Sixteen miles northeast of Columbia, February 20, 1865. The Provost Guards were the last to leave town. Fifty families of Columbians accompany us; have no idea how many negroes. Hard day’s march.

February 19, 1865. Another block of the city burned to-day. Our regiment was out and stopped the fire from spreading further. Have seen the men work better on other occasions. In destroying some captured ammunition to-day the 63d Illinois, by an explosion, lost three killed and 20 wounded. We captured about 20 cannon here. I [...]

February 18, 1865. Two-thirds of the city burned last night. The colonel and I got up last night and rode through the streets until 3. At 4 this morning the 40th Illinois cleared the streets with bayonets and order again reigned. Our regiment is on Provost duty, and I have just been through the streets [...]

Columbia, S. C., February 17th. The 3d brigade of our division marched all night and worked all night before they could get a cable across the river to string the pontoons, and the bridge was not completed until 10 a.m. There was lively skirmishing all the time. Our division crossed first. The 3d brigade captured [...]

February 16, 1865, 7 a.m. The Johnnies shelled our bivouac all night, but hurt no one, but induced us to extinguish our fires, and killed one of the 48th Illinois. We could hear their cars whistling all night. They had large fires near town. We can see the steeples of the city plainly this morning. [...]

Three miles from Columbia, February 15th. A rather lively day. We started the Johnnies right by our camp. Our brigade in advance of the corps and army. The 40th Illinois was deployed as skirmishers, and drove them four miles rapidly, losing only five men. Our regiment then relieved them. They opened artillery on us and [...]

Nearing Columbia, S. C, February 14, 1865. Good road to-day. Fine rolling country. Sand with pine wood and scrub oak. Saw the wagoners use their locks to-day for the first time since we crossed the Oconee, in Georgia. Logan’s escort got after some Johnnie foragers to-day and captured four wagons and 50 or 60 horses [...]

Twenty-four miles southeast of Columbia, S. C., February 13, 1865. Made 18 miles to-day. Rear guard for the corps in the morning, but the 2d and 3d Divisions took a right hand road and in the p.m. the 4th Division also went to the right. We followed a cow path to camp. Passed through two [...]

Shilling’s Bridge, left bank North Edisto River, February 12, 1865. Started at 7 a.m., moved one-half mile and laid still two hours waiting for Hazen and Smith to straighten out ahead of us. I thought I’d tell you how we had been bored today, fooling along the road from 7 a.m. until 3 o’clock in [...]

Seven miles west of Orangeburg, S. C., February 11, 1865. Made 18 miles to-day. Crossed South Edisto river in rear of the corps. The river here is about 40 yards wide, with a swift current, water very clear. First 10 miles to-day was through pretty good country, the last eight miles mostly pine forest with [...]

February 10, 1865. Had no “general” this morning (our signal for getting up), so when the “assembly” sounded we climbed from our blankets to our saddles and went off on a railroad burning expedition. Our brigade by noon had completely destroyed two and one-half miles. The 17th and our 3d Division crossed the South Edisto [...]

Bamberg, S. C., February 9, 1865. We were to go to Cannon’s bridge on the Edisto four miles, but heard the bridge was burned, so we did not go. I think we will go up the river towards Augusta. Late Confederate papers say that Thomas has started south towards Montgomery, leaving Hood behind him. Many [...]

Bamber’s Station, A. & C. R. R. February 7, 1865. Our regiment led the corps to-day. The 17th Corps strikes the railroad at Midway, three miles to our right, and the 20th to the left five miles. We are 14 miles northwest of Branchville. The enemy are on the opposite bank of the Edisto, two [...]

Little Salkehatchie River, February 6, 1865, 2 p.m. Yesterday was quite warm, but my overcoat is useful again to-day. General Kilpatrick caught up with us last night, also General Williams with five brigades of the 20th A. C. So instead of waiting several days Sherman said he’d chance them for the railroad with what troops [...]

Twelve miles south of Johnston’s Summit, Augusta and Branchville Railroad, February 5, 1865. They call the stations on this road “turnouts.” Negroes are swarming into our camps. I never heard a negro use the word “buckra” until last night. One of the 97th Indiana was killed this morning while foraging close to camp. Our men [...]

Buford’s Bridge, north side Salkehatchie River, February 4, 1865. Most unaccountably, to me, the Rebels evacuated an impregnable position (if there is such a thing), and our brigade was saved thereby from making some more history, for which I am grateful. A straight pike or causeway three quarters of a mile long and in which [...]

Baren’s Mills, S. C., February 3, 1865. Fifteen miles to-day. The 17th is having some pretty lively firing on our right. At a house I stopped at to-day a “cit” told me we were 95 miles from Charleston, 65 from Augusta, and 33 from Branchville. That is as near as I can tell you where [...]

February 2, 1865. The advance started at daylight, but we are the rear guard of the corps and will not get off before 4 p.m. We have no idea of our destination, but are now traveling the Augusta road. The country is very level, but every mile or so there is a little swale or [...]

Hickory Hill, S. C., February 1, 1865. Fifteen miles to-day and had an excellent supper of South Carolina ham, honey and sweet potatoes. Found a good deal of road blockaded to-day, but the pioneers removed the obstructions so rapidly that the train did not have to halt once. The Rebels disputed our advance a little, [...]

January 31, 1865. Lay still all day. This place was a country summer resort. I was in a house to-day; the walls were rough boards white-washed, the floors were very rough, and I think had never been carpeted, yet the room was filled with mahogany furniture of the best quality, had a fine piano, splendid [...]

McPhersonsville, S. C, January 30, 1865. We returned from Combahee river last night and at 10 p.m. received orders to move at 6 a.m. Came through Pocataligo and have made 14 miles to-day. Quite a place, but there is not even a clearing. Say 50 ordinary dwellings dropped down in the pine woods, and you [...]

Combahee River, Charleston and Beaufort road, January 29, 1865. We have had some rich sport to-day. Our regiment and the 40th are out here on a little reconnoisance, and making a demonstration pretending to be building a bridge on the river, etc. A party of Rebels saluted our skirmishers when they got to the river [...]

Six miles south of Combahee River, January 28, 1865, 6 p.m. The campaign commences Monday. It is yet cold; about an inch of ice forms every night, and sleeping out without tents is not a fair sample of paradise. I am in excellent health and we are all anxious to be en route.

Near Pocataligo, S. C., January 27, 1865. Moved out at 7 a.m. this morning, crossed Broad river on pontoons, and are about four miles on the main land towards Charleston. Can’t tell our position, but here the Rebels hold all the crossings on the opposite side of the river six miles ahead and so far [...]