TheseinstructionswereembracedinGeneralOrderNo。26，whichprescribedtheroutesofmarchfortheseveralcolumnsasfarasFayetteville，NorthCarolina，andisconclusivethatIthenregardedColumbiaassimplyonepointonourgeneralrouteofmarch，andnotasanimportantconquest。
Duringthe16thofFebruarytheFifteenthCorpsreachedthepointoppositeColumbia，andpushedonfortheSaludaFactorythreemilesabove，crossedthatstream，andtheheadofcolumnreachedBroadRiverjustintimetofinditsbridgeinflames，Butler’scavalryhavingjustpassedoverintoColumbia。TheheadofSlocum’scolumnalsoreachedthepointoppositeColumbiathesamemorning，butthebulkofhisarmywasbackatLexington。Ireachedthisplaceearlyinthemorningofthe16th，metGeneralSlocumthere;andexplainedtohimthepurportofGeneralOrderNo。26，whichcontemplatedthepassageofhisarmyacrossBroadRiveratAlston，fifteenmilesaboveColumbia。Ridingdowntotheriver—bank，Isawthewreckofthelargebridgewhichhadbeenburnedbytheenemy，withitsmanystonepiersstillstanding，butthesuperstructuregone。AcrosstheCongareeRiverlaythecityofColumbia，inplain，easyview。
IcouldseetheunfinishedState—House，ahandsomegranitestructure，andtheruinsoftherailroaddepot，whichwerestillsmouldering。Occasionallyafewcitizensorcavalrycouldbeseenrunningacrossthestreets，andquiteanumberofnegroeswereseeminglybusyincarryingoffbagsofgrainormeal，whichwerepiledupneartheburneddepot。
CaptainDeGreshadasectionofhistwenty—poundParrottgunsunlimbered，firingintothetown。Iaskedhimwhathewasfiringfor;hesaidhecouldseesomerebelcavalryoccasionallyattheintersectionsofthestreets，andhehadanideathattherewasalargeforceofinfantryconcealedontheoppositebank，lyinglow，incaseweshouldattempttocrossoverdirectlyintothetown。I
instructedhimnottofireanymoreintothetown，butconsentedtohisburstingafewshellsnearthedepot，toscareawaythenegroeswhowereappropriatingthebagsofcornandmealwhichwewanted，alsotofirethreeshotsattheunoccupiedState—House。Istoodbyandsawthesefired，andthenallfiringceased。AlthoughthismatteroffiringintoColumbiahasbeenthesubjectofmuchabuseandinvestigation，IhaveyettohearofanysinglepersonhavingbeenkilledinColumbiabyourcannon。Ontheotherhand，thenightbefore，whenWoods’sdivisionwasincampintheopenfieldsatLittleCongaree，itwasshelledallnightbyarebelbatteryfromtheotheraideoftheriver。Thisprovokedmemuchatthetime，foritwaswantonmischief，asGeneralsBeauregardandHamptonmusthavebeenconvincedthattheycouldnotpreventourentranceintoColumbia。IhavealwayscontendedthatIwouldhavebeenjustifiedinretaliatingforthisunnecessaryactofwar，butdidnot，thoughIalwayscharacterizeditasitdeserved。
Thenightofthe16thIcampednearanoldprisonbivouacoppositeColumbia，knowntoourprisonersofwaras\"CampSorghum，\"whereremainedthemud—hovelsandholesinthegroundwhichourprisonershadmadetoshelterthemselvesfromthewinter’scoldandthesummer’sheat。TheFifteenthCorpswasthenahead，reachingtoBroadRiver，aboutfourmilesaboveColumbia;theSeventeenthCorpswasbehind，ontheriver—bankoppositeColumbia;andtheleftwingandcavalryhadturnednorthtowardAlston。
Thenextmorning，viz。，February17th，IrodetotheheadofGeneralHoward’scolumn，andfoundthatduringthenighthehadferried。Stone’sbrigadeofWoods’sdivisionoftheFifteenthCorpsacrossbyraftsmadeofthepontoons，andthatbrigadewasthendeployedontheoppositebanktocovertheconstructionofapontoon—bridgenearlyfinished。
IsatwithGeneralHowardonalog，watchingthemenlaythisbridge;andabout9or10A。M。amessengercamefromColonelStoneontheotheraide，sayingthattheMayorofColumbiahadcomeoutofthecitytosurrendertheplace，andaskingfororders。I
simplyremarkedtoGeneralHowardthathehadhisorders，toletColonelStonegoonintothecity，andthatwewouldfollowassoonasthebridgewasready。BythissamemessengerIreceivedanoteinpencilfromtheLadySuperioressofaconventorschoolinColumbia，inwhichsheclaimedtohavebeenateacherinaconventinBrownCounty，Ohio，atthetimemydaughterMinniewasapupilthere，andthereforeaskingspecialprotection。Myrecollectionis，thatIgavethenotetomybrother—in—law，ColonelEwing，theninspector—generalonmystaff，withinstructionstoseethislady，andassureherthatwecontemplatednodestructionofanyprivatepropertyinColumbiaatall。
Assoonasthebridgewasdone，Iledmyhorseoverit，followedbymywholestaff。GeneralHowardaccompaniedmewithhis，andGeneralLoganwasnextinorder，followedbyGeneralC。R。Woods，andthewholeoftheFifteenthCorps。Ascendingthehill，wesoonemergedintoabroadroadleadingintoColumbia，betweenoldfieldsofcornandcotton，and，enteringthecity，wefoundseeminglyallitspopulation，whiteandblack，inthestreets。Ahighandboisterouswindwasprevailingfromthenorth，andflakesofcottonwereflyingaboutintheairandlodginginthelimbsofthetrees，remindingusofaNorthernsnow—storm。Nearthemarket—squarewefoundStone’sbrigadehalted，witharmsstacked，andalargedetailofhismen，alongwithsomecitizens，engagedwithanoldfire—
engine，tryingtoputoutthefireinalongpileofburningcotton—bales，whichIwastoldhadbeenfiredbytherebelcavalryonwithdrawingfromthecitythatmorning。Iknowthat，toavoidthisrowofburningcotton—bales，Ihadtoridemyhorseonthesidewalk。Inthemarket—squarehadcollectedalargecrowdofwhitesandblacks，amongwhomwasthemayorofthecity，Dr。
Goodwin，quitearespectableoldgentleman，whowasextremelyanxioustoprotecttheinterestsofthecitizens。Hewasonfoot，andIonhorseback，anditisprobableItoldhimthennottobeuneasy，thatwedidnotintendtostaylong，andhadnopurposetoinjuretheprivatecitizensorprivateproperty。AboutthistimeI
noticedseveralmentryingtogetthroughthecrowdtospeakwithme，andcalledtosomeblackpeopletomakeroomforthem;whentheyreachedme，theyexplainedthattheywereofficersofourarmy，whohadbeenprisoners，hadescapedfromtherebelprisonandguard，andwereofcourseoverjoyedtofindthemselvessafewithus。Itoldthemthat，assoonasthingssettleddown，theyshouldreporttoGeneralHoward，whowouldprovidefortheirsafety，andenablethemtotravelwithus。Oneofthemhandedmeapaper，askingmetoreaditatmyleisure;Iputitinmybreast—pocketandrodeon。GeneralHowardwasstillwithme，and，ridingdownthestreetwhichledbytherighttotheCharlestondepot，wefounditandalargestorehouseburnedtotheground，buttherewere，ontheplatformandgroundnearby，pilesofcottonbagsfilledwithcornandcorn—meal，partiallyburned。
AdetachmentofStone’sbrigadewasguardingthis，andseparatingthegoodfromthebad。Werodealongtherailroad—track，somethreeorfourhundredyards，toalargefoundery，whensomemanrodeupandsaidtherebelcavalrywerecloseby，andhewarnedusthatwemightgetshot。Weaccordinglyturnedbacktothemarket—
square，andenroutenoticedthat，severalofthemenwereevidentlyinliquor，whenIcalledGeneralHoward’sattentiontoit。HeleftmeandrodetowardGeneralWoods’sheadofcolumn，whichwasdefilingthroughthetown。Onreachingthemarket—square，IagainmetDr。Goodwin，andinquiredwhereheproposedtoquarterme，andhesaidthathehadselectedthehouseofBlantonDuncan，Esq。，acitizenofLouisville，Kentucky，thenaresidentthere，whohadthecontractformanufacturingtheConfederatemoney，andhadfledwithHampton’scavalry。WeallrodesomesixoreightsquaresbackfromthenewState—House，andfoundaverygoodmodernhouse，completelyfurnished，withstablingandalargeyard，tookitasourheadquarters，andoccupieditduringourstay。IconsideredGeneralHowardasincommandoftheplace，andreferredthemanyapplicantsforguardsandprotectiontohim。Beforeourheadquarters—wagonshadgotup，IstrolledthroughthestreetsofColumbia，foundsentinelspostedattheprincipalintersections，andgenerallygoodorderprevailing，butdidnotagainreturntothemainstreet，becauseitwasfilledwithacrowdofcitizenswatchingthesoldiersmarchingby。
Duringtheafternoonofthatday，February17th，thewholeoftheFifteenthCorpspassedthroughthetownandoutontheCamdenandWinnsboro’roads。TheSeventeenthCorpsdidnotenterthecityatall，butcrosseddirectlyovertotheWinnsboro’roadfromthepontoonbridgeatBroadRiver，whichwasaboutfourmilesabovethecity。
Afterwehadgot，asitwere，settledinBlantonDuncan’shouse，sayabout2p。m。，Ioverhauledmypocketaccordingtocustom，toreadmorecarefullythevariousnotesandmemorandareceivedduringtheday，andfoundthepaperwhichhadbeengivenme，asdescribed，byoneofourescapedprisoners。Itprovedtobethesongof\"Sherman’sMarchtotheSea，\"whichhadbeencomposedbyAdjutantS。H。M。Byers，oftheFifthIowaInfantry，whenaprisonerintheasylumatColumbia，whichhadbeenbeautifullywrittenoffbyafellow—prisoner，andhandedtomeinperson。ThisappearedtomesogoodthatIatoncesentforByers，attachedhimtomystaff，providedhimwithhorseandequipment，andtookhimasfarasFayetteville，NorthCarolina，whencehewassenttoWashingtonasbearerofdispatches。HeisnowUnitedStatesconsulatZurich，Switzerland，whereIhavesincebeenhisguest。Iinsertthesonghereforconvenientreferenceandpreservation。Byerssaidthattherewasanexcellentglee—clubamongtheprisonersinColumbia，whousedtosingitwell，withanaudienceoftenofrebelladies:
SHERMAN’SMARCHTOTHESEA。
ComposedbyAdjutantByers，FifthIowaInfantry。ArrangedandsungbythePrisonersinColumbiaPrison。
I
Ourcamp—firesshonebrightonthemountainThatfrownedontheriverbelow，Aswestoodbyourgunsinthemorning，Andeagerlywatchedforthefoe;
WhenaridercameoutofthedarknessThathungovermountainandtree，Andshouted，\"Boys，upandbeready！
ForShermanwillmarchtothesea！\"
CHORUS:
Thensangweasongofourchieftain，Thatechoedoverriverandlea;
AndthestarsofourbannershonebrighterWhenShermanmarcheddowntothesea！
II
ThencheeruponcheerforboldShermanWentupfromeachvalleyandglen，AndthebuglesreechoedthemusicThatcamefromthelipsofthemen;
ForweknewthatthestarsinourbannerMorebrightintheirsplendorwouldbe，AndthatblessingsfromNorthlandworldgreetus，WhenShermanmarcheddowntothesea！
Thensangweasong，etc。
III
Thenforward，boys！forwardtobattle！
Wemarchedonourwearisomeway，WestormedthewildhillsofResacarGodblessthosewhofellonthatday！
ThenKenesawfrownedinitsglory，Frowneddownontheflagofthefree;
ButtheEastandtheWestboreourstandard，AndShermanmarchedontothesea！
Thensangweasong，etc。
IV
Stillonwardwepressed，tillourbannersSweptoutfromAtlanta’sgrimwalls，AndthebloodofthepatriotdampenedThesoilwherethetraitor—flagfalls;
Butwepausednottoweepforthefallen，Whosleptbyeachriverandtree，Yetwetwinedthemawreathofthelaurel，AsShermanmarcheddowntothesea！
Thensangweasong，etc。
V
Oh，proudwasourarmythatmorning，Thatstoodwherethepinedarklytowers，WhenShermansaid，\"Boys，youareweary，Butto—dayfairSavannahisours！\"
Thensangwethesongofourchieftain，Thatechoedoverriverandlea，AndthestarsinourbannershonebrighterWhenShermancampeddownbythesea！
TowardeveningofFebruary17th，themayor，Dr。Goodwin，cametomyquartersatDuncan’shouse，andremarkedthattherewasaladyinColumbiawhoprofessedtobeaspecialfriendofmine。Onhisgivinghername，Icouldnotrecallit，butinquiredastohermaidenorfamilyname。HeansweredPoyas。Itsohappenedthat，whenIwasalieutenantatFortMoultrie，in1842—’46，IusedveryoftentovisitafamilyofthatnameontheeastbranchofCooperRiver，aboutfortymilesfromFortMoultrie，andtohuntwiththeson，Mr。JamesPoyas，anelegantyoungfellowandafinesportsman。
Hisfather，mother，andseveralsisters，composedthefamily，andwereextremelyhospitable。Oneoftheladieswasveryfondofpaintinginwater—colors，whichwasoneofmyweaknesses，andononeoccasionIhadpresentedherwithavolumetreatingofwater—
colors。Ofcourse，Iwasgladtorenewtheacquaintance，andproposedtoDr。Goodwinthatweshouldwalktoherhouseandvisitthislady，whichwedid。ThehousestoodbeyoudtheCharlottedepot，inalargelot，wasofframe，withahighporch，whichwasreachedbyasetofstepsoutside。Enteringthisyard，Inoticedducksandchickens，andageneralairofpeaceandcomfortthatwasreallypleasanttobeholdatthattimeofuniversaldesolation;theladyinquestionmetusattheheadofthestepsandinvitedusintoaparlorwhichwasperfectlyneatandwellfurnished。Afterinquiringaboutherfather，mother，sisters，andespeciallyherbrotherJames，myspecialfriend，IcouldnothelpsayingthatI
waspleasedtonoticethatourmenhadnothandledherhouseandpremisesasroughlyaswastheirwont。\"Ioweittoyou，general，\"
sheanswered。\"Notatall。Ididnotknowyouwereheretillafewminutesago。\"Shereiteratedthatshewasindebtedtomefortheperfectsafetyofherhouseandproperty，andadded，\"Youremember，whenyouwereatourhouseonCooperRiverin1845，yougavemeabook;\"andshehandedmethebookinquestion，ontheflyleafofwhichwaswritten:\"ToMissPoyas，withthecomplimentsofW。T。Sherman，First—lieutenantThirdArtillery。\"Shethenexplainedthat，asourarmyapproachedColumbia，therewasadoubtinhermindwhethertheterribleShermanwhowasdevastatingthelandwereW。T。ShermanorT。W。Sherman，bothknowntobegeneralsintheNorthernarmy;but，onthesuppositionthathewasheroldacquaintance，whenWadeHampton’scavalrydrewoutofthecity，callingoutthattheYankeeswerecoming，shearmedherselfwiththisbook，andawaitedthecrisis。SoontheshoutsaboutthemarkethouseannouncedthattheYankeeshadcome;verysoonmenwereseenrunningupanddownthestreets;aparcelofthempouredoverthefence，begantochasethechickensandducks，andtoenterherhouse。Sheobservedonelargeman，withfullbeard，whoexercisedsomeauthority，andtohimsheappealedinthenameof\"hisgeneral。\"\"WhatdoyouknowofUncleBilly？\"\"Why，\"shesaid，\"whenhewasayoungmanheusedtobeourfriendinCharleston，andhereisabookhegaveme。\"Theofficerorsoldiertookthebook，lookedattheinscription，and，turningtohisfellows，said:
\"Boys，that’sso;that’sUncleBilly’swriting，forIhaveseenitoftenbefore。\"Heatoncecommandedthepartytostoppillaging，andleftamaninchargeofthehouse，toprotectheruntiltheregularprovost—guardshouldbeestablished。Ithenaskedheriftheregularguardorsentinelhadbeenasgoodtoher。Sheassuredmethathewasaveryniceyoungman;thathehadbeentellingherallabouthisfamilyinIowa;andthatatthatveryinstantoftimehewasinanotherroommindingherbaby。Now，thisladyhadgoodsenseandtact，andhadthusturnedasideapartywho，infiveminutesmore，wouldhaverifledherpremisesofallthatwasgoodtoeatorwear。Imadeheralongsocialvisit，and，beforeleavingColumbia，gaveherahalf—tierceofriceandaboutonehundredpoundsofhamfromourownmess—stores。
Inlikemanner，thatsameeveningIfoundinMrs。Simonsanotheracquaintance——thewifeofthebrotherofHon。JamesSimons，ofCharleston，whohadbeenMissWragg。WhenColumbiawasonfirethatnight，andherhouseindanger，Ihadherfamilyandeffectscarriedtomyownheadquarters，gavethemmyownroomandbed，and，onleavingColumbiathenextday，suppliedherwithahalf—barrelofhamsandahalf—tierceofrice。Imentionthesespecificfactstoshowthat，personally，Ihadnomaliceordesiretodestroythatcityoritsinhabitants，asisgenerallybelievedattheSouth。
HavingwalkedovermuchofthesuburbsofColumbiaintheafternoon，andbeingtired，IlaydownonabedinBlantonDuncan’shousetorest。SoonafterdarkIbecameconsciousthatabrightlightwasshiningonthewalls;and，callingsomeoneofmystaff（MajorNichols，Ithink）toinquirethecause，hesaidthereseemedtobeahouseonfiredownaboutthemarket—house。Thesamehighwindstillprevailed，and，fearingtheconsequences，Ibadehimgoinpersontoseeiftheprovost—guardweredoingitsduty。Hesoonreturned，andreportedthattheblockofbuildingsdirectlyoppositetheburningcottonofthatmorningwasonfire，andthatitwasspreading;buthehadfoundGeneralWoodsontheground，withplentyofmentryingtoputthefireout，or，atleast，topreventitsextension。Thefirecontinuedtoincrease，andthewholeheavensbecamelurid。IdispatchedmessengeraftermessengertoGeneralsHoward，Logan，andWoods，andreceivedfromthemrepeatedassurancesthatallwasbeingdonethatcouldbedone，butthatthehighwindwasspreadingtheflamesbeyoudallcontrol。
Thesegeneralofficerswereonthegroundallnight，andHazen’sdivisionhadbeenbroughtintothecitytoassistWoods’sdivision，alreadythere。Abouteleveno’clockatnightIwentdown—townmyself，ColonelDaytonwithme;wewalkedtoMr。Simons’shouse，fromwhichIcouldseetheflamesrisinghighintheair，andcouldheartheroaringofthefire。Iadvisedtheladiestomovetomyheadquarters，hadourownheadquarter—wagonshitchedup，andtheireffectscarriedthere，asaplaceofgreatersafety。Thewholeairwasfullofsparksandofflyingmassesofcotton，shingles，etc。，someofwhichwerecarriedfourorfiveblocks，andstartednewfires。Themenseemedgenerallyundergoodcontrol，andcertainlylaboredhardtogirdlethefire，topreventitsspreading;but，solongasthehighwindprevailed，itwassimplybeyoudhumanpossibility。Fortunately，about3or4a。m。，thewindmoderated，andgraduallythefirewasgotundercontrol;butithadburnedouttheveryheartofthecity，embracingseveralchurches，theoldState—House，andtheschoolorasylumofthatverySisterofCharitywhohadappealedformypersonalprotection。Nickerson’sHotel，inwhichseveralofmystaffwerequartered，wasburneddown，butthehousesoccupiedbymyself，GeneralsHowardandLogan，werenotburnedatall。Manyofthepeoplethoughtthatthisfirewasdeliberatelyplannedandexecuted。Thisisnottrue。Itwasaccidental，andinmyjudgmentbeganwiththecottonwhichGeneralHampton’smenhadsetfiretoonleavingthecity（whetherbyhisordersornotisnotmaterial），whichfirewaspartiallysubduedearlyinthedaybyourmen;but，whennightcame，thehighwindfanneditagainintofullblaze，carrieditagainsttheframehouses，whichcaughtliketinder，andsoonspreadbeyoudourcontrol。
Thiswholesubjecthassincebeenthoroughlyandjudiciallyinvestigated，insomecottoncases，bythemixedcommissiononAmericanandBritishclaims，undertheTreatyofWashington，whichcommissionfailedtoawardaverdictinfavoroftheEnglishclaimants，andtherebysettledthefactthatthedestructionofpropertyinColumbia，duringthatnight，didnotresultfromtheactsoftheGeneralGovernmentoftheUnitedStates——thatistosay，frommyarmy。Inmyofficialreportofthisconflagration，I
distinctlychargedittoGeneralWadeHampton，andconfessIdidsopointedly，toshakethefaithofhispeopleinhim，forhewasinmyopinionboastful，andprofessedtobethespecialchampionofSouthCarolina。
ThemorningsunofFebruary18throsebrightandclearoveraruinedcity。Abouthalfofitwasinashesandinsmoulderingheaps。Manyofthepeoplewerehouseless，andgatheredingroupsinthesuburbs，orintheopenparksandspaces，aroundtheirscantypilesoffurniture。GeneralHoward，inconcertwiththemayor，didallthatwaspossibletoprovideotherhousesforthem;
andbymyauthorityheturnedovertotheSistersofCharitytheMethodistCollege，andtothemayorfivehundredbeef—cattle;tohelpfeedthepeople;Ialsogavethemayor（Dr。Goodwin）onehundredmuskets，withwhichtoarmaguardtomaintainorderafterweshouldleavetheneighborhood。Duringthe18thand19thweremainedinColumbia，GeneralHoward’stroopsengagedintearingupanddestroyingtherailroad，backtowardtheWateree，whileastrongdetail，undertheimmediatesupervisionofColonelO。M。
Poe，UnitedStatesEngineers，destroyedtheStateArsenal，whichwasfoundtobewellsuppliedwithshot，shell，andammunition。
ThesewerehauledinwagonstotheSaludaRiver，underthesupervisionofColonelBaylor，chiefofordnance，andemptiedintodeepwater，causingaveryseriousaccidentbytheburstingofapercussion—shell，asitstruckanotheronthemarginofthewater。
Theflamefollowedbackatrainofpowderwhichhadsiftedout，reachedthewagons，stillpartiallyloaded，andexplodedthem，killingsixteenmen。anddestroyingseveralwagonsandteamsofmules。WealsodestroyedseveralvaluablefounderiesandthefactoryofConfederatemoney。Thedieshadbeencarriedaway，butaboutsixtyhandpressesremained。Therewasalsofoundanimmensequantityofmoney，invariousstagesofmanufacture，whichourmenspentandgambledwithinthemostlavishmanner。
HavingutterlyruinedColumbia，therightwingbeganitsmarchnorthward，towardWinnsboro’，onthe20th，whichwereachedonthe21st，andfoundGeneralSlocum，withtheleftwing，whohadcomebythewayofAlston。Thencetherightwingwasturnedeastward，towardCheraw，andFayetteville，NorthCarolina，tocrosstheCatawbaRiveratPeay’sFerry。ThecavalrywasorderedtofollowtherailroadnorthasfarasChester，andthentoturneasttoRockyMount，thepointindicatedforthepassageoftheleftwing。
InpersonIreachedRockyMountonthe22d，withtheTwentiethCorps，whichlaiditspontoon—bridgeandcrossedoverduringthe23d。Kilpatrickarrivedthenextday，inthemidstofheavyrain，andwasinstructedtocrosstheCatawbaatonce，bynight，andtomoveuptoLancaster，tomakebelievewewereboundforCharlotte，towhichpointIheardthatBeauregardhaddirectedallhisdetachments，includingacorpsofHood’soldarmy，whichhadbeenmarchingparallelwithus，buthadfailedtomakejunctionwith，theforcesimmediatelyopposingus。Ofcourse，IhadnopurposeofgoingtoCharlotte，fortherightwingwasalreadymovingrapidlytowardFayetteville，NorthCarolina。TherainwassoheavyandpersistentthattheCatawba，Riverrosefast，andsoonafterIhadcrossedthepontoonbridgeatRockyMountitwascarriedaway，leavingGeneralDavis，withtheFourteenthCorps，onthewentbank。
Theroadswereinfamous，soIhaltedtheTwentiethCorpsatHangingRockforsomedays，toallowtimefortheFourteenthtogetover。
GeneralDavishadinfinitedifficultyinreconstructinghisbridge，andwascompelledtousethefifthchainsofhiswagonsforanchor—
chains，sothatweweredelayednearlyaweekinthatneighborhood。
WhileincampatHangingRocktwoprisonerswerebroughttome——oneachaplain，theotheraboy，sonofRichardBacot，ofCharleston，whomIhadknownasacadetatWestPoint。TheywerejustfromCharleston，andhadbeensentawaybyGeneralHardeeinadvance，becausehewas，theysaid，evacuatingCharleston。Rumorstothesameeffecthadreachedmethroughthenegroes，anditwas，moreover，reportedthatWilmington，NorthCarolina，wasinpossessionoftheYankeetroops;sothatIhadeveryreasontobesatisfiedthatourmarchwasfullyreapingallthefruitswecouldpossiblyaskfor。Charlestonwas，infact，evacuatedbyGeneralHardeeonthe18thofFebruary，andwastakenpossessionofbyabrigadeofGeneralFosterstroops，commandedbyGeneralSchimmelpfennig，thesameday。Hardeehadavailedhimselfofhisonlyremainingrailroad，byFlorencetoCheraw;hadsenttheremuchofhisammunitionandstores，andreacheditwiththeeffectivepartofthegarrisonintimetoescapeacrossthePedeeRiverbeforeourarrival。WilmingtonwascapturedbyGeneralTerryonthe22dofFebruary;butofthisimportanteventweonlyknewbythevaguerumorswhichreachedusthroughrebelsources。
GeneralJeff。C。DavisgotacrosstheCatawbaduringthe27th，andthegeneralmarchwasresumedonCheraw。KilpatrickremainednearLancaster，skirmishingwithWheeler’sandHampton’scavalry，keepingupthedelusionthatweproposedtomoveonCharlotteandSalisbury，butwithorderstowatchtheprogressoftheFourteenthCorps，andtoactinconcertwithit，onitsleftrear。Onthe1stofMarchIwasatFinlay’sBridgeacrossLynch’sCreek，theroadssobadthatwehadtocorduroynearlyeveryfootoftheway;butI
wasincommunicationwithallpartsofthearmy，whichhadmetnoseriousoppositionfromtheenemy。Onthe2dofMarchweenteredthevillageofChesterfield，skirmishingwithButler’scavalry，whichgavegroundrapidly。ThereIreceivedamessagefromGeneralHoward，who，reportedthathewasalreadyinCherawwiththeSeventeenthCorps，andthattheFifteenthwasnearathand。
GeneralHardeehadretreatedeastwardacrossthePedee，burningthebridge。IthereforedirectedtheleftwingtomarchforSneedsboro’，abouttenmilesaboveCheraw，tocrossthePedeethere，whileIinpersonproposedtocrossoverandjointherightwinginCheraw。Earlyinthemorningofthe3dofMarchIrodeoutofChesterfieldalongwiththeTwentiethCorps，whichfilledtheroad，fordedThompson’sCreek，and，atthetopofthehillbeyond，foundaroadbranchingofftotheright，whichcorrespondedwiththeone，onmymapleadingtoCheraw。Seeinganegrostandingbytheroadside，lookingatthetroopspassing，Iinquiredofhimwhatroadthatwas。\"HimleadtoCheraw，master！\"\"Isitagoodroad，andhowfar？\"\"Averygoodroad，andeightortenmiles。\"\"Anyguerrillas？\"
\"Oh！no，master，deyisgonetwodaysago;youcouldhaveplayedcardsondercoat—tails，deywasinsichahurry！\"IwasonmyLexingtonhorse，whowasveryhandsomeandrestive，soImadesignaltomystafftofollow，asIproposedtogowithoutescort。
Iturnedmyhorsedowntheroad，andtherestofthestafffollowed。GeneralBarrytookupthequestionsabouttheroad，andaskedthesamenegrowhathewasdoingthere。Heanswered，\"DeysayMassaShermanwillbealongsoon！\"\"Why，\"saidGeneralBarry，\"thatwasGeneralShermanyouweretalkingto。\"Thepoornegro，almostintheattitudeofprayer，exclaimed:\"DegreatGod！justlookathishorse！\"Heranupandtrottedbymysideforamileorso，andgavemealltheinformationhepossessed，butheseemedtcadmirethehorsemorethantherider。
WereachedCherawinacoupleofhoursinadrizzlingrain，and，whilewaitingforourwagonstocomeup，IstaidwithGeneralBlairinalargehouse，thepropertyofablockade—runner，whosefamilyremained。GeneralHowardoccupiedanotherhousefartherdown—town。
Hehadalreadyorderedhispontoon—bridgetobelaidacrossthePedee，therealarge，deep，navigablestream，andMower’sdivisionwasalreadyacross，skirmishingwiththeenemyabouttwomilesout。
CherawwasfoundtobefallofstoreswhichhadbeensentupfromCharlestonpriortoitsevacuation，andwhichcouldnotberemoved。
Iwassatisfied，frominquiries，thatGeneralHardeehadwithhimonlytheCharlestongarrison，thattheenemyhadnotdivinedourmovements，andthatconsequentlytheywerestillscatteredfromCharlottearoundtoFlorence，thenbehindus。HavingthussecuredthepassageofthePedee，Ifeltnouneasinessaboutthefuture，becausethereremainednofurthergreatimpedimentbetweenusandCapeFearRiver，whichIfeltassuredwasbythattimeinpossessionofourfriends。Thedaywassowetthatweallkeptin—doors;andaboutnoonGeneralBlairinvitedustotakelunchwithhim。Wepasseddownintothebasementdining—room，wheretheregularfamilytablewasspreadwithanexcellentmeal;andduringitsprogressIwasaskedtotakesomewine，whichstooduponthetableinvenerablebottles。ItwassoverygoodthatIinquiredwhereitcamefrom。GeneralBlairsimplyasked，\"Doyoulikeit？\"
butIinsisteduponknowingwherehehadgotit;heonlyrepliedbyaskingifIlikedit，andwantedsome。HeafterwardsenttomybivouacacasecontainingadozenbottlesofthefinestmadeiraI
evertasted;andIlearnedthathehadcaptured，inCheraw，thewineofsomeoftheoldaristocraticfamiliesofCharleston，whohadsentituptoCherawforsafety，andheardafterwardthatBlairhadfoundabouteightwagon—loadsofthiswine，whichhedistributedtothearmygenerally，inveryfairproportions。
Afterfinishingourlunch，aswepassedoutofthediningroom，GeneralBlairaskedme，ifIdidnotwantsomesaddle—blankets，orarugformytent，and，leadingmeintothehalltoaspaceunderthestairway，hepointedoutapileofcarpetswhichhadalsobeensentupfromCharlestonforsafety。Afterourheadquarter—wagonsgotup，andourbivouacwasestablishedinafieldnearby，Isentmyorderly（Walter）overtoGeneralBlair，andhecamebackstaggeringunderaloadofcarpets，outofwhichtheofficersandescortmadeexcellenttent—rugs，saddle—cloths，andblankets。
TherewasanimmenseamountofstoresinCheraw，whichwereusedordestroyed;amongthemtwenty—fourguns，twothousandmuskets，andthirty—sixhundredbarrelsofgunpowder。Bythecarelessnessofasoldier，animmensepileofthispowderwasexploded，whichshookthetownbadly;andkilledandmaimedseveralofourmen。
WeremainedinornearCherawtillthe6thofMarch，bywhichtimethearmywasmostlyacrossthePedeeRiver，andwaspreparedtoresumethemarchonFayetteville。InahousewhereGeneralHardeehadbeen，IfoundalateNewYorkTribune，offullyamonthlaterdatethananyIhadseen。Itcontainedamassofnewsofgreatinteresttous，andoneshortparagraphwhichIthoughtextremelymischievous。Ithinkitwasaneditorial，totheeffectthatatlasttheeditorhadthesatisfactiontoinformhisreadersthatGeneralShermanwouldnextbeheardfromaboutGoldsboro’，becausehissupply—vesselsfromSavannahwereknowntoberendezvousingatMoreheadCity:——Now，IknewthatGeneralHardeehadreadthatsamepaper，andthathewouldbeperfectlyabletodrawhisowninferences。Upto，thatmomentIhadendeavoredsotofeigntoourleftthatwehadcompletely，misledourantagonists;butthiswasnolongerpossible，andIconcludedthatwemustbeready，fortheconcentrationinourfrontofalltheforcesubjecttoGeneralJos。
Johnston’sorders，forIwastherealsoinformedthathehadbeenrestoredtothefullcommandoftheConfederateforcesinSouthandNorthCarolina。
Onthe6thofMarchIcrossedthePedee，andallthearmymarchedforFayetteville:theSeventeenthCorpskeptwelltotheright，tomakeroom;theFifteenthCorpsmarchedbyadirectroad;theFourteenthCorpsalsofollowedadirectroadfromSneedsboro’，whereithadcrossedthePedee;andtheTwentiethCorps，whichhadcomeinto。Cherawfortheconvenienceofthepontoon—bridge，divergedtotheleft，soastoenterFayettevillenextaftertheFourteenthCorps，whichwasappointedtoleadintoFayetteville。
KilpatrickheldhiscavalrystillfarthertotheleftrearontheroadsfromLancaster，bywayofWadesboro’andNewGilead，soastocoverourtrainsfromHampton’sandWheeler’scavalry，whohadfirstretreatedtowardthenorth。ItraveledwiththeFifteenthCorps，andonthe8thofMarchreachedLaurelHill，NorthCarolina。
SatisfiedthatourtroopsmastbeatWilmington，Ideterminedtosendamessagethere;Icalledformyman，CorporalPike，whomI
hadrescuedasbeforedescribed，atColumbia，whowasthentravelingwithourescort，andinstructedhimindisguisetoworkhiswaytotheCapeFearRiver，secureaboat，andfloatdowntoWilmingtontoconveyaletter，andtoreportourapproach。IalsocalledonGeneralHowardforanothervolunteer，andhebroughtmeaverycleveryoungsergeant，whoisnowacommissionedofficerintheregulararmy。Eachofthesegotoffduringthenightbyseparateroutes，bearingthefollowingmessage，reducedtothesamecipherweusedintelegraphicmessages:
HEADQURTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSISSIPPI
INTHEFIELD，LAURELHILL，Wednesday，March8，1865。
CommandingOfficer，Wilmington，NorthCarolina:
WearemarchingforFayetteville，willbethereSaturday，Sunday，andMonday，andwillthenmarchforGoldsboro’。
Ifpossible，sendaboatupCapeFearRiver，andhavewordconveyedtoGeneralSchofieldthatIexpecttomeethimaboutGoldsboro’。