Emilio, Luis F., History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry , 1863-1865

[272] to our side of the Combahee River and intrenched. At noon, Colonel Hallowell with the Fifty-fourth and two guns moved to Gardner's Corners, whence, with the One Hundred and Seventh Ohio also, he proceeded. We arrived at Combahee Ferry about 6 P. M., where observations were purposely made quietly, after dark. Abandoned works were found on our side, and a foot-bridge crossing the stream. On the farther bank were posts of the enemy and their camp.

After Sherman departed, we picketed the front again. Our camp was near Daniel B. Heyward's plantation, in a rice country. It was rainy weather, with mud everywhere under foot. At this time Lieutenant-Colonel Hooper wrote,—

‘Sherman destroys everything that stands in his line of march,—rice-mills, houses, fences. All through this country, as far as it can be seen, pillars of black smoke rise. . . . The saying is that “when Sherman gets through South Carolina, a crow can't fly across the country unless he carries rations with him.” ’

The Western army had crossed the Salkehatchie and compelled McLaws to fall back upon Branchville. In the action at Rivers's Bridge, Brig.-Gen. Wager Swayne lost a leg, and with other wounded was brought back to Pocotaligo. Foster, on the 3d, made demonstrations with the Fifty-fifth Massachusetts and One Hundred and Fortyfourth New York in the South Edisto, and with the Thirtysecond United States Colored Troops on Edisto Island. On the 4th, the Twenty-fifth Ohio crossed at Combahee Ferry, and after unsuccessful attempts to flank works beyond the rice-fields, recrossed with small loss.

News came of Lieutenant Webster's death, at Beaufort,