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d sever the communications between Charleston and Columbia。 All the heads of column reached this road； known as the Edgefield road； during the 12th； and the Seventeenth Corps turned to the right； against Orangeburg。 When I reached the head of column opposite Orangeburg； I found Giles A。 Smith's division halted； with a battery unlimbered； exchanging shots with a party on the opposite side of the Edisto。 He reported that the bridge was gone； and that the river was deep and impassable。 I then directed General Blair to send a strong division below the town； some four or five miles； to effect a crossing there。 He laid his pontoon…bridge； but the bottom on the other side was overflowed； and the men had to wade through it； in places as deep as their waists。 I was with this division at the time； on foot； trying to pick my way across the overflowed bottom； but； as soon as the head of column reached the sand…hills； I knew that the enemy would not long remain in Orangeburg； and accordingly returned to my horse； on the west bank； and rode rapidly up to where I had left Giles A。 Smith。 I found him in possession of the broken bridge； abreast of the town； which he was repairing； and I was among the first to cross over and enter the town。 By and before the time either Force's or Giles A。 Smith's skirmishers entered the place； several stores were on fire； and I am sure that some of the towns…people told me that a Jew merchant had set fire to his own cotton and store； and from this the fire had spread。 This； however； was soon put out； and the Seventeenth Corps （General Blair） occupied the place during that night。 I remember to have visited a large hospital； on the hill near the railroad depot； which was occupied by the orphan children who had been removed from the asylum in Charleston。 We gave them protection； and； I think； some provisions。 The railroad and depot were destroyed by order； and no doubt a good deal of cotton was burned； for we all regarded cotton as hostile property； a thing to be destroyed。 General Blair was ordered to break up this railroad； forward to the point where it crossed the Santee； and then to turn for Columbia。 On the morning of the 13th I again joined the Fifteenth Corps； which crossed the North Edisto by Snilling's Bridge； and moved straight for Columbia； around the head of Caw…Caw Swamp。 Orders were sent to all the columns to turn for Columbia； where it was supposed the enemy had concentrated all the men they could from Charleston； Augusta； and even from Virginia。 That night I was with the Fifteenth Corps； twenty…one miles from Columbia； where my aide； Colonel Audenried； picked up a rebel officer on the road； who； supposing him to be of the same service with himself； answered all his questions frankly； and revealed the truth that there was nothing in Columbia except Hampton's cavalry。 The fact was； that General Hardee； in Charleston； took it for granted that we were after Charleston； the rebel troops in Augusta supposed they were 〃our objective；〃 so they abandoned poor Columbia to the care of Hampton's cavalry； which was confused by the rumors that poured in on it； so that both Beauregard and Wade Hampton； who were in Columbia； seem to have lost their heads。
On the 14th the head of the Fifteenth Corps； Charles R。 Woods's division； approached the Little Congaree； a broad； deep stream； tributary to the Main Congaree； six or eight miles below Columbia。 On the opposite side of this stream was a newly…constructed fort； and on our sidea wide extent of old cottonfields； which； had been overflowed； and was covered with a deep slime。 General Woods had deployed his leading brigade； which was skirmishing forward； but he reported that the bridge was gone； and that a considerable force of the enemy was on the other side。 I directed General Howard or Logan to send a brigade by a circuit to the left； to see if this stream could not be crossed higher up； but at the same time knew that General Slocum's route world bring him to Colombia behind this stream； and that his approach would uncover it。 Therefore； there was no need of exposing much life。 The brigade； however； found means to cross the Little Congaree； and thus uncovered the passage by the main road； so that General Woods's skirmishers at once passed over； and a party was set to work to repair the bridge； which occupied less than an hour； when I passed over with my whole staff。 I found the new fort unfinished and unoccupied； but from its parapet could see over some old fields bounded to the north and west by hills skirted with timber。 There was a plantation to our left； about half a mile； and on the edge of the timber was drawn up a force of rebel cavalry of about a regiment； which advanced； and charged upon some； of our foragers； who were plundering the plantation； my aide； Colonel Audenried； who had ridden forward； came back somewhat hurt and bruised； for； observing this charge of cavalry； he had turned for us； and his horse fell with him in attempting to leap a ditch。 General Woods's skirmish…line met this charge of cavalry； and drove it back into the woods and beyond。 We remained on that ground during the night of the 15th； and I camped on the nearest dry ground behind the Little Congaree； where on the next morning were made the written' orders for the government of the troops while occupying Columbia。 These are dated February 16； 1865； in these words：
General Howard will cross the Saluda and Broad Rivers as near their mouths as possible； occupy Columbia； destroy the public buildings； railroad property； manufacturing and machine shops； but will spare libraries； asylums； and private dwellings。 He will then move to Winnsboro'； destroying en route utterly that section of the railroad。 He will also cause all bridges； trestles； water…tanks； and depots on the railroad back to the Wateree to be burned； switches broken； and such other destruction as he can find time to accomplish consistent with proper celerity。
These instructions were embraced in General Order No。 26； which prescribed the routes of march for the several columns as far as Fayetteville； North Carolina； and is conclusive that I then regarded Columbia as simply one point on our general route of march； and not as an important conquest。
During the 16th of February the Fifteenth Corps reached the point opposite Columbia； and pushed on for the Saluda Factory three miles above； crossed that stream； and the head of column reached Broad River just in time to find its bridge in flames； Butler's cavalry having just passed over into Columbia。 The head of Slocum's column also reached the point opposite Columbia the same morning； but the bulk of his army was back at Lexington。 I reached this place early in the morning of the 16th； met General Slocum there； and explained to him the purport of General Order No。 26； which contemplated the passage of his army across Broad River at Alston； fifteen miles above Columbia。 Riding down to the river…bank； I saw the wreck of the large bridge which had been burned by the enemy； with its many stone piers still standing； but the superstructure gone。 Across the Congaree River lay the city of Columbia； in plain； easy view。 I could see the unfinished State…H