186 Norra Carouina Troops, 1861-'65.

view of the fight as we were passing over the long stretch of
level and perfectly open rice field.

We reached Hardeeville safely that evening, but spent a
restless and anxious night. Orders had been issued and ar-
rangements made for the army to cross the pontoon bridge
early on the morning of the 20th, but in fact it did not —
until twenty-four hours later. After the wagon trains has
crossed over and the troops were ready to commence crossing,

FirrietH REGIMENT. 187

also the young men of his staff. The leave-taking was sad
and affecting as they bid a final adieu to officers and privates
alike. From this time the brigade was commanded by Col-
onel Washington M. Hardy.

On the second day after reaching Pocataligo the writer,
who was on duty on the advanced picket line, received a re-
quest from Colonel Hardy to report at once to his headquar-
ters. On arrival he was informed that General McLaws had

requested that he select and send to him for instructions, an
officer who would undertake to enter General Foster’s lines
that night for the purpose of ascertaining the exact location
and approximate strength of his forces. After explaining
his purposes and indicating just what information he desired,
his final instructions were: “Go and never return until you
can make this report.”

I selected ten men from my own company, and by night
had completed all necessary arrangements. An old negro,
who had spent his past life on the island below and was thor-
oughly acquainted with the country, and who had “run away
from the Yankees,” and was now living near our camp, gave
me a full description of the country and cheerfully consented
to pilot me by a private foot path leading through a swamp to
the peninsula formed by Tullifuiny creek and Coosawhatchie
river upon which Gen. Foster’s main forces were camped. The
main road was strongly picketed right up to our lines, but by
taking this by-way through the swamps when we reached the
open country we were well to the rear of the pickets. The
old negro now pleaded piteously to be allowed to return to his
home and his wife. He gave me an honest and truthful de-
scription of all the surroundings, after which I sent a man
back with him to pass him through our line. The

the bridge broke loose and swung down the river, oo

a delay of a day and night before it could be replaced. The

army crossed over safely on the morning of 21 December, and

reached Hardeeville that day, where we had been for twenty-

four hours without hearing a word in explanation of the cause

of the delay.

The official reports of 20 December showed “the effective

strength of Sherman’s army’’ to be 60,598, not including the
strong forces of General Foster at Port Royal, Hilton Head,

and Coosawhatchie and a large fleet co-operating. And yet
General Hardee, with his “8,000 or 10,000 militia and frag-
ments,” as General Sherman puts it, held this large and splen-
didly equipped army and fleet at bay for nearly two weeks
and withdrew unmolested and was well into South Carolina
before it was even discovered that he had abandoned his line
several miles heyond Savannah. General Sherman, who was
still at Port Royal arranging with General Foster for more
troops and guns, did not reach the city until the 22d, more
than twenty-four hours after General Hardee had safely
withdrawn his entire forces.

On 26 December, McLaws’ Division left Hardeeville for

Pocataligo, and on the march was compelled to diverge from

the main road in order to avoid the fire from the batteries and : 2
cunboats near Coosawhatchie, as they had complete range Streams were full of gunboats and transports. In making
5 . Ys e

of the road at this point. On reaching Pocataligo the Fif- B Mireuit of the camps we kept close to the water so as -
tieth Regiment occupied the extreme advance position at a avoid the pickets. We spent the entire night in _— ~
small stream beyond “Old Pocataligo.” General Les Cireuit, counting camp fires, locating the troops - - 8;
Baker, who up to this time had commanded our brigade, wa® and returned safely, reaching our lines at daybreak next

relieved from active duty on account of intense suffering . I made a full report to the —— officer,
or w ‘
caused by his wounded arm. He had the confidence, love, r which I and the men with me received his thanks.

and esteem of every officer and man in the brigade, as did On 14 January, 1865, a sudden and undiscovered move-