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

[275] foraging. A scouting party of the One Hundred and Seventh Ohio was fired into that morning, having one man wounded and another missing. Guerillas, or small parties of the enemy, were about, and Captain Emilio with Company E and Lieutenant Reed with Company G scoured the region for them without success. At dark the Fifty-fourth, except Companies E and G, left on picket, moved back from the cross-road in company with the Twenty-fifth Ohio, our regiment bivouacking inside the fort at Salkehatchie.

On the evening of the 12th, word was received that the enemy had abandoned Combahee Ferry. The Twenty-fifth Ohio, by a night's march, crossed the river the next day, and took station at Lownde's plantation. The effect of Sherman's advance was being felt in our front, for the Western army was across the North Edisto near Orangeburg. Gen. A. R. Wright retired from Ashepoo across the Edisto, and McLaws from Branchville to Four Hole Swamp. Hardee was also concerned for Charleston, as General Potter, with the Fifty-fifth Massachusetts, One Hundred and Forty-fourth New York, and Thirty-second United States Colored Troops entered Bull's Bay on the 12th, shelled the enemy's batteries at Owendaw Creek, and landing on the 16th, intrenched. General Schimmelfennig was again making demonstrations on James Island.

We received early news of this retirement, for on the 13th a party of thirteen contrabands arrived and reported, ‘De Rebs clean gone to Ashepoo.’ During the night Company H joined the others on picket, and two escaped Union prisoners came in, one of whom, unfortunately, our pickets wounded. General Hatch pushed the One Hundred and Second United States Colored Troops along the railroad, and the Twenty-fifth Ohio through Green Pond, to