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All the strong positions along the railroad having been abandoned by the enemy, the road to
Charleston was now open to the Coast Division for an advance without opposition.
Colonel Hallowell, on February 15, was ordered with the Fifty-fourth, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh New York, some artillery, and a small force of cavalry to proceed to
Ashepoo by way of a road above the railroad leading through
Blue House.
We moved at noon of a bright, warm day, the companies on picket joining the regiment as it passed.
From recent rain the road was heavy with clayey mud, making marching most wearisome.
There was constant delay passing through overflowed places, or while bridges were being repaired.
We reached
Blue House and a mile beyond at 8 P. M., making but six miles.
Three bridges had been rebuilt, and two more were reported just in front.
Colonel Hallowell, finding it impossible to longer pursue that route, then moved back.
We were on a causeway, and in turning around, a wagon stalled and was abandoned.
The Fifty-fourth secured from it one hundred and thirty pairs of trousers and three hundred pairs of shoes, free of government charges.
After one of the hardest marches the Fifty-fourth ever made, we reached
Salkehatchie fort at 3 A. M. on the 16th.
Our advance troops were, on the 15th, at the junction of the roads to
Jacksonboro and
Parker's Ferry.
