Baren’s Mills, S. C., February 3, 1865. Fifteen miles to-day. The 17th is having some pretty lively firing on our right. At a house I stopped at to-day a “cit” told me we were 95 miles from Charleston, 65 from Augusta, and 33 from Branchville. That is as near as I can tell you where [...]

February 3d.–The report that the United States Government had appointed commissioners to meet ours is contradicted. On the contrary, it is believed that Gen. Grant has been reinforced by 30,000 men from Tennessee; and that we shall soon hear thunder in Richmond. Gen. Lee writes urgently in behalf of Major Tannahill’s traffic for supplies, in [...]

Thursday, 2d–This is a beautiful morning and we started early on our march. We had better roads than yesterday, on higher ground, and covered thirteen miles. We drove the rebels forward all day, doing some lively skirmishing in the front. The rebels have all crossed the Salkehatchie river, but have possession of the two bridges [...]

2nd. Several furloughs came back. Boys happy. Am almost homesick, but put on as good a face as possible. Who knoweth the heart?

February 2, 1865. The advance started at daylight, but we are the rear guard of the corps and will not get off before 4 p.m. We have no idea of our destination, but are now traveling the Augusta road. The country is very level, but every mile or so there is a little swale or [...]

February 2d. – Bright and beautiful, and pleasantly frosty. Gen. Sherman is advancing as usual in such dubiety as to distract Gen. Hardee, who knows not whether Branchville or Augusta is his objective point. I suppose Sherman will be successful in cutting our communications with the South–and in depreciating Confederate States Treasury notes still more, [...]

Wednesday, 1st–We left camp early this morning for the grand raid through South Carolina, under the command of General Sherman. But our march will not be an easy one, for the rebels will do their best to hold us in check. There are one hundred thousand men within a radius of twenty miles, and there’s [...]

February 1st. The Christian Commission, with headquarters at Harper’s Ferry, furnish the chapel tent with pens, ink, paper, books, magazines, and newspapers. Our duty remains about the same from day to day. All is quiet these days. Occasionally we have a visitor from Connecticut. Always pleased to meet and welcome them.

1st. Wednesday. Grand Cavalry review. Raw day. Grand sight. Whole corps. Lady with Gen. Sheridan. Passed through Winchester.

Hickory Hill, S. C., February 1, 1865. Fifteen miles to-day and had an excellent supper of South Carolina ham, honey and sweet potatoes. Found a good deal of road blockaded to-day, but the pioneers removed the obstructions so rapidly that the train did not have to halt once. The Rebels disputed our advance a little, [...]

February 1st.–Clear and pleasant; subsequently thawing and foggy. Gen. R. E. Lee has been appointed General-in-Chief by the President, in response to the recent action of Congress and the clamorous demands of the people. It is to be hoped he will, nevertheless, remain in person at the head of the Army of Virginia, else the [...]