Sherman Explains Why He Didn't Attack Augusta on His March to the Sea: "But, If You Feel Neglected..."

From the October 21, 2020, Athens (Ga) Banner-Herald "October 21, 1888:  General Sherman writes a letter to the Augusta Chronicle editor" by Boll Kirby.

He left Atlanta and Columbia in flames.  Well, why didn't he do the same to Augusta?

For years after the Civil War, Augustans argued about why feared Union General Sherman had not attacked  their city.  They had a variety of reasons and some were even silly.

Finally, Pleasant  Stovall, editor of the Augusta Chronicle, and asked the famous old general nd he answered in what might be one of the most famous-ever letters to the editor.

It was published on October 21, 1888, and, basically the old war horse said he didn't attack Augusta because he didn't have to.  He wanted to get to Savannah where the Union Navy could bring him supplies.

However, he offered to correct the oversight if Augusta felt  neglected, writing: "I can send a detachment of 100,000 or so of Sherman's bummers and their descendants  who will finish up the job without charging Uncle Sam a cent."

Send In the Bummers!!  --Old Secesh

The Fayetteville Arsenal-- Part 3: Defending It From Sherman

The principal weapon produced was known as the Fayetteville Rifle.  At its peak, the armory produced 500 rifles a month and various numbers of larger ordnance, cartridges, swords and bayonets.  Over one hundred workmen from the Harpers Ferry Arsenal relocated to Fayetteville with their families.

In the middle war years, young ladies from the area were employed in the making of cartridges and as clerks.

In 1865, as Union General William Sherman began his Carolinas Campaign, it became apparent to the Confederate commander Col. Frederick L. Childs, that Fayetteville was going to be a major target.  When Sherman reached Columbia, S.C., Col. Childs ordered the construction of earthworks for the defense of the Fayetteville area.

Remnants of these earthworks can be seen on the grounds of the Veterans Administration Hospital on Ramsey Street in Fayetteville,.

--Old Secesh

Monuments Around the South Carolina Statehouse

Last week I wrote about a movement to erect a statue of Robert Smalls, a slave who commandeered the Confederate transport Planter in Charleston Harbor, on the grounds of the S.C. statehouse.  This is where the confrontation over  the Confederate Flag started.

Statues on the grounds include an African-American monument, Robert E. Lee tree memorial, Confederate Women memorial, Confederate soldier monument, Wade Hampton (Confederate general) and Dr. J. Marlon Sims.  I have written about Dr. Sims before and his questionable experiments on black women in gynecology so would not have a problem with his statue coming down.

The Statehouse also has bronze star markers where it was struck by Union artillery in 1865.

Again, I would like to see a statue for Robert Smalls there.

--Old Secesh

Columbia (S.C.) Looks Back at Horrific End to Civil War-- Part 2

Columbia is in the midst of a look back at those days and is engaging both residents and visitors about the Civil War, slavery, reconstruction and where the city is now.

Special events include lectures and performances, including exhibits of war artifacts at the South Carolina State Museum and the Confederate State Relic Room & Military Museum.

The movies "Selma," "Gone With the Wind" and "Gone With the Wind REDUX" will be shown.

Both Columbia, the capital of the state and Charleston, where the Civil War began, fell on the same day.  I have been writing about Charleston in my Running the Blockade: Civil War Naval Blog.

A photo of the 1818 Hampton-Preston Mansion accompanies the article.  It escaped burning.

--Old Secesh

Columbia Looks Back at Horrific End to Civil War-- Part 1

From the February 1, 2015, Chicago Tribune Travel Section "S.C. town looks back at horrific end to Civil War" by Terry Gardner.

Most people know about Union General Sherman's troops burning Atlanta and the path of destruction they leveled across Georgia during their March to the Sea.  But fewer still know that Sherman also burned Columbia, S.C..

At least some think so, but their is also the possibility that drunken Confederates set fire to the first cotton bale as they retreated from the town.

Columbia will be commemorating the 150th anniversary of its burning this month and the question of who did it remains.

It is generally agreed that Columbia surrendered on the morning of Feb. 17, 1865.  Huge bales of cotton lined many streets and the fires began that night.  But why the cotton was there and who lit the first bale is still open for discussion.

--Old Secesh

Digging at SC's Camp Asylum

From the April 23, 2014, WFAE 90.7 FM NPR "Race to Unearth Civil War-Era Artifacts Before Developer Digs In" by Kevin Kniestedt.

A dozen archaeologists are busily working in downtown Columbia, SC, on a 165 acre fornmer site of a prisoner of war camp for Union officers named Camp Asylum.

Come April 30th, they'll have to vacate it so that a developer can start work.

During the winter 1864-1865, some 1000 Union officers were housed here in a prison that was originally the exercise yard of the state insane asylum, which gave the camp its name.

The prisoners were being moved around as Union General Sherman was moving his army through Georgia and South Carolina. The first prisoners arrived December 12, 1864, most with just a single blanket and there were no barracks, so they had to dig holes for warmth.

So far, archaeologists have found buttons, combs and a few other items. Surprisongly, there was only one recorded death during the time it was a prison, mostly because the cold weather prevented the spread of disease, the biggest killer in prisons.

--Old Secesh

South Carolina Archaeologists Race to Uncover Civil War Prison

From the Feb. 16, 2014, Washington Times.

Archaeologists are going as fast as they can to learn as much as they can about a former prison camp near downtown Columbia, South Carolina.  They have been given four months to excavate a small portion of the 165-acre grounds of the former S.C. State Hospital for the remnants of what was known as Camp Asylum which held 1,500 Union officers during the winter of 1864-1865.

One source says Camp Asylum was hastily constructed on the grounds of the S.C. Lunatic Asylum, hence the name.  It also said that 500 Union officers were kept there.

Conditions were so dire that the prisoners dug and lived in holes.  They would share the holes and walk at night so they didn't freeze.  Enlisted men were sent off to Andersonville in Georgia.

The site was sold to a developer for development for $15 million.  Some 40 diaries concerning life in the camp have been located and are being used in the search..  So far, researchers digging in the reddish earth have found buttons, combs and remnants of clothing.  One hole contained crudely fashioned bricks.

From the diaries, they know that the camp commander told them "they could sing all the Yankee songs as they wanted, but they also had to sing a Southern song.  So they'd sing 'Battle Hymn of the Republic,' and then they'd sing 'Dixie."

Three days before Gen. Sherman's Army entered Columbia, the prisoners were removed to Charlotte and from thereto Wilmington.

Hurry Up and Research.  --Old Secesh