Cheraw, S. C., March 4, 1865.
We were from 8 a. m. until 4 p. m. on this little five miles. The 17th
have their pontoons down and have a division across. Hear that the enemy is
fortified a short distance back from the river. Can hear no firing. Our
foragers took Society Hill last night.
This is a very pretty place, about the size of Canton.
The river, Great Peedee, is navigable for boats drawing five feet. The
left wing is at Chesterfield 12 miles above. There is an immense amount of
cotton here. Noticed guards on it, and some think it is to be sent down the
river. A thousand mounted men are to start from here to-morrow (from our corps,
and it is said the same number from each corps) for—somewhere—rumor says, to
release 8,000 of our prisoners at Florence. Our wounded men are all doing
splendidly.
SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier,
p. 356-7
