Headquarters, Co. “A”
92nd O.V.I.
Goldsboro, N. C.
March 28, 1865
My dear Parents:
Since my arrival at this place I have received letters from each of you and also from the girls. The R.R. completed to this place from Beaufort and supplies are being rapidly brought forward. I will endeavor to give you an idea of the general direction of our – the 3rd Div./14th Army Corps – line of march through S.&N. Carolina, we at all times formed the extreme left of the infantry force under Sherman, Kilpatrick’s Cavalry was nearly always either on our left protecting our flank or reconnoitering in our immediate front.
On the 5th of Feb. we crossed the Savannah River into S.C. at Sisters Ferry about forty miles above Savannah. This was the first time our part of the Army trod on the unholy & poluted soil of the state. From thence our line of march lay through immense swamps northward nearly parallel with the river to Barnwell; thence more west until we struck the Augusta & Charleston R.R. just east of Aiken Station & 24 miles from Augusta, here we spent 12 hours hard labor tearing up and burning the road – the boys all worked with a will. Marched toward Columbia crossed the North and South Edisto Rivers passed through Lexington & came to the Saluda River 11 miles west from Columbia where we crossed on pontoons leaving Columbia to our right for other troops to attend to. Our course now lay toward the Broad River which we crossed 21 miles above Columbia, same day we strike and destroy the Columbia and Springfield R.R., from here we march more to the left toward Winnsboro. Passed through Winnsboro 21st Camped two miles north of town on R.R. . 22nd, 3rd Div. commence destroying the R.R. follow the road & labor hard all day road torn up and burned to Blackstock Station. The way we destroy the iron is this; we tear off the railing, pile up the ties, set fire to them, lay the iron on the fire until it becomes very hot & pliable at the center of the rail, then three or four men seize either end, carry it to a tree which is used as a fulcrum, the rail is bent and coiled around the tree, there left to cool & rust, to transport Rebs no more for three years or during the war.
From Blackstock we move east & cross the Wateree River southwest of Lancaster. Crossed river 28th Feb. Passed N.W. of Lancaster. Crossed the state line into N.C. 3 PM 4th of March and bear again to our right toward Chesterfield. Again in S.C. crossed Great Pedee river on pontoons 8 miles above Cheraw. We now march directly for Fayetteville, N.C. When we arrive 11th March lay here three days – destroy the Military Academy, foundry, arsenal & cloth factories. Cross Cape Fear River on pontoons head our column for Goldsboro. We cross the South and Great Coburn rivers & then the Rebs begin to show themselves in force and offer fight; they seem to have a large force. On the 19th the advance of our army had considerable of an engagement with the enemy. 20th our Division ordered to the front, we march rapidly all forenoon & come to the ground where the heavy fighting was yesterday. We march out & form our line of battle outside of our works and in plain view of the enemy, he has his line strongly posted about mid way of an open field. We form our line just at the edge of the field & in a thicket of pine. Each regiment of our brigade is ordered to deploy a line of skirmishers on its own front. Companies A and I of 92nd are ordered out – I deploy my line in front of Regt. We are ordered to advance & drive the enemy from his position. So soon as we emerge from the wood the enemy endeavor to drive us back, but all to no purpose we give them a volley & then charge them, drive & take possession of their works. While crossing the field we had no shelter whatever – hence it was pretty warm work for a while; but we gained our point. While on the line the Rebs throw grape, canister & shell at our skirmish line at short range. I was slightly stunned by the explosion of a shell but am now all right again.
No man in the 92 from Athens County was injured while some portions of the line lost heavily. I have one of the bravest little companies in the Army – all first class soldiers. 21st Rebs get a good thrashing all along the line & evacuate during the night. 22nd March on our way to Goldsboro. Cross the Neuse on pontoons 11 miles from town arrive at Goldsboro. 23rd Are now in camp one mile north of town.There are portions of S.C. which are very rich and productive but the large portion is composed of sand, pine forest & swamps. All the land we spread over as we passed along is now one vast dreary waste. We burned fences, all vacant dwellings & they were many, all barns, storehouses, rail roads, foraged all the corn, hay, flour, meal, oats & meat – also cattle, hogs and sheep. Yes S.C. the mother of war, fine blood & destruction, has received her portionage & the dregs with it. But so soon as we crossed the line into N.C. no more houses of any kind were destroyed except government works.
I do actually believe that we have corduroyed at least seventy-five miles of road across swamps in order to get our train along. I wouldn’t give a 50 ct. Confed. Script for all the country I have seen since we left Savannah. I don’t believe it would produce even “good oil”.
I have just received by mail a pocket diary & a bundle containing socks, kerchief, suspenders, etc. just the things I wanted. Am very glad they got through. It would not be safe to attempt sending a box through as we shall probably leave here on another campaign in a very short time & then Richmond will fall. I send you an order issued by Sherman so soon as he arrived here.
Tell Geo. he must make plenty maple sugar this spring.
Much love to all Affectionately your son
David Putnam
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