It seemed that if there was any vitality left in Rebeldom it would deal a blow that would at least cause the presumptuous invader to pause.
As we knew nothing of the battles of Franklin and Nashville, we were ignorant of the destruction of Hood's army, and were at a loss to account for its failure to contest Sherman's progress.

The last we had heard of Hood, he had been flanked out of Atlanta, but we did not understand that the strength or morale of his force had been seriously reduced in consequence.
Soon it drifted in to us that Sherman had cut loose from Savannah, as from Atlanta, and entered South Carolina, to repeat there the march through her sister State.

Our sources of information now were confined to the gossip which our men--working outside on parole,--could overhear from the Rebels, and communicate to us as occasion served.

These occasions were not frequent, as the men outside were not allowed to come in except rarely, or stay long then.

Still we managed to know reasonably, soon that Sherman was sweeping resistlessly across the State, with Hardee, Dick Taylor, Beauregard, and others, vainly trying to make head against him.