The truth was, that, as we approached the seaboard, the freedmen in droves, old and young, followed the several columns to reach a place of safety.

It so happened that General Davis's route into Savannah followed what was known as the "River-road," and he had to make constant use of his pontoon-train--the head of his column reaching some deep, impassable creek before the rear was fairly over another.

He had occasionally to use the pontoons both day and night.

On the occasion referred to, the bridge was taken up from Ebenezer Creek while some of the camp-followers remained asleep on the farther side, and these were picked up by Wheeler's cavalry.
Some of them, in their fright, were drowned in trying to swim over, and others may have been cruelly killed by Wheeler's men, but this was a mere supposition.

At all events, the same thing might have resulted to General Howard, or to any other of the many most humane commanders who filled the army.