the destruction of the railroad. February 11, marched twenty miles. Crossing the Edisto, encamped at Poplar Springs. February 12, moved early on the Ninety-Six road. Halted till afternoon near the North Edisto. A severe fight took place, which ended in the rout of the foe; two pontoon bridges were thrown across and about 6 o'clock the crossing commenced and continued all night. I remained at the bridge until near midnihgt, then rode out to camp. The concentration of the army at the bridge gave me an opporunity of seeing the captured horses and mules ridden by foragers, and it was with surprise I noted the great number already captured. February 18 [13], marched seventeen miles to Beaver Creek. Our route lay over a sandy ridge between Caw Creek and Limestone Creek. This ridge being covered with a turpentine timber which was set on fire by our soldiers, our trains were at one time in danger of being burned. February 14, marched seven miles; camped in a pine grove. February 15, marched seven miles to near Congaree Creek. Witnessed a charge by a division on the enemy, who fled over the creek, leaving the bridge unharmed. They had strong works on the opposite bank, but did not occupy them. February 16, marched across a broad plain opposite Columbia; camped near the Saluda River. February 17, crossed the Saluda and Broad Rivers on pontoons bridges. While laying the second pontoon, word came that Columbia had surrendered to our skirmishers. I had the honor of accompanying General Sherman in his triumphal entry into that city. I was ordered by the general to hunt up valuable machinery, especially lathes, and take charge of captured property. I entered upon this duty and found large and valuable stores.

The great fire, however, destroyed most of them to the great loss and detriment of the Government. At the depot a large quantity of corn wasfound and secured. Mills were occupied and flour and corn meal ground for the troops and for indigent citizens. When we left the city three miles were spared from the general destruction and turned over to the citizens with a quantity of corn to save them from starvation. The next three days were spent in destroying puincluding the gas-works, depot, arsenal, &c. In the arsenal immesne quantities of ammunition were found; the latter was carried down to the river and thrown in. A pile of it unfortunately exploded, causing the death of some twenty men. Many escaped prisoners, both officers and privates, joined us there with the most extrravagant demonstrations of joy. In regard to the fire in Columbia I will say that although its origin cannot be clearly ascertained, and our general and officers used every exertion to subdue it, I cannot but look upon it as a just and righteous retribution upon the citizens for the unexampled malignity they have ever displayed toward the Government. Here the Ordinance of Secession was hatched and long before the war a northern lady teacher was tarred and feathered, a number of Germans served the same way, while the escaped prisoners all tell the same tale of villainous treatment. February 20, marched out of Columbia; proceeded up the Charlotte and Columbia Railroad eleven miles. Camped by a saw-mill. February 21, marched fifteen miles to Winnsbrough. A rebel woman set fire to her store filled with cotton and destroyed two or three blocks before the troops entered. The Fourteenth Corps entering first put out the fire and appropriated the large amount of supplies found there. February 22, marched twenty miles to Rocky Mount. Camped on the Berkeley place. The roads were fair and the country rich and plentiful in supplies. Troops crossed the Catawba River by night on a pontoon bridge 550 feet long. We remained in camp the next day, the trains of the Twentieth Corps