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.