The blaze that destroyed much of Columbia in 1865 is considered the seminal event in the history of South Carolinaâ??s capital. But the debate over whoâ??s responsible for the conflagration has been raging as hot as the fire for 150 years.
Most blame is leveled at Gen. William T. Sherman, the intense, red-headed Union general known to his men as â??Uncle Billy,â? whose blatant war on civilians in 1864 and 1865 left a swath of destruction through Georgia and the Carolinas. He torched Atlanta. He orchestrated the fiery March to the Sea from Atlanta to Savannah. And he burned Columbia. Right?
â??There are no tidy answers. None of us were there. It is like wrestling quicksilver.â?
Itâ??s not that simple.
â??Everyone wants a tidy answer,â? said John Sherrer, director of cultural resources for Historic Columbia. â??But there are no tidy answers. None of us were there. Itâ??s like wrestling quicksilver.â?
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