memoirs of general william t. sherman-2-第55章
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Sherman who was devastating the land were W。 T。 Sherman or T。 W。 Sherman； both known to be generals in the Northern army； but； on the supposition that he was her old acquaintance； when Wade Hampton's cavalry drew out of the city； calling out that the Yankees were coming； she armed herself with this book； and awaited the crisis。 Soon the shouts about the markethouse announced that the Yankees had come； very soon men were seen running up and down the streets； a parcel of them poured over the fence； began to chase the chickens and ducks； and to enter her house。 She observed one large man； with full beard； who exercised some authority； and to him she appealed in the name of 〃his general。〃 〃What do you know of Uncle Billy？〃 〃Why；〃 she said； 〃when he was a young man he used to be our friend in Charleston； and here is a book he gave me。〃 The officer or soldier took the book； looked at the inscription； and； turning to his fellows； said： 〃Boys； that's so； that's Uncle Billy's writing； for I have seen it often before。〃 He at once commanded the party to stop pillaging； and left a man in charge of the house； to protect her until the regular provost…guard should be established。 I then asked her if the regular guard or sentinel had been as good to her。 She assured me that he was a very nice young man； that he had been telling her all about his family in Iowa； and that at that very instant of time he was in another room minding her baby。 Now； this lady had good sense and tact； and had thus turned aside a party who； in five minutes more； would have rifled her premises of all that was good to eat or wear。 I made her a long social visit； and； before leaving Columbia； gave her a half…tierce of rice and about one hundred pounds of ham from our own mess…stores。
In like manner； that same evening I found in Mrs。 Simons another acquaintancethe wife of the brother of Hon。 James Simons； of Charleston； who had been Miss Wragg。 When Columbia was on fire that night； and her house in danger； I had her family and effects carried to my own headquarters； gave them my own room and bed； and； on leaving Columbia the next day； supplied her with a half…barrel of hams and a half…tierce of rice。 I mention these specific facts to show that； personally； I had no malice or desire to destroy that city or its inhabitants； as is generally believed at the South。
Having walked over much of the suburbs of Columbia in the afternoon； and being tired； I lay down on a bed in Blanton Duncan's house to rest。 Soon after dark I became conscious that a bright light was shining on the walls； and； calling some one of my staff （Major Nichols； I think） to inquire the cause； he said there seemed to be a house on fire down about the market…house。 The same high wind still prevailed； and； fearing the consequences； I bade him go in person to see if the provost…guard were doing its duty。 He soon returned； and reported that the block of buildings directly opposite the burning cotton of that morning was on fire； and that it was spreading； but he had found General Woods on the ground； with plenty of men trying to put the fire out； or； at least； to prevent its extension。 The fire continued to increase； and the whole heavens became lurid。 I dispatched messenger after messenger to Generals Howard； Logan； and Woods； and received from them repeated assurances that all was being done that could be done； but that the high wind was spreading the flames beyoud all control。 These general officers were on the ground all night； and Hazen's division had been brought into the city to assist Woods's division； already there。 About eleven o'clock at night I went down…town myself； Colonel Dayton with me； we walked to Mr。 Simons's house； from which I could see the flames rising high in the air； and could hear the roaring of the fire。 I advised the ladies to move to my headquarters； had our own headquarter…wagons hitched up； and their effects carried there； as a place of greater safety。 The whole air was full of sparks and of flying masses of cotton； shingles； etc。； some of which were carried four or five blocks； and started new fires。 The men seemed generally under good control； and certainly labored hard to girdle the fire； to prevent its spreading； but； so long as the high wind prevailed； it was simply beyoud human possibility。 Fortunately； about 3 or 4 a。m。； the wind moderated； and gradually the fire was got under control； but it had burned out the very heart of the city； embracing several churches； the old State…House； and the school or asylum of that very Sister of Charity who had appealed for my personal protection。 Nickerson's Hotel； in which several of my staff were quartered； was burned down； but the houses occupied by myself； Generals Howard and Logan； were not burned at all。 Many of the people thought that this fire was deliberately planned and executed。 This is not true。 It was accidental； and in my judgment began with the cotton which General Hampton's men had set fire to on leaving the city （whether by his orders or not is not material）； which fire was partially subdued early in the day by our men； but； when night came； the high wind fanned it again into full blaze； carried it against the framehouses； which caught like tinder； and soon spread beyoud our control。
This whole subject has since been thoroughly and judicially investigated； in some cotton cases； by the mixed commission on American and British claims； under the Treaty of Washington； which commission failed to award a verdict in favor of the English claimants； and thereby settled the fact that the destruction of property in Columbia； during that night； did not result from the acts of the General Government of the United Statesthat is to say； from my army。 In my official report of this conflagration； 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。
The morning sun of February 18th rose bright and clear over a ruined city。 About half of it was in ashes and in smouldering heaps。 Many of the people were houseless； and gathered in groups in the suburbs； or in the open parks and spaces； around their scanty piles of furniture。 General Howard； in concert with the mayor； did all that was possible to provide other houses for them； and by my authority he turned over to the Sisters of Charity the Methodist College； and to the mayor five hundred beef…cattle； to help feed the people； I also gave the mayor （Dr。 Goodwin） one hundred muskets； with which to arm a guard to maintain order after we should leave the neighborhood。 During the 18th and 19th we remained in Columbia； General Howard's troops engaged in tearing up and destroying the railroad； back toward the Wateree； while a strong detail； under the immediate supervision of Colonel O。 M。 Poe； United States Engineers； destroyed the State Arsenal； which was found to be well supplied with shot； shell； and ammunition。 These were hauled in wagons to the Saluda River； under the supervision of Colonel Baylor； chief of ordnance； and emptied into deep water； causing a very serious accident by the bursting of a percussion…shell； as it struck another on the margin of the water。 The flame followed back a train of powder which had sifted out； reached the wagons； still partially loaded； and exploded them； killing sixteen men。 and destroying several wagons and teams of mules。 We also destroyed several valuable founderies and the factory of Confederate money。 The dies had been carried away； but about sixty handpresses remained。 There was also found an immense quantity of money； in various stages of manufacture； which our men spent and gambled with in the most lavish manner。
Having utterly ruined Columbia； the right wing began its march northward； toward Winnsboro'； on the 20th； which we reached on the 21st； and found General Slocum； with the left wing； who had come by the way of Alston。 Thence the right wing was turned eastward； toward Cheraw； and Fayetteville； North Carolina； to cross the Catawba River at Peay's Ferry。 The cavalry was ordered to follow the railroad north as far as Chester； and then to turn east to Rocky Mount； the point indicated for the passage of the left wing。 In person I reached Rocky Mount on the 22d； with the Twentieth Corps； which laid its pontoon…bridge and crossed over during the 23d。 Kilpatrick arrived the next day； in the midst of heavy rain； and was instructed to cross the Catawba at once； by night； and to move up to Lancaster； to make believe we were bound for Charlotte； to which point I heard that Beauregard had directed all his detachments； including a corps of Hood's old army； which had been marching parallel with us； but had failed to make junction with； the forces immediately opposing us。 Of course； I had no purpose of going to Charlotte； for the right wing was already moving rapidly toward Fayetteville； North Carolina。 The rain was so heavy and persistent that the Catawba； River rose fast； and soon after I had crossed the pontoon bridge at Rocky Mount it was carried away； leaving General Davis； with the Fourteenth Corps； on the went bank。 The roads were infamous； so I halted the Twentieth Corps at Hanging Rock for some days； to allow time for the Fourteenth to get over。
General Davis had infinite difficulty in reconstructing his bridge； and was compelled to use the fifth chains of his wagons for anchor… chains； so that we were delayed nearly a week in that neighborhood。 While in camp at Hanging Rock two prisoners were brought to meone a chaplain； the other a boy； son of Richard Bacot； of Charleston； whom I had known as a cadet at West Point。 They were just from Charleston； and had been sent away by General Hardee in advance； because he was； they said； evacuating Charleston。 Rumors to the same effect had reached me through the negroes； and it was； moreover； reported that Wilmington； North Carolina； was in possession of the Yankee troops； so that I had every reason to be satisfied that our march was fully reaping all the fruits we could possibly ask for。 Charleston was； in fact； evacuated by General Hardee on the 18th of February； and was taken possession of by a brigade of General Fosters troops； commanded by General Schimmelpfennig； the same day。 Hardee had availed himself of his only remaining railroad； by Florence to Cheraw； had sent there much of his ammunition and stores； and reached it with the effective part of the garrison in time to escape across the Pedee River before our arrival。 Wilmington was captured by General Terry on the 22d of February； but of this important event we only knew by the vague rumors which reached us through rebel sources。
General Jeff。 C。 Davis got across the Catawba during the 27th； and the general march was resumed on Cheraw。 Kilpatrick remained near Lancaster； skirmishing with Wheeler's and Hampton's cavalry； keeping up the delusion that we proposed to move on Charlotte and Salisbury； but with orders to watch the progress of the Fourteenth Corps； and to act in concert with it； on its left rear。 On the 1st of March I was at Finlay's Bridge across Lynch's Creek； the roads so bad that we had to corduroy nearly every foot of the way； but I w
