Personal Recollections of Sherman's Campaigns in Georgia and the Carolinas

by George W Pepper

  The bridge across the Cape Fear is gone. But two cannon were left by the rebels on this side, when Lieutenant H. W. Howgate and Wm. Ludlow, with a party of foragers, drove them across. These Lieutenants, both of Slocum's staff, struggled manfully, with washtubs full of water, to save the bridge, exhorting the “bummers” to help and drive the rebels from the opposite bank, but the thing could not be done.

  The left wing has traveled something like four hundred miles, skirmished when occasion demanded it, and did not decline a fight at Fayetteville. General Slocum has lost but few men by sickness or otherwise, and his wing of the army is in as good condition as when it left Savannah. The interesting part of the campaign in the Carolinas is yet to come, if je attempt to join the Army of the Potomac at the opening of the spring campaign.

  At last the crisis is passed; the freshet in the river has abated and we are now safely over in South Carolina.

  Kilpatrick commenced crossing the river on Friday afternoon, and by daylight on Saturday morning he and a portion of Geary's division had struck terra firma on the soil of South Carolina. A few hours were consumed in loading their wagons at this point, when they pushed rapidly forward — Kilpatrick to raid upon the enemy's country, Geary to join the other two divisions of "Williams' corps, which had two days the start of him. Hobart's brigade, of Carlin's division, crossed on Saturday, and are now acting as a temporary garrison at this landing.

  This morning at daylight the Fourteenth corps commenced crossing as soon as the Fifteenth corps' train, that had been on the pontoons all night, had passed out of the way. Miles' Brigade of Carlin's division had the advance, followed by Buell's brigade. Then came Baird's division and a part of Morgan's, which have arrived here and gone into camp.

  A LONG CORDUROY ROAD.

  These corduroy roads are a great institution, the friend of the army mule and the dismounted men, as it lightens their burdens, and the horror of horses, which are compelled to carry two hundred pound bipeds over them upon their backs. The moment a wagon train strikes one of these roads the sure footed mule is in his glory, as his load is a feather compared with the hauling of loaded wagons in ruts and mud boles. Not so with the home. The wagon passing over the wood renders the logs wet and slippery, and the instant a horseman touches them his animal begins to stagger like a drunken man to retain fads footing upon the logs.

  The Fourth division of the Fifteenth corps and Kilpatrick’s supply train did not get the road clear until about ten o’clock, when Carlin's division struck tents and moved forward, Hobart's brigade in the advance, Buell's next, and Miles' bringing up the rear. The column moved in the direction of Robertsville (a hamlet of about ten houses), distant from the ferry, about five miles The first mile we found an excellent sandy road through high level land, put down on the early maps of the State as "Pulichucola Savanna." Descending again into a swamp, we struck the much dreaded corduroy, about a mile long. Another mile of excellent sandy road, dry and level, brought us to the east branch of the Cypress Swamp creek, where another corduroy was encountered. A mile and a half further we found the smouldering ashes of

  ROBERTSVILLE,

  Which, I learn, is the property of Captain Roberts, of the Engineer Department of the United States Army. Not a building was saved from the flames.

  At Robertsville we struck the Savannah and Augusta Railroad, and, in obedience to the "file left" order, turned towards Augusta. Half a mile out I noticed the smouldering ruins of Colonel Lawton's fine plantation, the fence and Negro shanties alone remaining undisturbed. The plantation hands were all at home, but before the column had disappeared but one or two of Lawton's blacks remained to tell the tale of devastation, when the rebel lord returned to his deserted grounds.

  DR. BOSTWICK’S PLANTATION.

  One mile further on the column struck a large, fertile plantation, upon which were a fine two story farmhouse and a village of Negro huts. The gardens and walks were of the most elegant kind, and supplied with the rarest varieties of shrubbery and flower plants, fit indeed for a sovereign to while away his weary hour in the interior of the mansion exhibited a confused scene. The most elegant description of furniture was found scattered about and broken, pianos and melodeons, a telescope, centre tables, costly chairs, ottomans, carpets, a fine collection of books and pictures and paintings, all scattered about in confusion and disorder. The troops, after satisfying their curiosity and helping themselves to a book or a picture from the deserted Plantation, departed, and a few minutes after, the grand homestead of Dr. Bostwick, together with its deserted contents, was in ashes, the chimneys alone remaining to mark another mile of "country subjugated."

  THE ROAD BLOCKADED.

  Near Bostwick's place the advance encountered, at the head-waters of Cypress creek, obstructions in the road, and evidences of a recent cavalry encampment a little beyond. The pioneers were sent to the front, and in a few minutes the felled timber was all removed.

  No cavalry scouts were encountered, although our advance was the first Union troops that had passed, the other corps having debouched to the right at Robertsville. At dark the column encamped near the point where the Augusta road intersects that running from Barnwell to the Savannah River, having marched about ten miles during the six hours we were upon the road.

  PORK AND POTATOES ONCE MORE

  Tonight the men went into camp with an abundance of fresh pork, mutton, sweet potatoes and turkeys, which they had confiscated without reserve along the route. After subsisting for nearly two months on army rations of hard bread and salt meat, this foretaste of South Carolina's first fruits were devoured with great gusto, and their mouths, you may be certain, watered for more. Tomorrow regularly organized foraging parties will be sent out, who will, no doubt, make a clean sweep of everything on the plantations.

  Last night, shortly after going into camp, rain began to fall in torrents, and continued without abating until daylight. General Carlin waited half an hour beyond the time appointed to move, for the rain to abate; but it still poured down, and the command moved on, clearing the road before them of trees that had been felled across it at every point where it crossed low, swampy ground. The work of clearing out the road was so effectual that the column was delayed but a few moments. The road upon which we moved, ran from Brighton to Orangeburg, which was selected on account of the difficulty encountered on the direct Augusta road. This road at Lawtonville intersects another road which runs across to the road we left at a point higher up and beyond the main swamps setting in from the Savannah River. By taking this route, the General hoped to avoid much of the swamps and blockaded roads without going far out of his way.

  The country over which we passed today abounded in abandoned plantations, upon which an abundance of potatoes, hogs, turkeys, &c, were found by the foragers, and tonight the men are celebrating the occasion by a feast of fat things.

  LAWTONVILLE

  Was a small town of ten or twenty buildings; but nothing remains now but the church to mark the spot? Our troops are encamped upon the ashes of the burned town. It was destroyed some time ago by our forces, who passed through it to join their corps (Twentieth and Fifteenth). Kilpatrick's cavalry also passed through it, and are now far in advance of this wing, hunting for Wheeler's cavalry, who have not yet shown even a corporal's guard.

  NO GUERRILLA DEPREDATIONS

  Have been reported as yet. All the male citizens, with, their families, have departed, and there is nobody here to bushwhack the foragers, who go out in small parties from five to eight miles on either flank. Probably the residents anticipated that South Carolina would be purged with fire and sword; hence their hurried flight. In their conclusions I must say that they were not far wrong, for I do not believe there is an uninhabited building standing between here and Sister's Ferry. We have marched today through a pouring rain fourteen miles, in a thickly settled district, and only found one occupied house.

  Yesterday morning, when we were in the act of breaking camp to go forward, an order came from Genera
l Davis to remain in camp until the corps, the Second division of which was at Sister's Ferry, could concentrate. We passed a very pleasant day in camp at Lawtonville, on the plantation of a rebel captain named Peopler, whose residence, said to be the best in South Carolina, had been razed to the ground.

  LARGE HAUL OF HORSES, ETC.

  Foraging parties were sent out in all directions, but none paid so well as that of Prescott's Illinois cavalry, which penetrated a dense swamp and came upon four men with five horses, twenty mules, and, it is said, $2,000 in gold. The property belonged to a man named Kittie, who kept bloodhounds for the capture of prisoners and Negroes, and three of his neighbors who are notorious rebels. They fired upon the foraging party, but nobody was hurt.

  Baird encamped last night at Brighton, where General Davis also made his headquarters. Baird's train was sent up to Lawtonville, to be placed under the charge of Carlin's division, who moved on a road more suitable for the passage of trains than the one upon which he moved near the Savannah River.

  Today we have marched nearly seventeen miles; Leaving Lawtonville at seven o'clock, Carlin moved out in a northeasterly direction toward Orangeburgh, and when out six miles turned to the left, in obedience to instructions from Davis, with a view of changing the course of the corps toward Augusta. This was owing to the receipt by Slocum of a dispatch from Sherman that the right wing had flanked Branchville and cut the railroad, and ordering the left wing to demonstrate toward Augusta. At three o'clock Carlin struck the Savannah and Augusta Railroad, and found that Baird had already passed. Moving upon the Augusta road a mile, he struck the road running northeast to Barnwell, and filed to the right. At dark we arrived at our present encampment.

  Baird and Morgan are moving upon Barnwell, the county seat, where the corps will be concentrated, and from which point it will move on Blackville, a station on the Charleston and Augusta Railroad, which the Twentieth Corps reached a few days ago.

  The advance of the corps arrived at Barnwell Court House late last evening, and went into camp for the night, General Baird detailing a regiment as provost guard to prevent the destruction of the place.

  Morgan's division, which brought up the rear, arrived about eleven this morning.

  Carlin reached town at nine A. M., and halted until one P. M., while Baird turned over his train to Morgan, who also took charge of Carlin's, and moved towards the Charleston and Augusta Railroad, on the Williston road.

  Baird encamped tonight three miles from White's Pond, and two miles in advance of this point. Carlin has made about eighteen miles today, and Morgan sixteen miles. Baird during the afternoon marched about eleven miles.

  BARNWELL.

  The first town of any importance that we have encountered is the county seat of Barnwell Township, which contains about one hundred houses and other buildings. It boasted the possession of a superb Court House, which was burned a few days ago, together with the only hotel in the place and several other buildings. The residences are of wood, substantially built, and very neatly ornamented with shade trees and evergreens. Many of the citizens remained, and were not molested by the troops, who, however, deprived them of their winter's provisions and such other things as they were in need of.

  SUPERABUNDANCE OP PROVISIONS.

  The country through which we have traveled the last two days was rich in pork, bacon, vegetables, corn and forage of all kinds, and tonight the men came into camp with provisions sufficient to last them a week. The people today have realized what war is, for the first time; and while some saw their subsistence walking off on the shoulders of the foragers without murmuring, others piteously implored the men to leave them a sufficiency for their immediate wants. Since we have left the line of the Savannah river and struck into the interior, we have found most of the families at home, and in all such cases their houses were saved from destruction.

  KILPATRICK SKIRMISHING.

  Intelligence reached us tonight that Kilpatrick's cavalry, which had struck the Charleston and Augusta Railroad, torn up several miles, and moved on fifteen miles towards Augusta, had met the enemy in force, and had been skirmishing all day. We have heard cannonading all day in that direction, and there is little doubt that General Kilpatrick has a strong force confronting him.

  THE FORCE IN OUR FRONT.

  It has been pretty accurately ascertained that Wheeler's cavalry is the only force in the breastworks confronting Kilpatrick; but a part of Hood's old army, all scouts agree, are at and near Augusta, under command of Hill and Joe Johnson, and another force of about fifteen thousand confronting our right wing near Branchville. Lee is reported to be here, exercising a general supervision over matters; and I am inclined to believe the reports, as the source from which they are derived entitles them to credence.

  THE CHARLOTTE AND AUGUSTA RAILROAD OUT.

  The column moved at daylight this morning, Baird in the advance, Carlin following, and Morgan, on a road to the right, bringing up the rear. Three miles from camp the roads forked, the left running to Windsor station, and the right to White's Pond station. Baird took the left, and Carlin the right, both striking the railroad at the same hour — about twelve o'clock— which we found already cut be Kilpatrick at Windsor and this place, where he had also burned the depots and all the unoccupied buildings in their vicinity. The entire afternoon was spent in burning the railroad from this place to Johnston's station, some six miles. At night Baird encamped at Windsor, Carlin at this place, and Morgan at Williston, four miles nearer Branchville.

  A REBEL SPY KILLED.

  Biding to the front of Baird's column this morning, I noticed some men engaged in burying a dead rebel, and on inquiry of the men I learned that the foraging and detail parties, who were in advance, encountered at the forks of the road a man dressed as a Union staff Captain, who ordered them to turn to the left, as the road in front was impassable. The fact that he was on foot, and other circumstances led the men to believe him to be a spy, and they informed him that they would be compelled to arrest him. The pretended Captain instantly started to run, when a bullet through the head filled him almost instantly. On stripping him they found beneath the Union uniform a full suit of rebel uniform, with a first lieutenant's bars upon his coat collar. He was buried by the roadside in his rebel uniform.

  Yesterday morning we got an early start, and, moving through a fine neighborhood, arrived at the South Edisto River at noon, where re found, at Davis' bridge, General Morgan's division, in charge of corps trains. Giving over the train to Carlin, Morgan crossed, and moved up to where he struck the road leading to Columbia, the capital of the Palmetto State, and well known to the public as the prison pen for the confinement and starvation of union officers. Taking this road, he moved until dark, when he encamped.

  Spencer's brigade of Kilpatrick’s cavalry crossed next, and, under cover of night, moved out on Morgan's left flank.

  Carlin crossed before sunset, and made a night march of seven miles, following Morgan.

  Baird, to whom Carlin turned over the trains, crossed the same night, and encamped a little in Carton's rear.

  Yesterday morning the column moved at daylight on the road leading to Lexington, the county seat of Lexington district. We found several fine roads. Consequently the divisions moved on parallels, with the cavalry on the left flank. At ten o'clock the command reached Clark's Mills Post Office, where our flanks were,

  ATTACKED BY A GUERILLA GANG,

  Of one hundred and fifty bushwhackers, under a leader named Hucklesby, and were repulsed by the foragers.

  SLIGHT SIGNS OF A FIGHT

  A few minutes later, General Carlin was moving along in advance of the Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania, Major M. H. Locher commanding, when a number of mounted men, considerably demoralized, who, as they rushed wildly past the advance, reported to General Carlin, “A regiment of cavalry are charging down upon you.” I happened to be by the General's side at the moment, and, turning my eyes to the Seventy-ninth, I found that the Major, comprehending the situation,
had ordered the old Pennsylvania veterans into line before the General had time to give the command. Skirmishers were deployed. Colonel Miles threw forward his brigade with a bold front, and they pushed on in search of Wheeler. But he didn't come; this time he found there was something besides cavalry on his front, and he retreated.

  Miles' brigade formed and resumed the march for about half a mile, the Seventy-ninth skirmishing with the cavalry. Arriving at a small stream four miles from Lexington, it was reported to the General that a brigade of cavalry was forming on the edge of the field for a charge. Miles again formed in line of battle and awaited the coming of the enemy. Not showing himself, the brigade pushed forward, with skirmishers deployed, but passed the woods where the cavalry had formed, and found them not; still they pushed on through swamps, fields and thickets— now in line of battle, and a few minutes later through dense thickets, by right of companies, for three or four miles, without exchanging a shot. At last mounted men were seen moving in the woods beyond, and away went the brigade after then. This time the "enemy" did not retreat. Still on, the brigade pushed, and just as the skirmishers were prepared to give them a leaden bidet Sous, they espied the white star of the Twentieth Corps. A few minutes later they had surrounded the supposed enemy, who proved to be a mounted party of foragers who had come in on our front after Wheeler retreated.