Letter of Lily Logan to Thomas Logan, March 2, 1865

Lily Logan was a resident of Columbia, South Carolina, and experienced the hardships that General Sherman, of the Union Army, and his men brought to the town in February of 1865. Although tough on Logan, Sherman’s men were not devastating, as she discussed in a letter to her brother General Thomas Logan of the Confederate Army.  After Lily described the terrors, she went on to reiterate, “I am sure we will be victorious soon, and are ready to bear even more for our glorious cause.” Logan even encouraged her brother to keep his spirits up and whip Sherman. The effort of Sherman and his men to destroy Confederate morale did little to Lily Logan. She emerged sturdier than ever for the Confederate cause and encouraged her brother to stay in the field and whip Sherman.  The main photo is of Columbia, after it burned.

Columbia, S.C. March 2nd, 1865

        Charles Lamar returned the next day (Saturday) to keep off the soldiers and see that the Asylum was well guarded.

        Saturday, Sunday, and Monday we remained at the Asylum-days of pain and anxiety, and oh, nights of terror. The flames threatened in all directions, and Yankees yelling and shrieking more fearfully still. On Monday Sherman marched from the graveground of our once beautiful Columbia, marched out as the oppressors came in, sounding odious notes of “Yankee Doodle,” and bearing away every horses, cow and mule, every carriage and wagon, with thousands of cattle.

        A few houses in the vicinity of the general’s headquarters escaped, among them Mrs. Brice’s. She has insisted on our sharing her home awhile, and indeed there is no alternative. A few of our scouts drop in occasionally and we are awaiting better times. I am sure we will be victorious soon, and are ready to bear even more for our glorious cause. May God strengthen you all, my brave brother, and hasten to bringing the bright days coming. Write whenever a chance offers-a line of couriers will soon be established to relieve us from our state of seclusion from the rest of the world. Now not a horse is in Columbia, and want threatening our city with all its horrors . . . . Keep up your spirits, and let us whip Sherman soon. Yours 

Lily