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

[279] Brigade crossed on the 19th, and marched for the South Edisto. Our Second Brigade remained. Dr. Dehon had been sent to General Hatch, but returned that afternoon. Lieutenant Ritchie relates the following particulars of this gentleman's troubles:—

‘While gone, his ‘chattels’ had been helping themselves and carrying furniture off by whole boat-loads. Dehon brings an order from General Hatch that his ‘slaves’ shall be permitted to choose for themselves whether to go back to the plantation with him or not. Dehon got us to back this up, and as a consequence, loses all his slaves, young and old.’

Just at dark, we received the great news that Charleston was evacuated by the enemy. Cheer after cheer rang out; bonfires were lighted; and the soldiers yelled long and frantically. Far into the night nothing else was talked about around the camp-fires.

Our Third Brigade having arrived at Ashepoo on the 20th, at 1 P. M., the Second Brigade moved for Jacksonboro and the Edisto, where our advance had crossed that day in boats. The Fifty-fourth arrived at the Edisto by 5 P. M., going into bivouac in a pine grove but thirty miles from Charleston. We were detained there by repairs upon the burnt bridges over the river until noon of the 21st, when the march was resumed. Just beyond, we passed a Rebel work mounting four guns. Proceeding three miles, the Second Brigade turned to the right into a road running nearly parallel with the main route, and four miles farther brought us to Adam's Run. This was a small hamlet with numerous rough barracks,—an old and important camp of the Confederates. Beyond, some four miles, we camped at a cross-road about 6 P. M., where the One Hundred and Second United States Colored Troops joined us at