i am, with respect,
L. M. DAYTON,
Assistant Adjutant- General.
SPECIAL ^ HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT AND
FIELD ORDERS, > ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE,
^o. 42. ) Columbia, S. C., February 18, 1865.
*******
II. It having been brought to the attention of the commanding gen
eral that certain lawless and evil-disposed soldiers of this command
have threatened to destroy the remainder of this city with fire, it is
ordered that all commanding officers and provost-marshals use the
utmost vigilance by establishing sufficient guards and patrols to pre
vent at all cost, even to the taking the life of any refractory soldier, a
recurrence of the horrors of last night. Maj. Gen. F. P. Blair, com
manding the Seventeenth Army Corps, will assign an officer to com
mand of that part of the city northeast of Taylor street. To Bvt.
Brig. Gen. W. B. Woods is assigned the command of that portion of
the city southwest of Taylor street. They will appoint provost-mar
shals, who will be authorized to call upon the corps commander for
sufficient force to prevent burning, pillaging, and all other acts sub
versive of good order and military discipline.
III. Capt. E. X. Carpenter, Sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry
Volunteers, is hereby announced as acting aide-de-camp to the major-
general commanding, and will be obeyed and respected accordingly.
476 OPERATIONS IN N. C., S. C., S. GA., AND E. FLA. [CHAP. LIX.
IV. The work of to-day will be continued to-morrow. The Fifteenth
Arrny Corps, Maj. Gen. John A. Logan commanding, will employ two
divisions in breaking the railroad, and will continue to furnish similar
details as those of to-day for the purpose of completing the destruction
of public property. Care will be taken that every part of the rolling-
stock is rendered perfectly useless. The Seventeenth Army Corps,
Maj. Gen. F. P. Blair commanding, will continue the work on the same
road and be careful to complete the destruction in the vicinity of the
town. Before the destruction of the store buildings at the depot the
chief commissary of subsistence of the department will supply the
army with such stores as he may find, such as salt, wheat, &c. He
will furnish what salt is necessary for the Columbia Hospital, and the
surplus he will have saved for the poorer citizens Avho have been
burned out. The bridge train will be moved up during the day and
parked in rear of the Seventeenth Army Corps beyond the limits of
the city.
By order of Maj. Gen. O. O. Howard:
A. M. VAX DYKE,
Assistant Adjutant- General.
HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Columbia, S. C., February 18, 1865.
Maj. MAX. WOODHULL,
Assistant Adjutant- General, Fifteenth Army Corps:
MAJOR: I respectfully report that no change has occurred in my line
to-day. The brigade first on provost duty in the city has been again
strengthened, as I have just ordered Colonel Catterson, commanding
Second Brigade, to send another regiment to Brevet Brigadier-Gen
eral Woods, thus giving eight regiments from my division on guard
duty in the town. I have ordered that every enlisted man found on
the streets after 5 o clock this evening (unless on duty) without the
written pass of his division commander to be arrested ana placed in
confinement, directing Brevet Brigadier-General Woods to suffer no
resistance in the least to his guards. I am confident the scenes of last
night will not be repeated.
I am, major, very respectfully,
C. II. WOODS,
Brevet Majo r- Gen eral.
HDQRS. SECOND DIVISION, FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Columbia, S. C., February 18, 1865.
Maj. MAX. WOODHULL,
Assistant Adjutant- General :
I have the honor to report that at about 3 a. in. General Oliver s
brigade (the Third) was, by direction of the major-general command
ing the corps, sent to patrol the city, arresting all men found in the
streets. The duty was performed promptly, and, so far as I could
learn, efficiently. At 7 a. m. the troops of this division were disposed
along the Columbia Branch South Carolina Eailroad, and have effec
tually destroyed to-day six miles of it. My headquarters are where
they were last report.
I am, respectfully,
W. B. HAZEN,
Major- General.
CHAP. Lix.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC, UNION. 477
HEADQUARTERS FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Columbia, 8. C., February 18, 1865.
Major-General HAZEN,
Commanding Second Division, Fifteenth Army Corps:
GENERAL: In accordance with instructions received from depart
ment headquarters, the minimum limit of destruction of the railroad
south of the city will be fifteen miles. Should this work not be accom
plished to-night by the two divisions assigned to that duty, they will
bivouac near the point at which they maybe working when night over
takes them, and commence on the road by daylight to-morrow. As
soon as fifteen miles of road have been destroyed the divisions will
return to camp near this city.*
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
MAX. WOODHULL,
Assistant Adjutant- General.
[Indorsement.]
Col. Theodore Jones, having many side-tracks to destroy, will not be
required to proceed beyond the first mile to-day. To-morrow he will
finish the second mile. Also, to-morrow the Second and Third Brigades
will proceed and destroy to the fifteen-mile point, and on the same day
return to this point. Mr. Scupham and Captain Earnest are charged
with seeing this order executed.
W. B. HAZEIST,
Major- General.
CIRCULAR.] HDQRS. SECOND Div., FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Columbia, 8. C., February 18, 1865.
I have in charge, at the citadel .where the South Carolina Military
School was kept, a large quantity of infantry and artillery ammunition;
parts of gun carriages; guns, large and small; cavalry equipments;
tools, and a large amount of other property useful to the service, which
all portions of the army needing the same are requested to call for and
appropriate. The officer in charge is directed to recognize all requisi
tions, however informal.
W. B. HAZEN,
Major -General.
HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Near Columbia, 8. C., February 18, 1865.
Maj. MAX. WOODHULL,
Assistant Adjutant General, Fifteenth Army Corps:
MAJOR : I have the honor to report that no change has been made in
the disposition of this command since my report of the 17th instant,
and that nothing unusual has transpired during the day.
I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JKO. E. SMITH,
Brevet Major -General.
* Same to Brigadier-General Corse, commanding Fourth Division.
478 OPERATIONS IN N. C., S. C., S. GA., AND E. FLA. [CHAP. L1X.
SPECIAL ) HDQRS. 4TH Div., 15TH ARMY CORPS,
FIELD ORDERS, > In the Field, on Broad River, 8. C.,
No. 19. ) February 18, 1865.
I. Brigade commanders will hold their men under arms ready to
move at a moment s notice, the men to be supplied with forty rounds
of ammunition full per man and two days full rations, which must last
four. One ambulance will follow each regiment, no other wagons to
accompany the command, except ordnance. The First Brigade will take
the advance, the Second Brigade will hold the center, and the Third
Brigade the rear.
By order of Bvt. Maj. Gen. John M. Corse:
L. H. EVERTS,
Assistant Adjutant- General
HEADQUARTERS FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Columbia, S. C., February 18, 1S65.
Major BURKHARDT,
Commanding Twenty-ninth Missouri Mounted Infantry:
MAJOR: Major-Generals Hazen and Smith have been ordered to
destroy the railroad running from Columbia to Branchville for fifteen
miles below the city. The general commanding directs that you pro
ceed with your command to that point and thence to the Wateree
River, destroying all bridges, trestles, water-tanks, depots, and other
buildings along the railroad. On completing this task you will rejoin
the command. In the execution of the order you will observe the
greatest caution, as you will be some distance from any infantry sup
ports. When engaged on the work of destruction you will establish
pickets to guard against a surprise or sudden dashes of the enemy s
cavalry. You will not allow any of your men to obtain liquor, and will
destroy any that they may now have that you can discover.
I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
MAX. WOODI1ULL,
Assistant Adjutant- General.
SPECIAL ORDERS, ) HDQRS. SEVENTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
No. 45. ] Columbia, S. C., February 18, 1865.
The destruction of the road will be continued to-morrow.
Brig. Gen. M. F. Force, commanding Third Division, will commence
at a point nine miles from the city and destroy three miles.
Maj. Gen. J. A. Mower, commanding First Division, will commence
at the end of the Third Division assignment and destroy two miles.
Bvt. Maj. Gen. G. A. Smith, commanding Fourth Division, will com
mence at the end of the First Division assignment and destroy one mile.
Division commanders will send out such details as they think proper
to do the work, leaving, however, a sufficient force to protect their
present camp.
Brevet Major-General Smith will move out his working party at 7
o clock.
The working party of the First Division will follow that of the Fourth
Division.
The working party of the Third Division will follow that of the First
Division.
CHAP.LIX.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. UNION. 479
The details will return to camp as soon as the- work is finished.
In the destruction the rails will be bent and twisted.
Corps headquarters will remain in the city to-morrow.
The brigade from the First Division now doing provost duty will
remain in the city to-morrow.
By command of Maj. Gen. F. P. Blair:
C. CADLE, JR.,
Assistant Adjutant- General.
SPECIAL ORDERS, ) HDQRS. THIRD Div., HTH ARMY CORPS,
No. 39. ) In the Field, S. C., February 1$, 1865.
I. This command will move forward to-morrow at 8 a. m. in the fol
lowing order to destroy railroad :
First, Second Brigade, excepting one regiment to guard camp;
second, First Brigade; third, artillery trains and ambulances will
remain in present camp.
The command will return to camp when the work assigned is com
pleted.
##*####
By order of Brig. Gen. M. F. Force:
J. C. DOUGLASS,
Assistant Adjutant- General.
GENERAL ORDERS, | HDQRS. LEFT WING, ARMY OF GEORGIA,
Xo. G. i In the Field, February 18, 1865.
The attention of all officers is called to Special Field Orders from
headquarters of the army, prohibiting the transportation of tents,
except one for brigade headquarters and upward. An immediate and
rigid enforcement of this order is expected. All surplus tents and every
pound of baggage not authorized by regulations and existing orders,
will at once be burned or abandoned. A portion of the army has
recently marched ten days through a country yielding but little forage,
and following this march it has been compelled to remain at one point
nearly two days. The result has been that portions of the command
have been utterly destitute of forage and the animals have suffered
severely. We have got a long and arduous march to make with
almost an absolute certainty of being delayed several days at one point
on our line, and that, too, in a section which will probably yield but
small supplies for either man or animals. Under these circumstances
the importance of collecting supplies as rapidly as possible, and of
making an economical use of them, must be apparent to all. The
stores now on hand will be placed in as few wagons as possible, and
all wagons obtained either by this method or by the abandonment of
tents and private baggage, will at once be loaded with such subsist
ence stores and forage as can be obtained in the country. At least six
days forage should, if possible, be kept constantly on hand. All dis
abled and worthless mules and horses will at once be shot. Xo person,
white or black, not connected with the arm}^ will be permitted to
accompany either column at the slightest risk of embarrassment to our
future operations.
By command of Maj. Gen. H. W. Slocum :
EOBT. P. DECHEKT,
Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant- General.
480 OPERATIONS IN N. C., S. C., S. GA., AND E. FLA. [CHAP. L1X.
HEADQUARTERS FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Freshly s Ferry, Water ee Creelc, February IS, 1805 Dark.
Captain DECHERT,
Acting Assistant Adjutant- General:
CAPTAIN: Please inform the general that I am completely disap
pointed and thoroughly disgusted. The bridge is not yet done, and
the commander of the pontoon train (Major Downey) has proved him
self a complete failure. The boats, as I before informed you, have run
out before reaching the opposite shore, and now (the eleventh hour)
this officer is in doubt whether or not the remaining distance can be
trestled. Please ask the general to have about ten boats forwarded
from the rear as soon as possible. Nothing further from the enemy,
Very respectfully,
JEF. C. DAVIS,
Brevet Major- General, Commanding.
[Indorsement.]
HEADQUARTERS FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
February 1ft, 1865.
I sent a dispatch this afternoon informing the general commandiug
of the movements of the enemy above us on the river. I see by the
dispatch just received that it has not been received. Cheatham is
crossing with a force estimated at 13,000 men. Kilpatrick is at Alston,
and reports the enemy crossing above Alston.
JEF. C. DAVIS,
Brevet Major -General, Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS LEFT WING, ARMY OF GEORGIA,
Fire Miles South of FreMy s, S. C ., February 18, 18G5.
Major- General DAVIS,
Commanding Fourteenth Corps:
GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs me to acknowl
edge the receipt of your communication, and to say that he will send
a division early to-morrow morning to the position now occupied by
General Carlin. He directs that you commence destroying the railroad
toward Alston as soon as you cross the river, and if possible destroy the
railroad bridge below Alston. The Twentieth Corps will cross the river
as soon as your corps is over.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ROBT. P. DECHERT,
Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant- General.
SPECIAL ) HDQRS. FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
FIELD ORDERS, > Freshly s Mills, 8. C.,
No. 12. ) February 18, 1865.
The movements of the corps to-day will be as follows :
General Baird will cross the Broad River, and, moving up the river
to a point two miles this side of Alston, will destroy the railroad to
that point (together with the railroad bridge at that place if not already
destroyed), and will encamp to-night at Larkiii s Mill, near Pearson s
Island.
CHAP.LTX.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. UNION. 481
General Carlin, crossing in rear of General Baird, will destroy three
miles of the railroad this side of where General Baird destroys it. He
will encamp at the point where the left-hand road from Thompson s
Post-Office to Monticello intersects with the road from Alston.
General Morgan will superintend the crossing of the trains of the
corps in the rear of General Carliu, and will destroy the railroad from
the pontoon bridge to where it is destroyed by General Carlin. He will
encamp with the trains to-night at Thompson s Post-Office.
Corps headquarters, with reserve artillery and ammunition train,
will move in rear of General Carlin.
By order of Bvt. Maj. Gen. J. C. Davis.
A. C. McCLUBG,
Lieutenant- Colonel and Cliitf of Staff.
HEADQUARTERS LEFT WING, ARMY OF GEORGIA,
In the Field, #. 6 ., February IS, 1865.
Major-General WILLIAMS,
Commanding Twentieth Corps:
GENERAL: I am directed by the major-general commanding to say
that General Davis has effected a crossing over the Broad River at
Freshly s, just below the mouth of Wateree Creek. He will commence
crossing his trains to-day about 12 in. General Slocum would like you
to get as near that point to-day as possible.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ROBT. P. DECHERT,
Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant- General.
ORDERS.] HEADQUARTERS TWENTIETH CORPS,
Near Oakville, ti. 6 ., February 18, 1865.
This command will march to-morrow across Broad River at the mouth
of Wateree Creek in the folio wing order: Third Division, First Division,
Second Division. The Third Division will start at 6.30 a. m., the others
following. General Ward will march one brigade in advance. Gen
eral Geary will cover the rear of the column with one brigade (or more
should there be any demonstration by the enemy). The Third and
First Divisions and all trains will cross Broad River, and the troops
be massed and trains parked at least two miles beyond. The Second
Division will halt and form a line, faced to the rear, at least one mile this
side of the bridge, and cover the crossing. As soon as all troops and
trains have crossed General Geary will follow, and he will deploy two
regiments on the north side of the river to cover the taking up of the
bridge. One battery of artillery will march with the rear guard. This
battery upon crossing the river will be put in position with General
Geary s regiments to cover the rear, and will come forward with them.
The balance of the artillery will march in rear of the advanced brigade.
The pontoon train will precede the trains of the Third Division, start
ing at 7 a. in.
By command of Bvt. Maj. Gen. A. S. Williams:
CHAS. MOYER,
Acting .Assistant Adjutant- General.
31 R R VOL XL VII, PT II
482 OPERATIONS IN N. C., S. C., S. GA., AND E. FLA [CHAP. LIX.
HEADQUARTERS TWENTIETH ARMY CORPS,
February 18, 1865.
General J. W. GEARY,
Commanding /Second Division :
GENERAL: The general commanding the corps directs me to inform
you that the order of march for to-morrow is suspended, and that you
will not break camp until further orders; also, that when you do move
it will be in the order of march already published.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
CHAS. MOYER,
Acting Assistant Adjutant- General.
HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS,
February 18, 18G~> I p. m.
Major-General SCHOFIELD,
Commanding, &e. :
I have met a quartermaster from Smith ville, who says the train had
not started two hours ago. From this I infer that Ames could not
have moved his column at noon. I am satisfied the road my guide
spoke of is the best, and have therefore sent this guide with a staff
officer to bring Ames to the point where we turn the pond by the
nearest and best route. If he is not far from Smith ville, they will bring
him on the route I mentioned to you, but if he has gone on toward
Eussell s, they will bring him by the best cross-road.
Very respectfully,
J. D. COX,
Major- Genera I, Commanding.
HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, TWENTY- THIRD ARMY CORPS,
Moore** Creek, February 18, y<%V7 5.45 p. m.
Maj. J. A. CAMPBELL,
Assistant Adjutant- General :
I have reached the point where the road turns Orton Pond. The
creek makes into the pond, and the crossing is a very difficult one.
We ran into a cavalry picket a mile before reaching here, and found a
considerable cavalry detachment holding the crossing. They were
inclined to be obstinate, and made a brisk skirmishing resistance, our
men being forced to cross a narrow causeway under their fire. They
are slowly retiring by the road I purpose taking, which shows that we
could gain nothing by taking the longer route. I have sent for Ames
to meet me here by the shortest and most practicable route, sending
him my guide. We have one more difficult creek to cross a short dis
tance ahead. It is doubtful if we get over it before dark. I have one
officer and several men wounded in the crossing. I shall send them
back to Smithville in the wagons when they come up. 1 will send you
another dispatch when I start in the morning. Just as I write the
above I learn that Ames is within half a mile of here. They came by
some good fortune the road my guide told the commanding general
they should take, i. e., that we came on yesterday, till they got nearly
five miles from Smithville, and my staff officer and guide met them just
before they reached the proper place to turn off. If the wagons get
CHAP.LIX.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC, UNION. 483
up to-night we shall get an early start in the morn ing. My dispatch
will tell you the hour we start in the morning, and the best estimate I
can make of our probable time of reaching the foot of the pond.
Very respectfully, &c.,
J. 1). COX,
Major- General, Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE OPIIO,
February 18, 1865 10.15 p. m.
Major-General Cox:
Your dispatches of 4 and 5.30 [5.45] p. in. are received. All right.
In your morning dispatch please send me a rough sketch showing your
position and the route you have to travel as nearly as you can. If you
lind it impracticable to get through on account of the enemy s force,
and deem it prudent to do so, hold on until you report and hear from
me again before coming back. General Terry reports an apparent
diminution of the force in his front to-day. This indicates a probable
increase in that which will meet you, yet I think you will be able to
overcome it if you have room to operate in.
Respectfully,
J. M. SCHOFIEL1),
Major- General.
FEBRUARY 18, 1805.
Major-General SCHOFIELD :
A deserter just arrived informs me that last night a Wilmington
paper contained news that Sherman was within three miles of Colum
bia, and that he was told last night he had taken the city.
TEKKY,
General.
SPECIAL ORDERS, ) HEADQUARTERS IT. S. FORCES,
No. 35. ( Fort Fisher, Y. (7., February 18, 1865.
*******
VII. Company L, First Connecticut Artillery, is relieved from duty
with this command, in pursuance of instructions from headquarters
Armies of the United States, and will proceed to City Point, Ya., with
out delay, reporting to the headquarters of the regiment upon arrival
at that point. The quartermaster is to furnish transportation.
By order of Maj. Gen. A. H. Terry:
A. TEKKY,
Major and Assistant Adjutant- General.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH,
Charleston, 8. <?., February 18, 1865.
Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK,
Chief of Staff Armies of the United States, Washington, D. C.:
GENERAL: The city of Charleston and its defenses came into our
possession, this morning, with over 200 pieces of good artillery and a
484 OPERATIONS IN N. C., S. C., S. GA., AND E. FLA. [CHAP. L1X.
supply of fine ammunition. The enemy commenced evacuating all the
works last night, and Mayor Macbeth surrendered the city to the troops
of General Schirnrnelfenuig at 9 o clock this morning, at which time ib
was occupied by our forces. Our advance ou the Edisto and from
Bull s Bay hastened the retreat. The cotton warehouses, arsenal,
quartermasters stores, railroad bridges, and two iron-clads were burned
by the enemy. Some vessels in the ship-yard were also burned. Nearly
all the inhabitants remaining in the city belong to the poorer classes.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Q. A. GILLMORE,
Major- General, Commanding.
HDQKS. COAST DIVISION, DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH,
Combahee, 8. C., February 18,
Maj. Gen. Q. A. GILLMORE,
Commanding Department of the South:
GENERAL : The enemy last night burned the railroad bridge over the
Edisto. Are apparently not in force on its bank. A contraband from
vicinity of Charleston reports the enemy evacuating. lie reports
Sumter and Moultrie as already abandoned. I will do my best to cross
the Edisto to morrow. Will be obliged to transport boats, unless a
gun-boat can be got to go up the Edisto and cross us.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JNO. P. HATCH,
Brigadier- General, Commanding Division.
SPECIAL ORDERS, ) HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH,
No. A. ] Charleston, S. <7., February 18, 1865.
I. The city of Charleston and its dependencies will form part of the
Northern District of this department, under the command of Brigadier-
General Schimmelfenuig, who will take all necessary measures for its
safety and security. The headquarters will, until further orders, be
located in the city.
II. Brig. Gen. E. E. Potter, with the troops and transports operating
from Bull s Bay, will report to Brigadier-General Schimmelfenuig.
Q. A. GILLMOEE,
Major -General.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington City, February 19, 1865.
Lieutenant- General GRANT :
I congratulate you on the news from South Carolina. I have directed
your order in respect to deserters to be printed in large handbills and
posted in everv camp and distributed on the boats.
EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
CHAP. LIX.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. UNION. 485
CITY POINT, VA.. February 19, 1865 5.15 p. m.
(Received G p. m.)
Major- General HALLECK,
Washington, D. C. :
If there are any canvas pontoons in Washington or New York please
send General Schofield enough for about 800 feet of bridging. The
pontoons he has are too heavy for the roads at this season.