e prisoners had been carried down to be exchanged.--They were all brought off and sent up the country, with the exception of sixty-five, who were too sick to be removed, and were, of course, left behind.
I learn that our authorities, before leaving the town, seized and brought off all the horses, wagons, negro men, and all the white men between the ages of seventeen and fifty years, that they could get. All our troops escaped except a detachment of Mosely's battery and two regiments of Hagood's South Carolina brigade, numbering one thousand one hundred men. These were captured; how or where, I do not know.
The place was defended to the last, and only evacuated when the pressure of an overwhelming force of the enemy rendered it necessary.
At one time, they were seen advancing along the Corduroy road, which runs through the rice fields on the west bank of the river.--A few shells from one of our batteries posted at the foot of Market street caused them to beat a hasty retreat.
