The destruction of Columbia, South Carolina by Sherman's troops is a prime example of Sherman looking the other way while his troops looted and burned wholesale. For information about what went on in Columbia, I suggest that you start at the following link to post 147 and subsequent posts all the way to post 229.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2559536/posts?page=147#147
Sherman later testified the following about his actions at Columbia (documented in Post 169 of the thread I just linked to):
Q. -- You testified, a little while ago, that it was very likely they [Sherman's own men] might burn Columbia, and you permitted them, or your officers did -- permitted them to go about the town?
A. -- I could have had them stay in the ranks, but I would not have done it, under the circumstances, to save Columbia.
Q. -- Although you knew they were likely to burn Columbia, you would not restrain them to their ranks, even to save it?
A. -- No, Sir. I would not have done such harshness to my soldiers to save the whole town. They were men, and I was not going to treat them like slaves.
Words fail me.
Once Sherman's troops got to North Carolina, the order apparently went out to reduce the amount of burning and looting, orders Sherman could have issued at Columbia.
That is because South Carolina deserved what they got and more.
Poor South Carolina. Too small to be a country, to large to be an asylum.
That is because South Carolina deserved what they got and more.
Poor South Carolina. Too small to be a country, too large to be an asylum.