Now devoid of Confederate defenders, Charleston surrenders to Union forces without a shot being fired by either side. Nearly two years of besiegement thus comes to a quiet end as the mayor greets Federal troops and control of the city passes to the Union in orderly fashion. The storied 54th Massachusetts Colored Regiment is among…
Today Sherman‘s force cross the Edisto River and into Orangeburg, a small contingent of Confederate defenders fleeing the city at the last minute. For Sherman, Orangeburg is but a stop along the way to Columbia, the state capital. The small community of Pelion is situated between the two cities. Tonight Pelion’s citizens are warned that…
South Carolinians strain to hear the latest news of Sherman’s movements. Confederate military officials in the state struggle to ascertain the Union general’s true intentions. Uncertainty on the part of his foes thus surrounds Sherman and his massive army as they steadily advance in South Carolina, with Blackville and Orangeburg now in their sights. In…