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

[285] was brought in small boats, some damage by water resulted to company books and officers' baggage. Major Pope, on March 1, with Companies C, E, H, and I, visited the Benjamin Whaley place thirteen miles distant, moving over the plank road and fording Nine-Mile Run on the way. At the plantation the detachment rested for the night, receiving abundant supplies from the negroes. Some fifty hands were found there, and the next day returned to Charleston with our force.

There was bad weather the first week of March; then warm and springlike days came. We received a large number of men who had been detailed, detached, or were sick when the Fifty-fourth left Morris Island. Details were furnished for picket duty, generally along the plank road. Headquarters for the line were at the Four-Mile House, which had been a tavern, but was then occupied by a hospitable Irishman—Lawler by name—and his wife. Opportunities were given officers and men to visit the city, where they wandered about, deeply interested in sight-seeing. Several Fifty-fourth officers were detailed there, and always entertained visiting associates. The most interesting building to us of the Fifty-fourth was the jail,—a brick structure surmounted by a tower and enclosed with a high wall, where the prisoners of the regiment were confined many months with black and white criminals as well as other Union soldiers.

Of the townspeople but some ten thousand remained, largely blacks, all mainly dependent upon our bounty. The whole banking capital of Charleston was lost. A loyal edition of the ‘Courier’ newspaper was being issued; the ‘Mercury’ had decamped to Cheraw. Schools were opened, and market-wharves designated. The post-office was established