The Porcher homestead was the most elegant which the expedition had seen. The house was filled with articles of convenience and luxury, with treasures of art and family relics. It was situated in a large park, shaded by magnificent trees. The position was good; and the line was formed for bivouac, the right at the mansion house, the left beyond that of the overseer, the out-buildings, over which guards were placed, being in the rear. There was slight picket-firing during the night, probably, however, at cattle and hogs. The march was resumed soon after daylight. Mr. Porcher was known to have been an original and most decided Rebel, and he was taken to Charleston as a prisoner; but his property would not have been destroyed as it was, had he not in reply to the question of the provost-marshal, “If he had any wine in his cellars” merely stated that he had not, omitting to say that he had a large amount in the garret. During the night a quantity of this liquor reached the mounted men of the escort, and probably some of the refugees; and by one or the other, while in liquor, the house and all the outbuildings, except the dwelling of the overseer which was saved by the exertions of Chaplain Bowles, who had spent the night there, were set fire to and destroyed as soon as the guards were withdrawn and the troops upon the march. As soon as the existence of the wine was ascertained by the provost-marshal, Capt. Torrey, he destroyed what remained of it. FOOTNOTES: [1] Northampton. A St. Julien homestead, passing by marriage into the hands of Gen’l William Moultrie, whose name belongs to the history of the State. On this place he made the first experiment of cotton-planting on a large scale. The substantial brick house was destroyed by fire in 1842, but the massive walls were uninjured, and the loss done by fire restored. (From the “Upper Beat of St. John’s, Berkeley,” by Prof. F. A. Porcher.) [2] William Jervey, Esq., of the Charleston Bar. [3] Cedar Grove, my grandmother’s old home, away from the great thoroughfares, was our refuge during the war, but Father had promised that Aunt Nenna (Mrs. Stevens) should not be left with her two babies all alone to meet the Yankees--the place was Northampton, near Black Oak the center of Yankee raiding. We kept putting off our move until the news came of the army being at Orangeburg. S. R. J. [4] Rene R. Jervey, son of W. J. [5] James L. Jervey, C. S. A., son of W. J. [6] William Henry Sinkler, C. S. A., son of Wm. Sinkler, of Belmont. [7] Lieut. Oscar M. LaBorde, C. S. A., killed in the battle of Averysboro, March 15. [8] Charles Stevens, son of Mrs. Henrietta Stevens. [9] William Palmer;--body servant of late Henry L. Stevens, C. S. A. [10] Mrs. Henrietta Stevens, widow of late Henry L. Stevens, C. S. A. [11] Mr. Thomas P. Ravenel, Sr., C. S. A [12] Hon. Wm. Cain, former Lt. Governor of South Carolina. [13] Dr. Peter G. Snowden, C. S. A.