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[134]

Chapter 44: skirmishing at Cheraw and Fayetteville and the Battle of Averysboro

Cheraw was pretty thoroughly defended with intrenchments and outworks; on my coming up with Mower's command ahead, I found him leading his division in his own indomitable style. The Confederate cavalry met us at Thompson's Creek, but being cavalry only, they quickly gave way to Mower's coming, but set the bridge on fire. Our men quenched the fire at once and followed speedily nearer to the town. A firm stand was made here by our adversaries to enable them to cover the next bridge across the Pedee with turpentine. At last, as the Confederates rushed across, they succeeded in setting behind them a quick fire, and one that became immediately so furious that Mower's men could not save the bridge.

Here, as at Columbia, a depot and several storehouses were already in flames when our men entered the city of Cheraw. Quite a largq amount of war material came into our hands by capture. By the newspapers which I found there the news of the taking of Charleston, and also of Wilmington, was confirmed.

Here we noticed the action of the Confederate Congress putting into service boys and old men. That body was also considering the expediency of organizing negro troops. In this we already had the start

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