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.