ON the 6th of May the Regiment was taken to Charleston, and on the 7th, marched sixteen miles towards Summerville, and the next day went into that place, and encamped near the depot.
     On the 12th we went on the cars to Ridgefield, ten miles from Summerville, repaired the railroad in several places, and on the 17th went to Branchville.  Colonel Haughton's instructions were to go on to Orangeburg unless he received orders to the contrary.  While remaining at Branchville he heard that orders were on the way detaining him at that place, while a colored regiment would be sent to Orangeburg.  In order to go on to the latter place it was necessary to repair the railroad in several places.  Captain L. B. Mesnard was sent with Companies B and G to do the work, and in three hours laid 120 ties, spiked down the rails, built a bridge twenty-five feet long, and broke and fitted rails in four places.  That night the Regiment went on to Orangeburg, and secured their camp at that pleasant town.
     On the 23d of May, the 25th Ohio broke camp at Orangeburg and marched forty-five miles to Columbia, reaching the latter city on the 25th, and encamping in the college campus.
     It was the earnest wish of the officers and men of the Regiment to be immediately mustered out of service.  The long service of the Regiment, the alacrity with which it answered the call of the Government for veteran reenlistment, justified the belief that we would soon be at home with our friends.
     Such, however, was not to be the case, and our companies were scattered over the State of South Carolina upon odious garrison duty.
     Captain McConnaugh, in charge of Companies D and G, was sent to Winnsboro, June 8th.  Following that assignment, Captain Ferguson, with Companies F and K, was sent to Camden, and upon June 25th, Captain Murray was sent to Newberry.
     During the month of July, 1865, these garrisons were withdrawn, and Colonel Haughton was assigned to the command of the fourth sub-district of the Military District of Charleston, with headquarters at Columbia.
     Upon September 6th, Companies D, F, I and K were ordered to Orangeburg, but returned to Columbia upon the 27th.
     Upon September 11th, the first sub-direct, Department of Western South Carolina, was created, comprising the judicial districts of Fairfield, Newberry, Edgefield, Lexington and Richland, with Colonel Haughton as district commander.
     Colonel William P. Richardson, who had been severely wounded at Chancellorsville, had, after partial recovery, been placed in command at Camp Chase, Ohio, where he remained during the balance of the war.  He returned to the Regiment at Columbia, during the month of September, 1865, and succeeded Colonel Haughton, who was immediately afterwards assigned to the command of the second sub-district, with headquarters at Chester, and Companies B and E went to garrison that city.
     During the month of October, Company F relieved Company G, at Winnsboro, and the latter company marched to Chester.
     Upon November 7th, the companies returned to Columbia from Chester, and the next day Colonel Haughton assumed command of the first sub-district, relieving Colonel Richardson, who was assigned to another command.
     Colonel Richardson did not return to the Regiment, and shortly afterwards resigned, having been brevetted brigadier general for long and faithful service.
     Lieutenant Colonel Haughton was promoted to full colonel, a rank to which he had long been entitled, having been regimental commander for nearly three years, and having done more to bring the Regiment into a state of perfect drill and discipline than all the other field officers combined.  He was a man of remarkable courage and perfect self-possession under fire, handling the Regiment in battle as easily as upon dress-parade.  He was brevetted brigadier general for meritorious conduct in several engagements, and long and efficient service.
     Major E. C. Culp was promoted to lieutenant colonel, vice Haughton, promoted, and also received the brevets of lieutenant colonel and colonel.  Major Culp had been detailed from the Regiment since the 1st of May, doing duty upon General Gilmore's staff as inspector general of the department.  At his earnest request, he was relieved from duty and returned to the Regiment at Columbia during the month of December, 1865.
     Captain D. R. Hunt, who had served the Regiment as quartermaster very successfully, had also been detailed from the Regiment early in April, and until the muster-out of the Regiment served as depot and the department quartermaster, receiving the brevet rank of lieutenant colonel for excellent service in that department.
     During the winter of 1865-6, and spring of 1866, garrisons were maintained at various other stations, those not mentioned being Lieutenant Livinsparger at Winnsboro, Lieutenant Biggerstaff at Edgefield and Hamburg, and Lieutenant O. P. Hershey at Lexington.
     When the spring of 1866 opened, and a year had passed since the close of the war, the dissatisfaction at being retained in service increased daily.  In vain were petitions showered upon Governor Cox, of Ohio, asking for muster-out.  When it became evident that another summer would find the Regiment in service, the dissatisfaction assumed the form of desertion, and many of the oldest and best soldiers of the Regiment, many of them carrying marks of rebel bullets, took French leave.
     These men are to-day borne upon the rolls as deserters, and cannot obtain back pay, pensions, or use soldier's filings for securing public lands.
     When we reflect that those who fought against the Government for four years, many of them deserters from the Federal army and navy, or the halls of Congress, have been fully and freely pardoned, restored to full citizenship, and a number of them this day (March 20, 1885,) Cabinet officers, United States Senators, members of Congress, Governors of States, eminent judges, and high department officers, it is not time that those few soldiers of a gallant Regiment , who fought for the Government four long years, and then deserted a year after the war closed, should be restored to honorable positions?
     Upon the 30th of April, 1866, the Regiment marched to Summerville, near Charleston, and garrisoned the surrounding country.  Lieut. Colonel E. C. Culp was sent with two companies of the Regiment, and a portion of the 126th U. S. colored troops, to the Sea Island District, with headquarters upon Edisto Island.
     Upon the 6th of June, 1866, the long-looked-for orders for muster-out were received, and upon the 7th the Regiment left Charleston harbor on the steamer Flambeau, arriving, after a pleasant passage, in New York June 10th, and in Tod Barracks, Columbus, Ohio, June 12th, and was mustered out of service June 16th, 1866, after over five years of service, but faintly outlined in the preceding pages.