18 FEB 1865 - Columbia surrendered to the Federal forces - subsequently burned.
"... when the brigade occupied the town the citizens and negroes brought out whiskey in buckets, bottles and in every conceivable manner treated the men to all they would drink. ... The negroes, escaped prisoners, state convicts, and such other people as would all went into the work of pillaging with a will. By this time all parties were willing to assist it on... The negroes piloted the men to the best places for plunder, and both men and negroes by evening were setting fires rapidly... One cannot conceive of anything which would or could make a grander fire than this one, excepting a larger city than Columbia. The city was built entirely of wood, and was in most excellent condition to burn. The space on fire at midnight was not less than one mile square, and one week before, sheltered from 25,000 to 30,000 people. The flames rolled and heaved like the waves of the ocean; the road was like a cataract. The whole air was filled with burning cinders, and fragments of fire as thick as the flakes of snow in a storm. The scene was splendid - magnificently grand. The scene of pillaging, the suffering and terror of the citizens, the arresting of and shooting negroes, and our frantic and drunken soldiers... this I will leave for the present for the imagination of those who choose to dwell upon it... I have in this war seen too much... and choose rather to remember the magnificent splendor of this burning city... I believe the burning of the city is an advantage to the cause and a just retribution to the state of South Carolina. 20
21 FEB 1865 - Winnsboro
"Two of our men were found today with their brains beat out, and from all appearances had been captured and then murdered." 21
23 FEB 1865 - Rocky Mount "General Sherman sends us word again today that the enemy have murdered eleven of Kilpatrick's men, and the General has also ordered retaliation by killing the same number of rebels now in Kilpatrick's hands. Kilpatrick reported the incident: " An infantry lieutenant and seven men murdered yesterday by the 8th Texas Cavalry after they had surrendered. We found their bodies all together and mutilated, with paper on their breasts, saying "Death to foragers." Eighteen of my men were killed yesterday and some had their throats cut... I have sent Wheeler word that I intend to hang eighteen of his men... I have a number of prisoners and shall take a fearful revenge."22
02 MAR 1865 - Cheraw
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John C. Rigdon | |||||
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