While it could have been done at the Edisto or Branchville, it is too
late now."

On the night of the 17th and morning of the 18th Charleston was
evacuated. Before the commencement of the retirement, orders were
given by General Beauregard to General Hardee to withdraw the troops
in the following order, but General Hardee being sick at this time,
the execution of the order devolved upon General McLaws: One brigade
of Wright's Division, in St. Paul's Parish, to move by railroad
to Monk's Corner, then march by Sandy Run to the Santee; the other
portion of Wright's Division to move by Summerville to St. Stephen's.
The troops in Christ Church Parish to go by steamer to St. Stephen's.
The troops from James' Island to move out by Ashley's Ferry and follow
the Northeastern railroad, to be followed in turn by all the troops in
the city. McLaws was to withdraw from Sherman's front at Branchville
and follow on to St. Stephen's. After all the troops were here
congregated, the line of march was taken up in the direction of
Cheraw. Away to our left we could see the clouds of smoke rise as
houses went up in flames, while forest fires swept the country far and
wide. It was not fully understood to what point Sherman was making,
until he reached Winnsboro. Here he turned the course of direction by
turning to the right, crossing the Catawba at Pea's Ferry and Rocky
Mount, the right wing under General Howard, at Pea's; the left, under
General Slocum, at Rocky Mount, all marching to form a junction again
at Cheraw. Sherman did not dare to trust himself far in the interior
for any length of time, but was marching to meet the fleet that had
left him at Savannah and the troops under Schofield, at Newbern, N.C.
This is the reason he turns his course towards the sea coast.
Raiding parties, under Kilpatrick, were sent out in the direction of
Darlington and Lancaster, burning and plundering at will.

About this time Fort Fisher and all the works at the mouth of the Cape
Fear River fell into the hands of the enemy. Wilmington surrendered
and General Bragg, who was in command there, retreated to Goldsboro.

How, in the face of all these facts, could it be possible for Generals
to deceive themselves or to deceive others, or how President Davis
could have such delusive hopes, is now impossible to comprehend. On
February 22nd, after the fall of Wilmington, the Army of Sherman was
on the border of North Carolina, while Hood's was straggling through