crossing all day and the cavalry all night. Heavy rains fellallday and night, which rendered the steep hills leading to and from the pontoons all but impassable. February 25, crossed the Catawba and marched eight miles. February 26, marched eight miles to hanging Rock. ReMained there the next day waiting for the Fourteenth Corps to cross the Catawba River. A freshet had broken the pontoon and caused delay. General Sherman ordered all wagons not over by the next morning to be burned. General Jeff. C. Davis by making great exertions saved the trains. Large numbers of valuable horses and mules were found corraled in the few camps and glens of this region as well as caches of food and clothing. February 28, marched ten miles, crossing Little Lynch Creek. Camped at Widow Clyburne's huse. Roads quicksand; worse than any I had seen.

March 1, marched ten miles, crossing Big Lynch Creek; camped on Brewer's farm. On the Right Wing refugees from Charleston and Columbia crossed the line of march and fifty wagons were captured. March 2, made a forced march of some twenty miles to Chesterfield Court-House, hoping to secure the bridge over Thompson's Creek, but it was burned. Next day remained in Chesterfield, waiting for the Fourteenth Corps to close up. March 4, moved twelve miles to Cheraw. Found General Blair in possession, with large captures of supplies, including corn and provisions, which were distributed to the troops. March 6, moved across the Pedee River and camped two miles beyond. A terrible explosion took place on the bank of the river, where poweder had been carried and thrown into the water, that shook the earth for miles round. General Howard's headquarters train was near, waiting to cross the pontoon. It stampeded to the woods, killing one teamster and breaking wagons and harness. March 7, moved twelve miles and camped in a pine grove. March 8, moved eleven miles and a half. Roads sandy, but good. Light rain. Crossed the Wilmington and Charleston Railroad. Entered the State of North Carolina. Went inot camp at Laurel Hill. March 9, moved fourteen miles to Bethel Church. Crossed the Lumber River on a pontoon. Entered the Big Raft Swamp. Trains could not get up by night and the general and staff slept in the church. The supply trains were scattered along the road clear back to Laurel Hill. All the available troops were employed in making roads. Next day we remained in camp waiting for the trains to close up. March 11, entered Fayetteville amid loud cheers from the Fourteenth Corps, which, being the first to enter, held the place. Made the distance-twenty six miles-by noon. Trains did not get in till night. Took up quarters in the arsenal. Found several hundrd bags of corn and some hay there. ReMained in Fayetteville till the 14th. The public buildings were destroyed. Mills were used to grind corn and wheat for the troops. A gun-boat from Wilmington arriving brought the first direct news from the North since leaving Pocotaligo. Transports came up bringing oats (shoes and socks would have been more acceptable), and word was sent down to forwared clothing and hard bread, sugar and coffee. The boats were sent back laden with the sick and wounded. March 14, crossed Cape Fear River and cmaped two miles beyond. I established a landing at the river, expecting more supplies. The Benton arrived laden with shoes, pants, and hard bread. I directed Lieutenant-Colonel Fort to take the clothing and distribute equally to the four corps. The hard bread I turned over to Colonel Carpenter. March 15, moved with the left Wing fourteen miles on the Wilmington plank road to Silver Run.