Marietta in History
Sherman's Cavalry Burns the Courthouse
1864
Sherman's army had occupied Marietta since July and it was now November. When the order was given to leave Marietta and begin their victorious March to the Sea, some of the troops celebrated with fire. First they burned Acworth; then they lit up Marietta.
Fires were repeatedly set in Marietta's courthouse despite officers' efforts to stop the arson. When the structure was finally blazing out of control, the fire spread to other buildings on the Square.
Major Henry Hitchcock recorded in his diary, "All our staff, and all other officers I heard, regret and condemn." He also recorded the following conversation with his commanding officer, General Sherman:
Hitchcock: "'Twill burn down, Sir."
Sherman: "Yes, can't be stopped."
Hitchcock: "Was it your intention?"
Sherman: "Can't save it – I've seen more of this sort of thing than you….I never ordered burning of any dwelling – didn't order this, but can't be helped."
One can hear the weary fatalism in Major Hitchcock's later entry: "What a sad and fearful necessity - how terrible the guilt of those who forced this war and its unavoidable horrors! But there is no help for it."
Guarnieri, Damien A. and Kirby, Joe. Marietta.
Temple, Sarah Blackwell Gober. The First Hundred Years.