ng there
was a large number of negro shanties, frequently from ten to fifty,
somewhat resembling a town. The lord's residence was invariably fixed
off in gay colors, with its handsome yards, out-buildings to break the
summer's sun, with high walls inclosing a square for hounds, besides
many other things. Then inside the dwelling itself were the costliest
and most beautiful decorations imaginable. The richest Turkey carpet
covered the floor; the finest sofas, chairs, tables, and other
decorations filled the rooms, and a large and extensive library was
invariably to be found. But these gay ornaments vanished before the
"vandal Yanks," as the dew-drops before the rising sun.

The scenery from the high hills that border on the western bank of the
Broad river, is grand in the extreme. Excepting that in the vicinity of
Chattanooga, it surpasses anything of the kind that ever came under our
observation. Looking eastward, you see the railroad and river winding
their snake-like course along the high and hilly plain. And from the
same view, as far as the eye can reach, one vast plain, undulating and
broken, spreads itself before you, diversified with a green forest of
pine, and fields covered with pure white sand, resembling high drifts
of snow. Then around you, in whatever point of compass you should
chance to look, thick volumes of smoke might be seen rising out of the
valleys, over the tops of intervening hills, presenting a picturesque
and novel scene.

Columbia, the capital of South Carolina, some twenty miles south of our
position on Broad river, was captured on the 17th of February, by the
right wing of the army, under General Howard, the mayor making a formal
surrender of the place to Colonel Stone, commander of a brigade of the
15th Corps. This brigade was the first organized body to enter it. The
city was fired by Wade Hampton's men before they left it, and nearly
destroyed, notwithstanding the effort made by our troops to save it.
While our division remained on the east side of the Broad river, it was
engaged, for a time, in destroying the Spartansburg railway. It was a
poor excuse for a road, the iron being old and worn out.

From Broad river, our column took up the line of march at six o'clock
on the morning of February 20th, moving in a north-eastern direction,
crossing Little river, and striking the Charlotte and Columbia railway
at White Oak Station, four miles north of Winnsboro; thence marching up
the railway