The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies Volume XIV: Series 1, vol. 14, Part I, 290.

HEADQUARTERS THIRD MILITARY DISTRICT, McPhersonville, June 17, 1863.

Brigadier General THOMAS JORDAN, Chief of Staff, &c.

GENERAL: I have the honor to report that on the 2nd instant I received a telegram at about 9 a. m. that the enemy had landed 200 or 300 men at Field's Point and that a gunboat was destroying the pontoon bridge at Combahee Ferry. I immediately ordered the entire command to protect to Pocotaligo Station and await further orders. I at once galloped to the section (3 miles distant) to put myself in telegraphic communication with the threatened point and to inform department headquarters.

Upon the arrival of my command I ordered three companies of the Eleventh South Carolina Infantry and Captain Trenholm's squadron of cavalry (one company dismounted) to proceed by my special train to Green Pond the whole under the command of Captain Trenholm, who was instructed to be governed in his operations by the last reports of the enemy's movements. I sent with Carolina Trenholm an excellent map of the country and two guides. One company of cavalry and a section of a battery were sent to Salkehatchie Bridge; one company and a section to Combahee Ferry. This force I considered amply adequate to repel any advance….I telegraphed to Charleston for some field rifled pieces with an infantry support, and proceeded myself to Green Pond to await the re-enforcements and accompany them.

Upon my arrival at Green Pond I learned that the gunboats had left the ferry, and reports from detached men arriving at the post satisfied me that the raid been successfully accomplished and that the enemy had retired. At 11 o'clock p. m. the Twentieth Regiment South Carolina Infantry, Colonel Keitt commanding, arrived at Green Pond, and about the same time I received an official note from Captain Trenholm stating that the enemy had finally disappeared....

The enemy burned four fine residences and six mills, and took off with them about 700 negroes, who are believed to have gone with great alacrity and to some extent with pre-concerted arrangement. Several intelligent negroes had recently escaped to the enemy, among them a pilot reported to be thoroughly familiar with the river. This will account for the boldness and celerity of the enemy's movements.

I beg to enclose with reports issued to Major Emanuel (to whom an excellent map of the country had been sent), with a copy of a circular to planters, which had been posted at the railroad stations in my district, and copies of which had also been sent to two of the gentlemen whose property has been lately destroyed.
The troops had been located about 3 miles nearer to Field's Point, but two successive commanders, viz, Lieutenant-Colonel Jeffords and Captain Bomar, had remonstrated against their troops being stationed there, on account of the extreme unhealthiness of the locality, and they were moved to Green Pond. Ballouville is about 3 1\2 miles east of Combahee Ferry, and I had proposed to station an infantry command there, but its surgeon sent in an official statement that troops could not be retained in that locality on account of malarious disease....

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. S. WALKER,

Enclosure Number 4. Report of Major W. P. Emanuel, Fourth South Carolina Cavalry. Headquarters for Troops between Ashepoo and Combahee, June 6, 1863.

Captain JAMES LOWNDES, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General:

CAPTAIN: On the morning of the 2nd of June the pickets reported to me that three gunboats had arrived at Field's Point and were landing a force. In a few minutes after a courier reported that a gunboat was within 1 1\2 miles of the pontoon bridge over the Combahee River. I immediately ordered Captain Godbold to send a detachment of 20 men, under Lieutenant Gilchrist, to Field's Point to check the advance of the enemy and harass them as much as possible. Captain Godbold, with the balance of his men, was ordered to remain at Stokes' Causeway to support position there. Lieutenant Breeden was ordered to prevent the enemy landing in that direction. Two pieces of Captain Bomar's artillery were also ordered there, but before arriving there Lieutenant Hendrix informed me that he had just heard from a reliable source that the gunboat had passed the bridge and was going on up toward the railroad bridge. I immediately ordered Lieutenant Hendrick to turn back with two pieces and take a position so as to prevent the enemy from reaching the railroad.

Lieutenant Breeden reported he arrived at Mr. Heyward's place within one hour after the picket's report from the pontoon bridge had been received, and found the buildings on that place and Mr. Lowndes' in flames, and the enemy, about 60 strong, retiring to their boat. One gunboat was at that time at the bridge. Lieutenant Breeden opened fire upon them, which was kept up until they got under cover of their guns, when he retired to the cover of the woods from their shell. I arrived on the ground shortly after and found the enemy retiring to their boat, which was then lying at the bridge. I also learned that another party of about the same number had landed from another boat below on Mr. Lowndes' place. Mr. Lowndes' overseer came down and informed me that some of his negroes were trying to escape. I immediately ordered a portion of Lieutenant Breeden's company to go the overseer to prevent their leaving, who succeeded in bringing back about 30.

The balance of the company remained at the foot of the causeway to watch the boat, which still remained at the bridge. After moving down the river about half a mile and back to the bridge for several times she finally moved down the river about half a mile below Mr. Lowndes' and anchored, when I moved Lieutenant Breeden's company down to Mr. Lowndes'. Shortly after getting to Mr. Lowndes' place I received intelligence from Captain Godbold that the enemy were advancing in force toward Stokes' Couseway. I left Lieutenant Breeden to follow the boats had passed below the causeway, and, procuring a guide, I proceeded to Stoke's Causeway.

Before reaching the causeway I received intelligence that the advance guard had driven those of the enemy within Mr. Middleton's mill. Arriving at the causeway I found that Captains Godbold and Bomar had advanced toward Middleton's mill to dislodge the enemy. I overtook Captain Bomar's battery a short distance beyond the causeway and ordered him to proceed as rapidly as possible. Before reaching the mill, however, a courier reported that the enemy had evacuated and fired the mill and had attacked them at Field's Point. I soon after heard firing in that direction, and I supposed Captain Godbold had engaged them. I ordered Captain Bomar to move down.

We discovered a boat lying not far from the bluff, which left just before the artillery came up. I then ordered them to Field's Point to try to cut of the boat. On riving at the road leading straight down to Field's Point we found ourselves almost surrounded by the enemy, who opened fire in every direction, except the way we came from. Thinking that Captain Godbold's men had fired into them through mistake I rode into the road, and looking down toward Field's Point I discovered a gunboat had taken a position so as to command the causeway. On turning around on my horse to look after Captain Bomar, who had been fired into, I and Lieutenant Hewitt, who were in the road, were fired into again from almost every direction. Upon looking around I discovered a good many negroes standing in the edge of the swamp, commanded by one white man. I ordered the artillery to fire into them. After firing into them several times, not knowing the enemy's force or position, the woods being very dense, i ordered the artillery to move back in the direction of Tar Bluff.

After arriving near Tar Bluff I met with Lieutenant Breeden, with his command, who had just arrived. I immediately ordered Lieutenant Edens to take a part of Lieutenant Breeden's command and scour the woods to Field's Point. Lieutenant Breeden was ordered around with the remainder of his command to take the main road leading to Field's Point, which he did, and arrived at or near there about sundown. Lieutenant Edens arrived before him, and on their arrival there they could se nothing of the enemy, as they had retired. Captain Godbold states that he had attacked the enemy at the same point we were fired into and had driven them back, when they commenced shelling from their boats. When he moved back to secure his horses the enemy advanced again, and I suppose Captain Golbold was with his horses when we were fired into.

In regard to the number of boats I cannot say with any certainly, as the reports conflict; some of the pickets report they saw three, others but two. If there were three, one must have remained at Field's Point all day. If it had not been for our ignorance of the country and of the position of the enemy at Field's Point we might have succeeded in capturing the greater portion of the enemy that landed there.

We only had one man wounded. I am not able to say what damage was done to the enemy. I have been informed that the most of the property near the river from Field's Point to Combahee Bridge has been burnt. I cannot say with any certainty as to the number of negroes that escaped, but suppose it to be between 500 and 600….

W. P. EMANUEL, Major, Commanding.

Enclosure E. Statement of William C. Heyward respecting the Combahee raid.

On Tuesday, June 2, 1863, at 6.15 a. m., servant knocked at door, stating that the driver, who was with the hands at work in lower fields, sent up word that there were three Yankee boats coming up the river. Immediately got up and sent word to him to bring up the hands and take them back into the woods.

On first going out could not see the boats in consequence of a bend in the river. Took my glass, and on going about 100 yards from house saw a large ferry-boat, with United States flag flying, upper deck crowded with people. She came up very slowly; sent a small boat ashore; 7 men landed; walked to and from causeway blowing a horn and waving a small flag. After standing and watching boat and their proceedings for some time, say fifteen or twenty minutes, the driver came up with the hands; again gave the order to him, "Take the hands back into the woods." Asked driver if any of the pickets had passed up causeway to report; he replied, "No one has passed up since I went down to work this morning."

Examined with glass carefully picket station at ferry; saw the horses standing quietly hitched. Yankee boat at that time within 1 & 1/4 miles of them. One of my hands then said, "Here they come." On my asking, "Who?" he replied, "The pickets." On again looking down causeway saw 4 men coming up, one much ahead running his horse; two shots were fired at them from boat. He came up to me and reported, "Yankee boats in river." Told him that fact was known by me at least one hour since. Asked why they were so slow in reporting. He said, "Ordered not report until we are certain of facts, thought perhaps they might be our boats." Asked if he was the first to start to give information; he said, "Yes." Asked if any one had gone to Pocotaligo he said, "No." Told him to hurry on to Green Pond for troops.

During this time boat kept coming up, but very slowly; it was about three-fourths flood; she passed safely the point where the torpedoes were placed, and finally reached the bridge at the ferry, which they immediately commenced cutting away; landed, to all appearance, a small force at Mr. Middletown's, and in a few minutes his buildings were in flames. On again examining causeway carefully saw a body of men advancing in regular order, double-file; watched them closely and counted ten files, or 20 men; did not observe that they were negroes; waited until they were within 400 or 500 yards of gate, and no help coming, took horse and left for Green Pond.

About 3 miles from plantation met 9 men on horse-back, advancing slowly; told them the state of things. Officer commanding said he wished the company was with him. Observing the company coming on about one-half mile off, told him of it, went on and, meeting the company, told officer commanding the state of affairs below, heard him give the order to trot or gallop. Then went on to Green Pond and telegraphed to General Walker; whilst doing so the artillery company passed station on their way down. In a very few minutes two pieces of artillery returned; officer asked the road to Salkehatchie Bridge; told him it was 14 or 15 miles distant, and that General Walker was only 5 or 6 miles from it; said he was ordered to got here, and started.

Returned to plantation as fast as possible and found, as expected, that the troops had been too late in getting down, the buildings being in flames and the negroes gone or going on the causeway and bridge when they arrived. On my return the boat was about one half mile below the bridge; do not think she ever passed up beyond it. My negroes who were left report that the party coming up causeway divided, part going off to burn the mill, the rest coming on up to dwelling house; they also state that was but one white man, all the rest negroes. They burnt every building on plantation except the negro quarters.

WM. C. HEYWARD.