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