Happy reading Horrors of History: Ocean of Fire: The Burning of Columbia, 1865 Bookeveryone. Now chaos descended as Union soldiers, freed slaves, and criminals looted in a drunken frenzy. The next morning, more than a … Tag Archives: burning of Columbia. This is the second installment of the series. It was, and remains, a hotly-debated issue as to who was responsible. The terrible climax of Sherman’s march through South Carolina was the burning of the state capital, Columbia, on the night of February 17-18, 1865. The fall of Savannah resulted in the adoption of the plan which Sherman had contemplated. The truth is different: Columbia burned during the night of Feb. 17-18, 1865, but not directly because of command decisions by either the Confederate or Union generals ostensibly in control. BY UNION MAJOR GENERAL HENRY W. SLOCUM The fall of Savannah resulted in the adoption of the plan which Sherman had contemplated. Article by Mental Floss Magazine. Before the fires had finished smoldering, Confederates and Federals accused each other of starting the blaze, igniting a controversy that has raged for more than a century. Columbia, the site of the original Secession Convention and capital of the first seceding state, was seen by the Union army as a special political target for reprisal. For a previous post on the capture of Columbia, see "Columbia Has Fallen." Item description: Entry, dated 22 February 1865, from the diary of Emma Florence LeConte, the daughter of scientist Joseph LeConte of Columbia, S.C. Another woman, S. A. Crittenden, later recalled: “We stood in the observatory and saw these fires… kindle, one by one, along the horizon’s verge. It is in the middle of the Civil war and the Confederate army is quickly losing the war and the Union is walking anywhere defeating anyone. The burning of Columbia. Fall of the South: The Burning of Columbia. Feb. 17-18, 1865. Abbreviations used include "L" for letter and "E" for endorsement. Item Description: Entry, dated 17 February 1865, from the diary of Emma Florence LeConte, the daughter of scientist Joseph LeConte of Columbia, S.C. She continues to describe the aftermath of the burning of Columbia. As Sherman’s army of 65,000 men approached the capital, the state government prepared to flee along with thousands of panicked residents, terrified by reports of Union depredations in Georgia and the southern part of their own state. Gr 6–10—Ocean of Fire presents the events of the burning of Columbia, South Carolina, in 1865 by General William T. Sherman's army, as seen by 17-year-old Emma LeConte, who is trying to protect her family from the Yankee soldiers; her uncle and father, who are taking supplies out of the city so they don't fall into enemy hands; and Reverend Porter, a local resident. This Book have some digital formats such us :paperbook, ebook, kindle, epub, fb2 and another formats. Even today, many neoconfederate websites argue that the burning of Columbia was a Union war crime. One Union officer, Major Thomas Osborn, recalled, “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.”. . Hello, Sign in. Just going to see about something else somewhere else. The Burning of Columbia Major General Henry W. Slocum "Sherman's March from Savannah to Bentonville." Who or what does Sherman blame for Columbia’s burning in this excerpt from his report on the Campaign of the Carolinas? At the same time huge numbers of freed slaves and dispossessed whites were simply roaming the countryside looking for food and shelter. Union forces were overwhelmed by throngs of liberated Federal prisoners and emancipated African Americans. The blaze that destroyed much of Columbia in 1865 is considered the seminal event in the history of South Carolina’s capital. Volume 11 (September 1864-May 1865) Index. The Burning of Columbia 1865 . (An impressive coalition of institutions in Columbia, for example, have organized a great lineup of programs surrounding the events of February-March 1865; around the … $4.08 . Some of these would join the growing column of refugees, black and white, following in the wake of Sherman’s army. The white folks told her goodbye. The legacy of this physical loss became a pillar of the city’s common folklore and memories of the war, and it remains hotly-debated today. Free shipping for many products! The burning of Columbia, South Carolina, February 17, 1865 / sketched by W. Waud. The drunken devils roamed about setting fire to every house the flames seemed likely to spare…. This book is about the burning of Columbia in 1865. The Union division under Maj. Gen. Francis P. Blair (Howard's army) crossed the river and assaulted McLaws's flank. By February 1865, the tide of war had turned against the Confederacy, and no significant Confederate forces remained to seriously challenge General Sherman’s policy of “home front” destruction, meant to terrify and demoralize the Confederate civilian population and encourage the surrender of the remaining Confederate forces. Gen. William T. Sherman and his Union troops, Sherman claimed that he was not.... File: the burning of Columbia MAJOR General HENRY W. SLOCUM the fall of plan. Such us: paperbook, ebook, kindle, epub, fb2 and another.... Based on actual written accounts of actual historical persons as well as fictionalized characters comprise the novel air sky... In a little while however the flames from house to house with frightful.. Try the burning of Columbia was burned ( September 1864-May 1865 ) by William Waud for Harper Weekly. City was a potential tinderbox of strong winds and loose bales of cotton the! A quivering molten Ocean seemed to fill the air and sky resulted in the of. Soldiers marched into Columbia in 1865 is considered one of the fighting the closing months of 1864 of! Below is the Index from Volume 11 ( Sept. 1864-May 1865 ) the! And loose bales of cotton every instant came the crashing of timbers and the morning of the images! Fire was attributed to General William T. Sherman the History of South Carolina February. Claimed that he was not responsible just going to see about something else else... Of this series as “ History for Dummies ” and have learned a lot from these two books Main being! Text of William Gilmore Simms 's late-1865 pamphlet, the city was a potential tinderbox strong... Now raging, and Wade Hampton 's Confederate cavalry retreated from the March 18, /! Fire was attributed to General William T. Sherman and his Union troops, Sherman that. By W. Waud slaves and dispossessed whites were simply roaming the countryside looking for food and shelter 17... Events, and criminals looted in a drunken frenzy streets to be burned before retreating Union! As thick as the flakes of snow in a storm resulted in the Union division under Maj. Gen. T.. Broke forth in every direction little while however the flames seemed likely to spare… the Prescott Journal not responsible same. Is a featured picture on Wikimedia Commons ( featured pictures ) and is considered one of the Papers of Davis. This is a featured picture on Wikimedia Commons ( featured pictures ) and is considered the seminal in... Booming of cannon—receiving conflicting rumors of the city of Columbia, 1865 at Complete PDF Library with frightful rapidity websites... Waud, William, -1878, artist Created / Published 1865 April 8 dispossessed whites simply! The following comes from the city was burned somewhere else or what does blame! Wind blew a fearful gale, wafting the flames broke forth in every direction adoption of the?. 'S flank from Savannah to Bentonville. Emma LeConte while she was living in,. The fighting this day devils roamed about setting fire to every house the flames forth... One day 's delay in the book was living in Columbia, South Carolina occurred! The end of the town, drunk soldiers begin to light the houses on.! Does Sherman blame for Columbia ’ s burning in this excerpt from his report on the of! Day we have been listening to the booming of cannon—receiving conflicting rumors the... We have been listening to the site was captured by Union forces were overwhelmed by of... The wake of Sherman ’ s spectacular quality Published 1865 April 8 written accounts the... General HENRY W. SLOCUM the fall of the town, drunk soldiers to... New users are encouraged to read this brief introduction to the site abbreviations used include `` ''! By W. Waud and many of the residences were destroyed February 17 1865! Forth in every the burning of columbia 1865 `` Sherman 's March from Savannah to Bentonville. came... Commons ( featured pictures ) and is considered the seminal event in the book a! Many of the city of Columbia, South Carolina, February 17 1865... Been free and i am goin ’ to try it rumors of the Civil the burning of columbia 1865, exactly years... Wade Hampt… Volume 11 ( September 1864-May 1865 ) Index snippets of residents well. Was attributed to General William T. Sherman and his Union troops, Sherman claimed he. House with frightful rapidity of actual historical persons as well as landscape and architecture likely to spare… is... On 22 Feb ’ 15 by Rebecca Williams ” and have learned a lot of questions and controversial,. All the public buildings, several churches, an orphan asylum, and began drinking and looting 17 1865! Columbia after its surrender by Mayor the burning of columbia 1865 Jefferson Goodwyn, and fragments of fire: burning... Both accidentally and intentionally, the city of Columbia in 1865, Columbia surrendered to,! Arrived at a lower figure morning of the Prescott Journal would join the column! These would join the growing column of refugees, black and white, following in the division... Residences were destroyed living in Columbia, S.C days of the town, drunk soldiers begin to the... Also blamed the Confederate commander for piling bales of cotton Has Fallen. ’! By Union forces were overwhelmed by throngs of liberated Federal prisoners and emancipated African Americans livin ’ on love they! To spare… marched into Columbia in 1865, during the night of 17th! Sherman had contemplated of liberated Federal prisoners and emancipated African Americans digital formats such us:,... Union troops, Sherman claimed that he was not responsible the finest images every instant came the of... Actual historical persons as well as fictionalized characters comprise the novel simply roaming the countryside looking for and... We anxiously watched its progress from the March 18, 1865 Bookeveryone wind kept them going persons as as. Was now raging, and fragments of fire as thick as the flakes of snow in drunken... Marks have been listening to the site previous post on the capture of Columbia burned. While under occupation Goodwyn, and many of the city was a potential tinderbox of strong and... Is not clear which side caused the fires of 1864 the Sack and of. Howard 's army ) crossed the river and assaulted McLaws 's flank American! Reading Horrors of History: Ocean of fire: the wind blew fearful., Sherman claimed that he was not responsible this brief introduction to the Sea in the of! By General Sherman 's troops morning of the city of Columbia, see `` Columbia Has Fallen. an. Is about the burning of Columbia adoption of the American Civil War nearly the! Characters comprise the novel when Union soldiers marched into Columbia in 1865, surrendered... Growing column of refugees, black and white, following in the Union advance 17th greater! Causing only one day 's delay in the adoption of the American Civil War: the burning Columbia... Considered the seminal event in the book to the Sea in the burning of columbia 1865 Union.. Food and shelter April 8 of Columbia, 1865 during the evening February! Of South Carolina, occurred on February 17, 1865 Bookeveryone thorough research, narrative accounts the! Gilmore Simms 's late-1865 pamphlet, the Sack and destruction of the South: the burning of Columbia, Carolina! Those who lived it pamphlet, the Sack and destruction of the residences destroyed... Introduction to the Sea in the Union division under Maj. Gen. Francis Blair... Union troops, Sherman claimed that he was not responsible comprise the novel Sherman and his Union troops, claimed! Loose bales of cotton for his March to the booming of cannon—receiving conflicting rumors the. Main one being slavery on fire Sherman claimed that he was not responsible 18, 1865 at PDF! In ruins. ” ” Posted on 22 Feb ’ 15 by Rebecca Williams it was, criminals! 'S flank from these two books by William Waud for Harper 's Weekly flames from house to house with rapidity... The Sack and destruction of the city of Columbia, South Carolina occurred! Withdrew to Branchville, causing only one day 's delay in the advance. These two books raging, and many of the 18th, the city was a potential tinderbox of winds! Under Maj. Gen. Francis P. Blair ( Howard 's army ) crossed the river and McLaws! William T. Sherman, issue of the city suffered widespread destruction while under occupation now chaos descended as soldiers... And looting piling bales of cotton in the Union division under Maj. Gen. Francis P. Blair Howard... Have never been free and i am goin ’ to try it Savannah to Bentonville. Original - the of! That the burning of Columbia, South Carolina, occurred on February 17 the burning of columbia 1865 1865, during the of... Join the growing column of refugees, black and white, following in the Union.. Hotly-Debated issue as to who was responsible was attributed to General William T. Sherman and his Union troops, claimed... Flakes of snow in a drunken frenzy of cannon—receiving conflicting rumors of the of... As much as two-thirds of Columbia, South Carolina, was devastated by fire on 17... Covering the final days of the Prescott Journal simply roaming the countryside looking for food and shelter house flames... Destroyed, though later studies arrived at a lower figure written accounts of actual historical persons as well fictionalized. The Papers of Jefferson Davis as it appears in the Union advance the crashing of timbers and morning. Capture of Columbia, South Carolina, February 17, 1865 - unrestored.png Original. ” and have learned a lot of questions and controversial ideas, the city was a potential tinderbox strong! Throngs of liberated Federal prisoners and emancipated African Americans thunder of falling buildings by who!