was given. Unfortunately the evidence for this is not contemporary. N0 such order is printed in the Official Records, and I am advised from the War Department that no such order has been found. The nearest evidence to the time which I have discovered is a letter of Wade Hampton of April 21, 1866, and one of Beauregard of May 2, 1866. Since these dates, there is an abundance of evidence, some of it sworn testimony, and while it is mixed up with inaccurate statements on another point, and all of it is of the nature of recollections, I cannot resist the conclusion that Beauregard and Hampton gave such an order. It was unquestionably the wise thing to do. There was absolutely no object in burning the cotton, as the Federal troops could not 'carry it with them and could not ship it to any seaport which was under Union control.

An order of Beauregard issued two days after the burning of Columbia and printed in the Official Records shows that the policy of burning cotton to keep it out of the hands of Sherman’s army had been abandoned. Sherman’s charge, then, that Wade Hampton burned Columbia, falls to the ground.

Here is the order from two days after Columbia was burned, referenced above.



Here are the letters from Hampton and Beauregard:

April 22, 1866
Gen. Sherman having charged me in his official report with the destruction of Columbia, and having reiterated the same falsehood in a recent letter to Benj. Ra?ls of that city, may I beg you to state such facts in reference to this matter as are in your possession. If you recollect, I advised you on the morning the Yankees came in, not to burn the cotton as this would endanger the town. I stated that as they had destroyed the railroad they could not remove the cotton. Upon this representation you directed me to issue an order that the cotton should not be burned. This I did at once, and there was not a bale on fire when the Yankees came into the town. You saw the cotton as you left the city, and you can state that none was on fire.
Very respectfully yours.
W.H.

To which Gen. Beauregard returned the following answer endorsed on the letter :
N. O. May 2, 1866.
The above statement of Gen. Hampton relative to the order issued by me at Columbia, S. C. . not to burn the cotton in that city is perfectly true and correct. The only thing on fire at the time of the evacuation was the depot building of the S. C. R. R. , which caught fire accidentally from the explosion of some ammunition ordered to be sent towards Charlotte, N. C.
G. T. BEAUREGARD​
 
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Andersonh1

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"The cavalry which was called Wheeler's, left in the direction of Winnsboro, at about 9 o’clock A . M. , and the infantry at an earlier hour, on the 17th. Prior to the leaving of the Confederate forces cotton was piled up and stored on the back streets of Columbia. One lot was piled in Richardson street, between Lady and Washington streets, about one hundred yards south of the Courthouse. There were about ten bales thus piled. This was the only cotton which I know to have been piled on Richardson street. The bales were ragged and in bad order. This cotton was not fired or attempted to be fired, according to my knowledge, prior to the evacuation by the Confederate forces, and was not burning until after the troops of General Sherman took possession of the city on the afternoon of the 17th. I first saw it burning about three o’clock of that day. It was not entirely consumed at that time. It was extinguished first by the Independent Fire Engine Company, and then the hose was attached to the Hydrant, and ordered to be played on until the fire was entirely put out . No United States soldiers assisted in putting out this fire, as far as I know of. No cotton was piled on Richardson street, between Washington and Plain streets, nor between Lady street and the State house. These ten bales, or about that number, was all the cotton which I saw piled on Richardson street.

At the time I return ed into the city, after surrendering the city to Colonel Stone, there was a strong breeze blowing from a westerly direction. When the wind did not carry the fire, I saw United States soldiers carry the fire by torches, and apply it to the buildings which were not then burning. I am unable to state of my own knowledge who started the fire in the first instance." - from the deposition of Orlando Bates, alderman of Columbia
 

Andersonh1

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From William Gilmore Simms account:

But the reign of terror did not fairly begin till night. In some instances, where parties complained of the misrule and robbery, their guards said to them, with a chuckle “This is nothing. Wait till tonight, and you’ll see h-ll".

Among the first fires at evening was one about dark, which broke out in a filthy purlieu of low houses, of wood, on Gervais street, occupied mostly as brothels. Almost at the same time a body of soldiers scattered over the Eastern outskirts of the city, fired severally the dwellings of Mr. Secretary Trenholm, General Wade Hampton , Dr. John Wallace , J . U. Adams , Mrs. Starke , Mr. Latta, Mrs. English , and many others. There were then some twenty fires in full blast , in as many different quarters, and while the alarm sounded from these quarters, a similar alarm was sent up almost simultaneously from Cotton Town, the northernmost limit of the city, and from Main street in its very centre, at the several stores or houses of 0. Z. Bates , C. D. Eberhardt , and some others in the heart of the most densely settled portion of the town thus enveloping in flames almost every section of the devoted city. At this period, thus early in the evening , there were few shows of that drunkenness which prevailed at a late hour in the night, and only after all the grocery shops on Main street had been rifled. The men engaged in this were well prepared with all the appliances essential to their work. They did not need the torch. They carried with them, from house to house, pots and vessels containing combustible liquids, composed probably of phosphorous and other similar agents, turpentine, etc., and with balls o f cotton saturated in this liquid, with which they also overspread the floors and walls, they conveyed the flames with wonderful rapidity from dwelling to dwelling. Each had his ready box of Lucifer matches, and, with a scrape upon the walls , the flames began to rage. Where houses were closely contiguous a brand from one was the means of conveying destruction to the other.​
 

Andersonh1

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from the deposition of John A. Civil

The city was surrendered to General Sherman about 10 o’clock in the morning of Friday, the 17th February, by Dr. Thomas Jefferson Goodwin, the Mayor, about one mile from the limits of the town he rode out to meet the army coming in, and the forces entered the city and took possession just at 11 o’clock ; I noticed the clock myself as the first van arrived no resistance was offered to General Sherman or his army; most of the Confederate troops left early on Friday morning; the rear guard, under General P. B. Young, of General Hampton’s command, left just as the Federal troops were entering; no riots, fire, or pillage had yet occurred on the 17th day the first fire commenced about three hours after the first entering; about 10 o’clock an alarm of fire arose, caused by the burning of some cotton in Richardson Street; it was set by the United States soldiers; my own impression is, that that fire was accidentally caused by a cigar being thrown into the cotton the alarm of fire was started, the fire engines immediately began to play on it and subdued the flames; just about the time that it was extinguished, the United States soldiers began to riddle and to cut up the hose with their bayonets; I was present immediately at the fire, which occurred just south of the market; there was no disorder, though the troops all seemed in a good humor, and were laughing and jeering at those who had extinguished the flames, but opposed no resistance except; a few drunken men cut up the hose, but the fire had already been extinguished.​
 

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At about 11 or 12 o’clock that night, I saw a squad of United States soldiers enter my premises and apply fire to the out-building by means of some inflammable torches which they put to the buildings. I put out the fires so applied twice, and on the third time my residence and the neighboring dwellings were consumed. I saw the soldiers break in the door of the Washington Street Methodist Church, immediately opposite my own residence, and in a few moments after I saw the smoke and flames coming out of the doors and windows, and the Church was soon consumed. I was in the company of two United States ofiicers at the time of this occurrence, and they with me witnessed it. After leaving my own house, at about 1o’clock of that nigh-t, I saw a party of United States soldiers break into the residence of C. P'. Pelham, on the corner of Washington and Bull Streets; I went to the door and saw these soldiers in the upper part of the building, and in a few minutes afterward I saw the flames break out of the upper part of the building, and it was soon burned down; I saw no other firing by soldiers during the night. - MALCOLM SELTON.
 

Andersonh1

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I was in Columbia in February, 1865, when the city was burned. The first fire I saw, which was close to me, was set on fire by soldiers. I did not see the petitioner’s store burned, but suppose it was burned in the general confiagration. The place I saw set on fire was set on fire by soldiers wearing the uniform of United States soldiers. This was on the 17th February, 1865.

On the morning of the 17th of February, when the army of General Sherman entered, I came in to the city, when I found that a committee of citizens had gone to surrender the city to General Sherman. This was about 8 A. M. Directly after, about 10 or 11 o’clock, A. M. , the army entered. After the army came in, about 12 o’clock, I came down street to the old market, on the main street. There was cotton out in the street near the courthouse. The wind commenced blowing a lively breeze, and the cotton took fire. The soldiers ran for the fire engines, when I met one of the firemen, and told him to open the engine house, and told him to run out the hose carriage, that they did not need an engine. The citizens and soldiers ran out the hose carriage and put the fire out. I did not see any more fire until about 9 or 10 o’clock that night, and this was the warehouse before mentioned. According to my best of belief I presume there were one hundred bales in the street. The cotton was strewn along the centre of the main street for a considerable distance the cotton was in bales. The wind kept freshening up all the afternoon. My observation in regard to cotton burning is, that it burns like a live coal it does not blaze when packed. The last time I saw the pile of cotton mentioned was about 12 M. of the 17th. I think there were other piles of cotton in the street, but I am not certain in regard thereto, nor can I tell whether or not other cotton was burned, except the first above mentioned. About 5 o’clock of the morning of the 18th, or before, a guard was sent to me. I had, however, procured a guard before. I cannot say Whether or not General Sherman’s army, or any portion thereof, acted as an organized body in an effort to subdue the flames. General Hampton’s troops left in the morning previous to the burning. They left fully four hours before I saw the cotton burning as before stated . M. H. BERRY
 

Andersonh1

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Several witnesses talked about the direction the wind was blowing contrasted with where the fires started.

As to the cotton, Gens. Beauregard and Hampton ordered it not to be burned. These orders were issued by Capt. Rawlins Lowndes, then acting as Hampton' s Adjutant, and Gen. M. C. Butler, who was with the rear squadron of the Confederate cavalry, deposes that Hampton directed him that the cotton was not to be burnt that this direction was communicated to the entire division and was strictly observed. Rev. A. Toomer Porter was told by 'Gen. Hampton: “The cotton is not to be burnt the wind is too high it might catch something and give Sherman an excuse for burning the town.” Mayor Goodwyn deposes that Hampton said the same to him. The wind blew from the west, but the fires at night broke out west of Main and Sumter streets, where the cotton bales were, and instead of burning the houses was probably burnt by them. - E. J. Scott



I was an eye witness to the burning of Columbia.

------------------

I have said that the historian must find evidence as to the burning of Columbia and he will find it. The foolish attempt to hold Hampton responsible is beyond the tether of his last calumniator and is hardly worthy of a serious refutation.

These few questions, when they are asked, will be found difficult to answer. Where was Hampton when the conflagration began to take its regular course at 8’ clock at night? Did the cotton which was burning at the east end of Main street travel against a gale of wind to the extreme west more than a mile off? - from a letter to the editor of the New York World from Alfred Huger, August 1866
 

Andersonh1

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Wade Hampton disputed Sherman's report, and calls him a liar.

I did not order any cotton moved into the street and fired. On the contrary, my first act on taking command of the cavalry, to which I was assigned only the night before the evacuation of Columbia, was to represent to Gen. Beauregard the danger to the town by firing the cotton in the streets. Upon this representation he authorized me to give orders that no cotton in the town should be fired, which order was strictly carried out. I left the city after the head of Sherman’s column entered it, and I assert , what can be proved by thousands , that not one bale of cotton was on fire when he took possession of the city . His assertion to the contrary is false, and he knows it to be so. - from a letter from Wade Hampton to the editor of the New York Day Book, July 14, 1865
 

Andersonh1

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Did the Union troops have a desire to cause havoc in South Carolina? Yes, they did.

The truth is, the whole army is burning with an insatiable desire to wreak vengeance upon South Carolina. I almost tremble at her fate, but feel that she deserves all that seems in store for her. - Sherman to Halleck, December 24, 1864


I happened to be present when General Sherman, after all was in readiness for the Carolina campaign and each was about to go his separate way, said, in substance, as his parting words to Slocum: "Don't forget that when you have crossed the Savannah River you will be in South Carolina. You need not be so careful there about private properly as we have been. The more of it you destroy the better it will be. The people of South Carolina should be made to feel the war, for they brought it on and are responsible more than anybody else for our presence here. Now is the time to punish them. - p 43, Notes of A Busy Life, by Joseph Benson Foraker
 

Andersonh1

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The evidence and testimony tells us that Sherman and his army had motive and opportunity to burn Columbia, something witnesses confirm that they took full advantage of.
 

Viper21

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The evidence and testimony tells us that Sherman and his army had motive and opportunity to burn Columbia, something witnesses confirm that they took full advantage of.
Sure looks like the evidence is significant.

I'm sure they are all lying though. Sherman wasn't fond of arson. Even if he was, they had it coming. Just ask them..
 
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