memoirs of general william t. sherman-2-第75章
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ame； I could not recall it； but inquired as to her maiden or family name。 He answered Poyas。 It so happened that； when I was a lieutenant at Fort Moultrie； in 1842…'46； I used very often to visit a family of that name on the east branch of Cooper River； about forty miles from Fort Moultrie； and to hunt with the son； Mr。 James Poyas； an elegant young fellow and a fine sportsman。 His father； mother； and several sisters； composed the family； and were extremely hospitable。 One of the ladies was very fond of painting in water…colors； which was one of my weaknesses； and on one occasion I had presented her with a volume treating of water… colors。 Of course； I was glad to renew the acquaintance； and proposed to Dr。 Goodwin that we should walk to her house and visit this lady； which we did。 The house stood beyoud the Charlotte depot； in a large lot； was of frame； with a high porch； which was reached by a set of steps outside。 Entering this yard； I noticed ducks and chickens； and a general air of peace and comfort that was really pleasant to behold at that time of universal desolation； the lady in question met us at the head of the steps and invited us into a parlor which was perfectly neat and well furnished。 After inquiring about her father； mother； sisters； and especially her brother James； my special friend； I could not help saying that I was pleased to notice that our men had not handled her house and premises as roughly as was their wont。 〃I owe it to you； general；〃 she answered。 〃Not at all。 I did not know you were here till a few minutes ago。〃 She reiterated that she was indebted to me for the perfect safety of her house and property； and added； 〃You remember； when you were at our house on Cooper River in 1845； you gave me a book；〃 and she handed me the book in question； on the fly leaf of which was written： 〃To Miss Poyas； with the compliments of W。 T。 Sherman； First…lieutenant Third Artillery。〃 She then explained that； as our army approached Columbia； there was a doubt in her mind whether the terrible 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 t
