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the Congaree River lay the city of Columbia； in plain； easy view。 I could see the unfinished State…House； a handsome granite structure； and the ruins of the railroad depot； which were still smouldering。 Occasionally a few citizens or cavalry could be seen running across the streets； and quite a number of negroes were seemingly busy in carrying off bags of grain or meal； which were piled up near the burned depot。
Captain De Gres had a section of his twenty…pound Parrott guns unlimbered； firing into the town。 I asked him what he was firing for； he said he could see some rebel cavalry occasionally at the intersections of the streets； and he had an idea that there was a large force of infantry concealed on the opposite bank； lying low； in case we should attempt to cross over directly into the town。 I instructed him not to fire any more into the town； but consented to his bursting a few shells near the depot； to scare away the negroes who were appropriating the bags of corn and meal which we wanted； also to fire three shots at the unoccupied State…House。 I stood by and saw these fired； and then all firing ceased。 Although this matter of firing into Columbia has been the subject of much abuse and investigation； I have yet to hear of any single person having been killed in Columbia by our cannon。 On the other hand； the night before； when Woods's division was in camp in the open fields at Little Congaree； it was shelled all night by a rebel battery from the other aide of the river。 This provoked me much at the time； for it was wanton mischief； as Generals Beauregard and Hampton must have been convinced that they could not prevent our entrance into Columbia。 I have always contended that I would have been justified in retaliating for this unnecessary act of war； but did not； though I always characterized it as it deserved。
The night of the 16th I camped near an old prison bivouac opposite Columbia； known to our prisoners of war as 〃Camp Sorghum；〃 where remained the mud…hovels and holes in the ground which our prisoners had made to shelter themselves from the winter's cold and the summer's heat。 The Fifteenth Corps was then ahead； reaching to Broad River； about four miles above Columbia； the Seventeenth Corps was behind； on the river…bank opposite Columbia； and the left wing and cavalry had turned north toward Alston。
The next morning； viz。； February 17th； I rode to the head of General Howard's column； and found that during the night he had ferried。 Stone's brigade of Woods's division of the Fifteenth Corps across by rafts made of the pontoons； and that brigade was then deployed on the opposite bank to cover the construction of a pontoon…bridge nearly finished。
I sat with General Howard on a log； watching the men lay this bridge； and about 9 or 10 A。M。 a messenger came from Colonel Stone on the other aide； saying that the Mayor of Columbia had come out of the city to surrender the place； and asking for orders。 I simply remarked to General Howard that he had his orders； to let
Colonel Stone go on into the city； and that we would follow as soon as the bridge was ready。 By this same messenger I received a note in pencil from the Lady Superioress of a convent or school in Columbia； in which she claimed to have been a teacher in a convent in Brown County； Ohio； at the time my daughter Minnie was a pupil there； and therefore asking special protection。 My recollection is； that I gave the note to my brother…in…law； Colonel Ewing； then inspector…general on my staff； with instructions to see this lady； and assure her that we contemplated no destruction of any private property in Columbia at all。
As soon as the bridge was done； I led my horse over it； followed by my whole staff。 General Howard accompanied me with his； and General Logan was next in order； followed by General C。 R。 Woods； and the whole of the Fifteenth Corps。 Ascending the hill； we soon emerged into a broad road leading into Columbia； between old fields of corn and cotton； and； entering the city； we found seemingly all its population； white and black； in the streets。 A high and boisterous wind was prevailing from the north； and flakes of cotton were flying about in the air and lodging in the limbs of the trees； reminding us of a Northern snow…storm。 Near the market…square we found Stone's brigade halted； with arms stacked； and a large detail of his men； along with some citizens； engaged with an old fire… engine； trying to put out the fire in a long pile of burning cotton…bales； which I was told had been fired by the rebel cavalry on withdrawing from the city that morning。 I know that； to avoid this row of burning cotton…bales； I had to ride my horse on the sidewalk。 In the market…square had collected a large crowd of whites and blacks； among whom was the mayor of the city； Dr。 Goodwin； quite a respectable old gentleman； who was extremely anxious to protect the interests of the citizens。 He was on foot； and I on horseback； and it is probable I told him then not to be uneasy； that we did not intend to stay long； and had no purpose to injure the private citizens or private property。 About this time I noticed several men trying to get through the crowd to speak with me； and called to some black people to make room for them； when they reached me； they explained that they were officers of our army； who had been prisoners； had escaped from the rebel prison and guard； and were of course overjoyed to find themselves safe with us。 I told them that； as soon as things settled down； they should report to General Howard； who would provide for their safety； and enable them to travel with us。 One of them handed me a paper； asking me to read it at my leisure； I put it in my breast…pocket and rode on。 General Howard was still with me； and； riding down the street which led by the right to the Charleston depot； we found it and a large storehouse burned to the ground； but there were； on the platform and ground near by； piles of cotton bags filled with corn and corn…meal； partially burned。
A detachment of Stone's brigade was guarding this； and separating the good from the bad。 We rode along the railroad…track； some three or four hundred yards； to a large foundery； when some man rode up and said the rebel cavalry were close by； and he warned us that we might get shot。 We accordingly turned back to the market… square； and en route noticed that； several of the men were evidently in liquor； when I called General Howard's attention to it。 He left me and rode toward General Woods's head of column； which was defiling through the town。 On reaching the market…square； I again met Dr。 Goodwin； and inquired where he proposed to quarter me； and he said that he had selected the house of Blanton Duncan； Esq。； a citizen of Louisville； Kentucky； then a resident there； who had the contract for manufacturing the Confederate money； and had fled with Hampton's cavalry。 We all rode some six or eight squares back from the new State…House； and found a very good modern house； completely furnished； with stabling and a large yard； took it as our headquarters； and occupied it during our stay。 I considered General Howard as in command of the place； and referred the many applicants for