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

[280] 9 P. M. During that day the country was thoroughly scouted as the division advanced by the different roads. February 22 we resumed the onward march at 9 A. M., the Fifty-fourth in rear, and passed through woods nearly the whole day, with here and there a plantation and cultivated fields. By orders everything along the road was burned. Foraging parties brought in all kinds of provisions which they loaded into every description of vehicle; wagons, carts, and even antiquated family coaches were used, drawn by horses, mules, and bullocks, which, with the contrabands, made our train a curious spectacle. Some twelve miles from the Ashley River we passed an abandoned battery of three guns commanding Rantowle's Ferry; another was found on the right at Wallace's. The Fifty-fourth camped at dark ten miles from Charleston. Our bivouac was a festive one, for supplies of chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, honey, rice, meal, sheep, and beef, were in profusion. Only a few armed but ununiformed men had been seen, who, when we followed, escaped, and were thought to be guerillas.

A move was made early on the 23d, our Second Brigade in advance, the Third Brigade following. The First Brigade remained to secure abandoned guns, for the whole region was thickly studded with works. We marched rapidly over good roads, arriving at the Ashley at 1 P. M. There, across the river, we saw Charleston, long the Mecca of our hopes; but the bridges were burned, so we camped with our long train, impatiently awaiting orders to cross. Captain Emilio was made acting assistant provost-marshal of the division, with Company E and a company of the One Hundred and Second as the guard. While there, the weather was rainy and chilly. On the 25th orders came