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These were substantially to group the right wing of the army at Pocotaligo； already held by the Seventeenth Corps； and the left wing and cavalry at or near Robertsville； in South Carolina。 The army remained substantially the same as during the march from Atlanta； with the exception of a few changes in the commanders of brigades and divisions； the addition of some men who had joined from furlough； and the loss of others from the expiration of their term of service。 My own personal staff remained the same； with the exception that General W。 F。 Barry had rejoined us at Savannah； perfectly recovered from his attack of erysipelas； and continued with us to the end of the war。 Generals Easton and Beckwith remained at Savannah； in charge of their respective depots； with orders to follow and meet us by sea with supplies when we should reach the coast at Wilmington or Newbern； North Carolina。
Of course； I gave out with some ostentation； especially among the rebels； that we were going to Charleston or Augusta； but I had long before made up my mind to waste no time on either； further than to play off on their fears； thus to retain for their protection a force of the enemy which would otherwise concentrate in our front； and make the passage of some of the great rivers that crossed our route more difficult and bloody。
Having accomplished all that seemed necessary； on the 21st of January； with my entire headquarters； officers； clerks； orderlies； etc。； with wagons and horses； I embarked in a steamer for Beaufort； South Carolina； touching at Hilton Head； to see General Foster。 The weather was rainy and bad； but we reached Beaufort safely on the 23d； and found some of General Blair's troops there。 The pink of his corps （Seventeenth） was； however； up on the railroad about Pocotaligo； near the head of Broad River； to which their supplies were carried from Hilton Head by steamboats。 General Hatch's division （of General Foster's command） was still at Coosawhatchie or Tullafinny； where the Charleston & Savannah Railroad crosses the river of that name。 All the country between Beaufort and Pocotaligo was low alluvial land； cut up by an infinite number of salt…water sloughs and freshwater creeks； easily susceptible of defense by a small force； and why the enemy had allowed us to make a lodgment at Pocotaligo so easily I did not understand； unless it resulted from fear or ignorance。 It seemed to me then that the terrible energy they had displayed in the earlier stages of the war was beginning to yield to the slower but more certain industry and discipline of our Northern men。 It was to me manifest that the soldiers and people of the South entertained an undue fear of our Western men； and； like children； they had invented such ghostlike stories of our prowess in Georgia； that they were scared by their own inventions。 Still； this was a power； and I intended to utilize it。 Somehow； our men had got the idea that South Carolina was the cause of all our troubles； her people were the first to fire on Fort Sumter； had been in a great hurry to precipitate the country into civil war； and therefore on them should fall the scourge of war in its worst form。 Taunting messages had also come to us； when in Georgia； to the effect that； when we should reach South Carolina； we would find a people less passive； who would fight us to the bitter end； daring us to come over； etc。； so that I saw and felt that we would not be able longer to restrain our men as we had done in Georgia。
Personally I had many friends in Charleston； to whom I would gladly have extended protection and mercy； but they were beyoud my personal reach； and I would not restrain the army lest its vigor and energy should be impaired； and I had every reason to expect bold and strong resistance at the many broad and deep rivers that lay across our path。
General Foster's Department of the South had been enlarged to embrace the coast of North Carolina； so that the few troops serving there； under the command of General Innis N。 Palmer； at Newbern； became subject to my command。 General A。 H。 Terry held Fort Fisher； and a rumor came that ha had taken the city of Wilmington； but this was premature。 He had about eight thousand men。 General Schofield was also known to be en route from Nashville for North Carolina； with the entire Twenty…third Corps； so that I had every reason to be satisfied that I would receive additional strength as we progressed northward； and before I should need it。
General W。 J。 Hardee commanded the Confederate forces in Charleston； with the Salkiehatchie River as his line of defense。 It was also known that General Beauregard had came from the direction of Tennessee； and had assumed the general command of all the troops designed to resist our progress。
The heavy winter rains had begun early in January； rendered the roads execrable； and the Savannah River became so swollen that it filled its many channels； overflowing the vast extent of rice…fields that lay on the east bank。 This flood delayed our departure two weeks； for it swept away our pontoon…bridge at Savannah； and came near drowning John E。 Smith's division of the Fifteenth Corps； with several heavy trains of wagons that were en route from Savannah to Pocotaligo by the old causeway。
General Slocum had already ferried two of his divisions across the river； when Sister's Ferry； about forty miles above Savannah； was selected for the passage of the rest of his wing and of Kilpatrick's cavalry。 The troops were in motion for that point before I quitted Savannah； and Captain S。 B。 Luce； United States Navy； had reported to me with a gunboat （the Pontiac） and a couple of transports； which I requested him to use in protecting Sister's Ferry during the passage of Slocum's wing； and to facilitate the passage of the troops all he could。 The utmost activity prevailed at all points； but it was manifest we could not get off much before the 1st day of February； so I determined to go in person to Pocotaligo； and there act as though we were bound for Charleston。 On the 24th of January I started from Beaufort with a part of my staff； leaving the rest to follow at leisure； rode across the island to a pontoon…bridge that spanned the channel between it and the main…land； and thence rode by Garden's Corners to a plantation not far from Pocotaligo； occupied by General Blair。 There we found a house； with a majestic avenue of live…oaks； whose limbs had been cut away by the troops for firewood； and desolation marked one of those splendid South Carolina estates where the proprietors formerly had dispensed a hospitality that distinguished the old regime of that proud State。 I slept on the floor of the house； but the night was so bitter cold that I got up by the fire several times； and when it burned low I rekindled it with an old mantel…clock and the wreck of a bedstead which stood in a corner of the roomthe only act of vandalism that I recall done by myself personally during the war。
The next morning I rode to Pocotaligo； and thence reconnoitred our entire line down to Coosawhatchie。 Pocotaligo Fort was on low； alluvial ground； and near it began the sandy pine…land which connected with the firm ground extending inland； constit