to send him toward Lynchburg.  Finally, however, on the 12th of March, he did push down through the north-western end of South Carolina, creating some consternation.  I also ordered Thomas to send the 4th corps (Stanley’s) to Bull Gap and to destroy no more roads east of that.  I also directed him to concentrate supplies at Knoxville, with a view to a probable movement of his army through that way toward Lynchburg.

Goldsboro is four hundred and twenty-five miles from Savannah.  Sherman’s march was without much incident until he entered Columbia, on the 17th of February.  He was detained in his progress by having to repair and corduroy the roads, and rebuild the bridges.  There was constant skirmishing and fighting between the cavalry of the two armies, but this did not retard the advance of the infantry.  Four days, also, were lost in making complete the destruction of the most important railroads south of Columbia; there was also some delay caused by the high water, and the destruction of the bridges on the line of the road.  A formidable river had to be crossed near Columbia, and that in the face of a small garrison under General Wade Hampton.  There was but little delay, however, further than that caused by high water in the stream.  Hampton left as Sherman approached, and the city was found to be on fire.

There has since been a great deal of acrimony displayed in discussions of the question as to who set Columbia on fire.  Sherman denies it on the part of his troops, and Hampton denies it on the part of the Confederates.  One thing is certain:  as soon as our troops took possession, they at once proceeded to extinguish the flames to the best of their ability with the limited means at hand.  In any case, the example set by the Confederates in burning the village of Chambersburg, Pa., a town which was not garrisoned, would seem to make a defence of the act of firing the seat of government of the State most responsible for the conflict then raging, not imperative.

The Confederate troops having vacated the city, the mayor took possession, and sallied forth to meet the commander of the National forces for the purpose of surrendering the town, making terms for the protection of property, etc.  Sherman paid no attention at all to the overture, but pushed forward and took the town without making any conditions whatever with its citizens.  He then, however, co-operated with the mayor in extinguishing the flames and providing for the people who were rendered destitute by this destruction of their homes.  When he left there he even gave the mayor five hundred head of cattle to be distributed among the citizens, to tide them over until some arrangement could be made for their future supplies.  He remained in Columbia until the roads, public buildings, workshops and everything that could be useful to the enemy were destroyed.  While at Columbia, Sherman learned for the first time that what remained of Hood’s army was confronting him, under the command of General Beauregard.