nd of all the cavalry in this army. He further asked that he
be assigned to the command of the cavalry of his department, all of
which was granted. Generals Hampton and Butler were both at home at
the time, the former on furlough, the latter recruiting and mounting
his troops. These two Generals being natives of the State, and General
Hampton so familiar with the topography of the country through which
the army had to pass, General Beauregard thought him a desirable
officer for the post. Furthermore, Wheeler's Cavalry had become
thoroughly demoralized and undisciplined. From their long, continual
retreats the cavalry had become to look upon "retreat" as the regular
and national order. Acting on the principle that all which was left
in their wake of private property would be appropriated by the enemy,
they fell with ruthless hands upon whatsoever property their eyes took
a fancy to, consoling themselves with the reasoning "that if we
don't take it, the enemy will." So audacious had become the raids
of Wheeler's command that citizens had little choice between the two
evils, "Wheeler's Cavalry or the Federals." The name of "Wheeler's
men" became a reproach and a by-word, and remains so to this day with
the descendants of those who felt the scourge of these moving armies.

These are matters that are foreign to the subject or to the "History
of Kershaw's Brigade," but as the greater part of the soldiers of
South Carolina were away during the march through their State
and ignorant of the movements of the armies, I write for their
information, and the concluding part of this work will be rather a
history of the whole army than of one brigade.

* * * * *

CHAPTER XLII

March Through South Carolina, February and March, 1865.

When Sherman put this mighty machine of war in motion, Kershaw's
Brigade was hurried back to Charleston and up to George's Station,
then to the bridge on the Edisto. Raiding parties were out in every
direction, destroying bridges and railroads, and as the Southern Army
had no pontoon corps nor any methods of crossing the deep, sluggish
streams in their rear but by bridges, it can be seen that the cutting
of one bridge alone might be fatal to the army. It was discovered
early in the march that Sherman did not intend to turn to the right or
the left, but continue on a direct line, with Columbia as the center
of operations. We were removed from the Edisto back to Charles