Page 30 - November Banner 2017_Neat

Page 30 November 2017
Brotherhood Transcends Civil War Rivalries
Carter Jones, Special Projects Coordinator, S.C. State Firefighters Association
On February 17 and 18, 2018,
South Carolina and the City of
Columbia will observe “The Burning
of Columbia” by the Union Army,
under the command of General
William Tecumseh Sherman. During
the nearly forty-eight-hour siege,
General Sherman and his troops
ravaged more than half the City
by fire and destroyed much of its
infrastructure. When the fires and
smoke had cleared, most, if not
all, of the City’s fire apparatus and
equipment lay in ruin.
Many graphic accounts
of Columbia’s indiscriminate
destruction by the Union Army
have already been written, but
little narrative is spent describing
the heroic efforts of the volunteer
firemen of the day to control and
suppress the many fires that preyed
on the symbols of politics, military,
education, religion, enterprise, and
private properties.
It is important to remember that
Columbia hosted the Secession
Convention at the First Baptist
Church on December 20, 1860, and
was the capital of the first seceding
state, which withdrew from the
Federal Union. It was well known
that the Union Army had a score
to settle with South Carolina, and
specifically the City of Columbia.
The Independent Fire Engine
Company of Columbia was one
of several fire companies located
throughout the City that played a
prominent role during the burning
of our Capital City. But, the history
of this struggling fire company, in
my opinion, is probably more rich
and absorbing than any in the City.
Now, To The Rest of The Story
According to The Burning of
Columbia, the destruction of our
Capital City was a major event
in American history. By February
The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com
Photo Courtesy of Carter Jones
to the Independent Fire Engine
Company. The “Sickles” carriage
was built by Messrs. Adams and
Conne’s Carriage Repository of
No. 684 Broadway in New York
City, a leading manufacturer of fire
apparatus.
The March 16, 1867, headlines of
Harpers Weekly read “Hose Carriage
For Columbia, S. C.” The article says
that “the members of the New York
Firemen’s Association have lately
indulged a commendable effort at the
restoration of good feelings between
themselves and their Southern
brethren. They have purchased a
splendid hose carriage, which they
intend to present to the Independent
Engine Company No. 1 of Columbia
as a token of good-will from the
Hose carriage prior to being shipped to South Carolina. firemen of New York.” A further
description of the hose carriage
reveals that it was built “of the
1865, the “tide of war” had turned taken from their captains, and so very best materials and in the most
against the Confederacy, and no injured as to be useless. The hose substantial manner. The height to
significant Confederate forces were was cut, as testified to by Captains the top of the hose reel is about eight
left to give serious challenge to Stanley and McKenzie of the fire feet. On either end of the front box
General Sherman’s determination to companies of the City, and the town is painted a figure of Liberty, while
demoralize the population. During lay helpless before them. Captain on the rear box are the coat-of-arms
the evening of February 17 and the Stanley was the captain of one of New York and South Carolina.
morning of the 18th, Columbia of the fire companies, and whilst The front arch is surmounted by
experienced almost total destruction working at the fire in the rear of an elegant scroll-work of plate and
by the invasion of General Sherman’s the Commercial Bank, fifteen or a fine set of Russian sledge bells of
troops. It is reported that Sherman’s twenty armed soldiers forcibly took silver. The hose reel is ornamented
troops lit bales of cotton that were possession of the hose, stuck their with bouquets of flowers. It holds
situated in the middle of Richardson bayonets into them, carried off the one thousand feet of the finest hose,
Street. Accounts say “the wind being pipes, and beat in the air vessel of made to fit the water hydrants of
quite fresh, the flames increased and the engine.” Columbia.”
spread with fearful rapidity and, in As one can imagine, the A photograph of members of the
short time, the whole, or at least the reorganization of the fire companies New York Firemen’s Association
greater part, was in a blaze. The fire of Columbia was a challenge of standing beside the hose carriage
engines of the City were brought to monumental proportions. Captain just prior to its shipment captures
the spot as expeditiously as possible Stanley, mentioned above, was later the pride of their members who
and the fire was extinguished in the appointed to Chief of Department sacrificially helped in raising the
course of an hour.” in1866 and tasked to inventory the money for this acquisition. In
As has already been noted, the apparatus and equipment destroyed, late February of 1867, the hose
Independent Fire Engine Company develop a plan to rebuild station carriage was carefully loaded on
played a major role in the attempted houses, and devise measures to the merchant steamship, Andalusia,
control of fires during Columbia’s replace all that was lost, even with birthed at a dock in the New York
onslaught by the Union Army. In no financial resources to do so. It’s harbor. On Saturday, March 2, the
the end, practically all of the City’s interesting to note that the City ship cast off at 3:10 P.M. under
fire equipment and apparatus were of Charleston responded to Chief full steam toward its destination
destroyed. Accounts of hardships Stanley’s requests for assistance by of Charleston. Tragically, the
experienced by the fire companies loaning the department a used hand- Andalusia caught fire the following
of Columbia were reported in the drawn pumper (hand tub), which is day off the coast of Cape Hatteras
March 23, 1865, edition of The believed to have later been sold to and was destroyed. Four passengers
Columbia Phoenix. “The experience the Town of Walhalla and is now on and eight crewmen were lost in the
of the firemen in putting out the display in their headquarters station fire and sinking of the Andalusia.
fires in the cotton and jail building in working condition. Also lost was the hose carriage,
were of a sort to discourage their Word spread quickly during the equipment, helmets, nozzles, and
further efforts. They were thwarted ensuing days that Columbia was speaking trumpets being shipped for
and embarrassed by continued in desperate need of rebuilding presentation to the Independent Fire
interference of the soldiery. Finally, its fire department. Through Engine Company of Columbia.
their hose was chopped with swords the determination and skillful When the Andalusia burned and
and axes or pierced with bayonets, networking of the department’s sank off Cape Hatteras, a committee
so as to be rendered useless. leaders, the New York Firemen’s of the New York Firemen’s
The engines were in some cases Association responded with great Association were traveling by train
demolished also.” generosity by raising nearly $3,000 to meet the steamer in Charleston.
Again, The Burning of Columbia for the purchase of a hand-drawn Upon learning of the loss, the
reports that “the engines were hose carriage, designated to be given … Story continued on page 31