Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 26.djvu/85

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Major Jenkins replied: " It is important that I should he- reinforced to-night. Please hurry Harrison to Coosawhatchie."

These orders were at once communicated to each command, and were received with enthusiasm.

Colonel Colcock, upon receiving the news, at once mounted his horse and started lor ( irahamville, stopping at Mr. Bostick's on the way to announce the news, and to explain his necessary absence the m-xt day. Riding all night, he approached (irahamville in the early morning, passed his family in a wagon on the road seeking a place of safety from a hattle about to be fought at their doors, and, without stopping, he bade them be of good cheer. He reached Grahamville after sunrise on the 3Oth and proceeded to the front to observe the situation.

Some idea of the military situation that morning may be formed from this circumstance: It is stated that seven companies of Colonel Colcock's 3d South Carolina cavalry, of about 700 men, were pick- eting the coast from Stono River to the Savannah, a front of about one hundred miles. Concerning the difficulties of a timely concen- tration of troops to meet this grave emergency I will give two inci- dents :

(1) Company B, 3d South Carolina Cavalry, Captain Archibald L. Campbell, was on John's Island, near Charleston. At noon of the 28th, an order came to report at Pocataligo "as soon as possible." The company took the road in fifteen minutes, Lieutenant Hender- son being detailed to draw in distant vedettes and follow. The com- mand rode on through the night and all next day, reaching Pocataligo at sunset of the 29th. After a short rest, the command was ordered to report at or near Boyd's Landing, and another night ride brought them to Bee's Creek works before daylight. From there Captain Campbell proceeded to Honey Hill. From John's Island, where Company B was on duty, was seventy miles by the most available roads.

(2) On the other side of Honey Hill, Earle's Battery was on duty on May River, near Bluffton. The battery received orders at 5 P. M. on the 2gth to move promptly to Grahamville, and in a few min- utes took the upper road and, passing through Hardeeville and Purys- burg, arrived at (irahamville railroad depot before daybreak of the 3Oth : alter feeding the horses and breakfasting the men, the battery pro- ceeded to Honey Hill, several miles distant, arriving there at sunrise. Alter an all-night march of thirty-five miles and without rest, they \\<-nt into action. In the United States war records and in other