The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-08-08
THE LAST BATTLES OF HAIR
 DEE'S CORPS.
"A D Ford in Souther,

A. P. Ford, in Southern Bivouac.l
 For long time previous to the evacua- ton of Charleston the Confederate troops on the South Carolina coast were sub jected to incessant duty along the lines and in the Notifications, involving hard ships that were exceptional even in the southern army. This section had been almost drained of men to recruit the Vir- ginia army, so that the few left scattered along the coast were compelled to do an amount of guard and picket duty that should have been the task of five times their number. Week after week the same relay ofmen vas kept on picket, often on actual post duty eight hours at time without relief, exposed to weather which at that time was very cold and rainy. Ra- tions were slim and clothing scant, so it was with satisfaction that the men learned, on the evening of the 10th of February, 1865, that they were to evacuate the lines at daylight and move northward. Sher- man had marched across the state from Savannah, Georgia, and was at that mo- nent in Columbia, South Carolina, which city he burned the next day. All com munication between the coast and in- terior having been destroyed, there was nothing to do but evacuate 1t and en- deavor to concentrate all the forces in North Carolina.
 Early on the morning of the I7th the various commands on James Island aban- doned their positions and began their march northward. The route of the Eighteenth battalion, with which l was connected, lay toward Bees Ferry, across the Ashley river, which point it was thought detachment of the enemy was threatening. About a mile from the bridge we met Captain H. M. Stuart's battery of artillery, and with his men manned some breastworks that com manded the approach to the ferry. The enemy, however, refrained from attacking our position, and at daybreak the next morning we crossed the bridge, and on the old state road, about five miles from the river, met the other troops from the neighboring islands and forts.
 All the troops gathered here were or ganized into two brigades, respectively commanded by Brigadier- General Ste phen Elliott and Colonel Alfred Rhett, both forming a division under Major General Talliafero, numbering about three thousand men. Our route was di- rected along the state road across the old, historic Goose creek bridge, which was burned as soon as the last of the troops had passed over. The men had started on the march with as much lug gage as they could carry; most of them had been for a long time accustomed only to garrison duty, and having little experience in the field soon began to feel the hardships of the march. They lost no time in throwing aside their imb<di. meHIa retaining only one blanket and the suit of clothes that each man actually wore. The surplus articles were thro VII aside, and for some miles both sides of the read were strewn with knapsacks, ar ticles of clothing, etc. Many of the men baretooted in the cold and wet, hobbling painfully on their bruised, bleeding feet i; and a number had to be carried in ann balances from sheer inability to walk. Further on we were joined by the re- mainder of the troops from the northern side sf Cooper river. and were all under the personal command of Lieutenant General w J. Hardee.
 During much of this march the weath- CT was cold and disagreeable and when we halted at dark it was to form cheer less camp, with the rain falling, and every particle of food and clothing saturated Within few minutes after a halt, even under steady rain, fires would be burn ing and quickly extend through the biv- ouac. If civilian should attempt to kindle fire with soaked wood under a steady rain, he would find his patience sorely tried but the soldiers seemed to have no trouble.
 Alter the fires were kindled we had to wait for the arrival of the commissary wa gons and it was not uncommon for de- tail of men to be sent back in the night to help push the wagons through the mud; weary. footsore, hungry, in the dark, up to the knees in mud, heaving on the wheels of stalled wagon! It was often late at night before the wagons were got up and rations could be obtained.
 The men, of course, had to take turns in the use of the two or three frying carried for each company, and when worn down with marching from early dawn until dark 1t vas disheartening to have to wait ones turn, which often did not come until eleven o'clock at night.