ARMY OPERATIONS. 



ANSWERED BT GENERAL SHERMAN. 

 HKADQU'RS MILITARY DIVISION OP THK MISSISSIPPI, ) 

 Is TUB FIELD, February 8, 1865. ( 

 GENERAL : Tours, addressed to General Howard, is 

 received by me. I hope you will burn all cotton, and 

 save us the trouble. We don't want it; and it has 

 proven a curse to our country. All you don't burn 



As to private houses occupied by peaceful families 

 my orders are not to molest or disturb them, and I 

 think my orders are obeyed. Vacant houses, being 

 of no use to anybody, I care little about, as the own- 

 ers have thought them of no use to themselves. I 

 don't want them destroyed, but do not take much 

 care to preserve them. 



I am, with respect, yours truly, 

 W. T. SHERMAN, Maj.-Qen. Commanding. 

 Maj.-Gen. J. WHEELER, Commanding Cavalry Corps 



Confederate Army. 



Upon the breaking of the line of the Salke- 

 hatchie the enemy retreated at once behind the 

 Edisto at Branchville, and the whole army 

 pnshed at once to the South Carolina Railroad 

 at Midway, Bamberg, and Graham's station. 

 The troops immediately set to work to destroy 

 the road, which had been of great importance 

 to the enemy, both as a means of communica- 

 tion and for forwarding supplies from Augusta 

 an(| northern Georgia to Richmond. From the 

 7th to the 10th of February the work was 

 thoroughly done by the 17th corps, from the 

 Edisto up to Bamberg, and from Bamberg up 

 to Blackville by the 15th corps. As the 17th 

 corps threatened Branchville, the enemy burn- 

 ed the railroad bridge and Walker's bridge be- 

 low across the Edisto. Meanwhile Gen. Kil- 

 patrick had brought his cavalry rapidly by 

 Barnwell to Blackville, and turned toward 

 Aiken, for the purpose of threatening Augusta 

 without being drawn into any serious battle. 

 Blackville is eighteen miles west of Midway, 

 and forty-seven miles east of Augusta ; Aiken is 

 seventeen miles east of Augusta. In his pro- 

 gress he had serious skirmishes with Wheeler's 

 cavalry, first at Blackville and afterwards at 

 Williston and Aiken. On February 8th Gen. 

 Williams, with two divisions of the 20th corps, 

 reached the railroad at Graham's station, and 

 Gen. Slocum reached Blackville on the 10th. 

 This wing continued the destruction of the rail- 

 road from Blackville up to Windsor. By Feb- 

 ruary llth Gen. Sherman's force was along the 

 railroad from Midway to Johnson's station. 

 The effect was to divide the enemy's forces, 

 which still remained at Branchville and Charles- 

 ton on the one hand, and Aiken and Augusta 

 on the other. 



The movement on Orangeburg now com- 

 menced. The railroad from Augusta running 

 nearly east to Branchville, there intersects with 

 the railroad from Columbia to Branchville, run- 

 ning nearly south, and thence southeast to 

 Charleston. Gen. Sherman at this time was 

 operating -west of Branchville on the railroad 

 from that place to Augusta. He now strikes 

 north to Orangeburg, the first important station 

 on the road from Branchville to Columbia, and 

 distant from Branchville seventeen miles. The 

 next important station north is Kingville, where 



the road from Wilmington to Charleston inter- 

 sects the Columbia and Charleston road, the 

 latter portion of which is common to both, 

 Orangeburg had a population of about three 

 thousand, and was prettily situated on the 

 north bank of the Edisto. From its position 

 upon the ridge of high lands on which the rail- 

 road runs, it was really of more importance 

 than Branchville, which the enemy had care- 

 fully fortified. 



The 17th corps crossed the south fork of the 

 Edisto at Binnaker's bridge, and moved directly 

 for Orangeburg, while the 15th corps crossed at 

 Holmon's bridge, and moved to Poplar Springs 

 to act as a support. The left wing, which was 

 still at work on the railroad, was ordered to 

 cross the South Edisto at New and Guignard's 

 bridges, and move to the Orangeburg and Edge- 

 field road, and there await the result of the 

 attack on Orangeburg. On the 12th the corps 

 was before the north fork of the Edisto, and at 

 an early hour engaged in skirmishing with the 

 enemy at different points. A force was found 

 intrenched in front of the Oraugeburg bridge, 

 but was swept away at a dash, and driven across 

 the bridge, which was partially burned. Behind 

 the bridge was a battery in position, covered by 

 a cotton and earth parapet with extensive wings. 

 While the division of Gen. Giles A. Smith was 

 held close up to the Edisto, the other two were 

 moved by Gen. Blair to a point about two 

 miles below, where Gen. Force's division cross- 

 ed by a pontoon bridge, and Gen. Mowers was 

 held to act as a support. As soon as Force's 

 division made their appearance coming up from 

 the swamp, the enemy began to give ground, 

 and Gen. Smith's division succeeded in gaining 

 the bridge, and crossed over and occupied the 

 enemy's position. The bridge was soon repair- 

 ed, and by the middle of the afternoon the 

 whole corps was in Orangeburg, and had be- 

 gun to destroy the railroad. This work was 

 done effectually by the corps to Lewisville, a 

 distance of twelve miles. Gen. Blair was then 

 ordered to push the enemy across the Congaree, 

 and force him to burn the bridge. This was 

 accomplished on the 14th. The Congaree River 

 is formed by the Broad and Saluda Rivers, 

 which unite at Columbia. After a southeast 

 course of about fifty miles, it unites with the 

 Wateree to form the Santee. Steamboats as-" 

 cend to Columbia. 



Gen. Sherman now directed his march 

 straight for Columbia, distant fifty-one miles 

 from Orangeburg. The advance of the 17th 

 corps was along the State road, while the 15th 

 corps crossed the north branch of the Edisto 

 from Poplar Springs at Schilling's bridge, and 

 took a country road which came into the State 

 road at Zeigler's. The 20th corps moved 

 north on a line west of the 15th, diverging 

 toward Columbia ; the 14th corps advanced in 

 a line further west, and the cavalry on their 

 left flank. On the 15th, the 15th corps discov- 

 ered the enemy in a strong position at Little 

 Congaree bridge, across Congaree Creek, with 



