It has been called Columbia’s Longest Day… the day Gen. William T. Sherman’s troops shelled the capital city from across the Congaree River in West Columbia. In a sad time of removal and destruction of memorials across the South to fallen heroes of local communities, a commemoration of that bombardment — featuring live cannon fire and Confederate sharpshooters defending the city –- will be held Saturday, Feb. 15th 2020, from noon to 1 p.m. on both sides of the Gervais Street bridge in downtown Columbia.
SC State House with bronze star where Union cannon ball hit during the war.
The event will take visitors back to an earlier time, 155 years ago, when Confederate and Union soldiers battled across the Congaree River for mastery over Columbia. This year there will be four cannons firing blank rounds for 30 minutes from the west side of the bridge. Both Confederate and Union re-enactors will take part in the commemoration.
Confederate sharpshooters will be returning fire from the east side, much as it was 155 years ago when they were defending the city of Columbia. The Union had around 60,000 soldiers surrounding Columbia, compared to only around 9,000 for the Confederates. Speaking to the out gunned Confederate soldiers during the war Gordon said, “The Yankees didn’t just throw a few rounds in,” said Gordon.
Reminders of the original battle mark the SC State Capitol building with stars where cannon balls originally struck it. At that time the State Capitol building we see today was under construction. The old State Capitol building, built totally of wood, was burned to the ground by Sherman’s troops.
This year about 80 re-enactors from South Carolina, as well as North Carolina and Georgia, will participate Gordon said.
West Columbia City Councilman Mickey Pringle is on the agenda to fire the first cannon. Gordon said, ““There will be quite a display of fire and smoke.”
Event chairman Don Gordon says the ‘Firing on Columbia’ event is free and is sponsored by the Lt. Gen. Wade Hampton Camp Sons of Confederate Veterans.
Gordon said the event will offer a great history lesson for all ages. For more details about the Columbia fighting and the burning of the city, you may call (803 237 4409) or visit the Wade Hampton SCV Camp.
Michael Reed is Editor of The Standard.
Edited 2-13-20 12:07pm
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