14th. Sunday. Got into camp at noon. Lay all day near Dranesville.
Thursday, August 14, 2014
August 14th.—We have conflicting testimony. Young Wade Hampton, of Joe Johnston’s staff, says Hood lost 12,000 men in the battles of the 22d[1] and 24th, but Brewster, of Hood’s staff, says not three thousand at the utmost. Now here are two people strictly truthful, who tell things so differently. In this war people see the same things so oddly one does not know what to believe.
Brewster says when he was in Richmond Mr. Davis said Johnston would have to be removed and Sherman blocked. He could not make Hardee full general because, when he had command of an army he was always importuning the War Department for a general-in-chief to be sent there over him. Polk would not do, brave soldier and patriot as he was. He was a good soldier, and would do his best for his country, and do his duty under whomever was put over him by those in authority. Mr. Davis did not once intimate to him who it was that he intended to promote to the head of the Western Army.
Brewster said to-day that this “blow at Joe Johnston, cutting off his head, ruins the schemes of the enemies of the government. Wigfall asked me to go at once, and get Hood to decline to take this command, for it will destroy him if he accepts it. He will have to fight under Jeff Davis’s orders; no one can do that now and not lose caste in the Western Army. Joe Johnston does not exactly say that Jeff Davis betrays his plans to the enemy, but he says he dares not let the President know his plans, as there is a spy in the War Office who invariably warns the Yankees in time. Consulting the government on military movements is played out. That’s Wigfall’s way of talking. Now,” added Brewster, “I blame the President for keeping a man at the head of his armies who treats the government with open scorn and contumely, no matter how the people at large rate this disrespectful general.”
[1] On July 22d, Hood made a sortie from Atlanta, but after a battle was obliged to return.
Sunday, August 14.—We expected to leave to-day, but the cars did not come down from Atlanta. Mrs. Johnston and Mrs. Ashcraft have taken the men under their care, and Mrs. Captain Nott, who is very kind to the wounded, will also do her part. Dr. Smith is surgeon in charge, and is having every thing put in order. The ladies of the place have been very kind, and have sent the men all kinds of nice things.
I have spent a portion of the day with the young lad who cried so much the first night I came over here. He is wounded in the foot, has gangrene, and suffers excruciating pain. His name is Morgan, and he is from Mississippi. A Mrs. Ross has kindly offered to take sole charge of him. He has begged Mrs. W. and me to take him with us.
Mrs. W. has been very busy; she does not know what I have been doing, nor I of her doings.
A Lieutenant Sommerlin, from Covington, Georgia, is here, badly wounded; his wife, a lovely woman, is taking care of him.
She told me she was in Covington when the raiders passed through there, and that they committed some terrible outrages; among others was the shooting of a Captain Daniel, a cousin of Miss W., of whom I had heard her often speak. He was in the state service, and the vandals made believe they thought him a bushwhacker. He has left a large family of motherless children to mourn for him. He was a man of a highly cultivated mind, and stood well in the estimation of all.
They went to the house of an old man, and as he knew they had come with designs on his life, he sold it dearly. He fought manfully, and killed some half dozen before he fell.
Several of our attendants have come back; they had been sent for the bunks and other things that our folks were not able to take with them.
The hospitals went to Macon by Atlanta, and one of the men has informed me that while passing there the shells flew all around the train, and one struck within a few feet of them.
Atlanta is closely besieged. General Hood is now in command of this army. I believe Johnston is in Macon. There have been many conjectures as to this change of commanders, but no one can tell exactly the why or the wherefore.
Last evening Mrs. Brooks and myself went up to the College Hospital, in which are many of our wounded, besides the prisoners. Among our men I found two Scotchmen, very badly wounded. The wounded Federal captain that I had seen before was here, and looked badly. The prisoners are in much better quarters in this hospital than our men at the Coweta House.
All have fared much better than they have with us, as Mr. Kellogg, the steward, owns the building and has all of his own furniture. There are two ladies who take care of the patients—Mrs. Kellogg and Mrs. Alexander—both kind and excellent women.
We have had a few false alarms about the enemy coming, but they have always turned out to be our own cavalry.
We are leaving many good friends in Newnan; Mr. Dougherty’s family and many others have been very kind to us. As we have been much engaged, we have visited little. I spent a very pleasant evening at the house of Dr. Reesse; Mrs. R. is an excellent lady, and her daughters are highly educated young ladies and accomplished musicians.
Some time ago we all spent a delightful evening at the house of Mr. Bigby. We had a very fine supper, and all on the table was of home production, with the exception of the tea. But the supper was the least of the entertainment. Mrs. B. is a most charming lady, is a poetess, and is called the Mrs. Browning of the South. Lately she published a poem in the Field and Fireside, called Judith. She was earnestly requested by Dr. Hughes to read it, and did so It was certainly a treat, for she lent to the “rhyme of the poet the music of her voice.”
Mr. B. is a lawyer and a polished gentleman. Their residence is in a romantic part of the city, is a handsome building, inclosed in a very pretty garden filled with choice flowers.
There are some very nice residences in this place, and many very beautiful flower-gardens, laid out with a great deal of taste.
The people here seem to regret our leaving the post, though I am told the quartermaster owes many of them money for house rent, etc. I know that Mr. Dougherty has not received one dollar from the government, and we have cut down quantities of timber on his land.
Our post surgeons have been careful to respect the rights of private citizens, and with the exception of taking the churches when we first came here, I believe there have been no buildings taken for hospital purposes without the consent of the owners. In Chattanooga we were constantly coming in collision with the people for taking their property for government purposes. I do not know who was to blame, but I do know that such was the case.
Sunday, 14th—A hot, sultry day. There is no news of any importance. We are giving close attention to the very sick and the severely wounded, some of whom are dying every day.
A Set of Resolutions.
Resolved, That I may from this day learn something new from the Scriptures every day, and that I may obey the laws of God as near as I can, in entreating my fellow men, and in doing good for the Master’s sake.
Resolved, That I may once a day or more offer thanks to my Savior for his help; and, above all, that I may try to live a true Christian until death. May God help me so to live, is my prayer.
August.—The New York State S. S.¹ Convention was held in Buffalo and among others Fanny Gaylord, Mary Field and myself attended. We had a fine time and were entertained at the home of Mr and Mrs Sexton. Her mother is living with her, a dear old lady who was Judge Atwater’s daughter and used to go to school to Grandfather Beals. We went with other delegates on an excursion to Niagara Falls and went into the express office at the R. R. station to see Grant Schley, who is express agent there. He said it seemed good to see so many home faces.
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¹ Sunday School
14th.—Norfolk, poor Norfolk! nothing can exceed its long-suffering, its night of gloom and darkness. Unlike Winchester, it has no bright spots—no oasis in its blank desert of wretchedness. Like Alexandria, it has no relief, but must submit, and drag on its chain of servility, till the final cry of victory bursts its bonds, and makes it free. I have no time to write of all I hear and know of the indignities offered to our countrymen and countrywomen in Alexandria, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and other places which remain incarcerated in the sloughs of Federal tyranny. God help them, and give us strength speedily to break the chain that binds them.
Sunday, August 14. — Unusually dull, as we did not like to play cards and had nothing to do. Some of the navy officers came up in the afternoon.
Etowah Bridge, Sunday, Aug. 14. Inspection of men, knapsacks, haversacks and canteens this morning. On guard, easy work. Very hot and sultry. Wrote home as usual. Negro Anthony, the faithful old cook that has followed us for two years, preached on the parade ground this morning. He had a large audience and spoke for nearly an hour in his illiterate brogue, the burden of his words were quotations. Though improperly done, was evidence of a wonderful memory. Rebs reported fighting at Dalton. Demanded surrender. Captured large number of cattle at Adairsville. 5th Ohio Cavalry and 59th Indiana went up the river early this morning in order to be ready to fight.
Shenandoah Valley, Camp Near Strasburg, Virginia,
August 14, 1864.
Dear Uncle : — You see we are again up the famous Valley; General Sheridan commands the army; General Early and Breckinridge are in our front; they have retired before us thus far; whether it is the purpose to follow and force a battle, I don’t know; the effect is to relieve our soil from Rebels.
My health is excellent. Our troops are improving under the easy marches. We shall get well rested doing what the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps of the Potomac ([who] are with us) regard as severe campaigning.
I have heard nothing from home since I saw Lucy on the 10th [of] July. Direct to me: “First Brigade, Second Division, Army of West Virginia, via Harpers Ferry.”
Sincerely yours,
R. B. Hayes.
S. Birchard.
Shenandoah Valley, Near Strasburg,
August 14 (Sunday), 1864.
Dearest: — You see we are again up the Valley following Generals Early and Breckinridge who are in our front. I know nothing as to prospects. I like our present commander, General Sheridan. Our movement seems to relieve Maryland and Pennsylvania. Whether it means more and what, I don’t know. We are having rather pleasant campaigning. The men improve rapidly.
Put Winchester down as a Christian town. The Union families took our wounded off the field and fed and nursed them well. Whatever town is burned to square the Chambersburg[1] account, it will not be Winchester.
Several in my brigade supposed to be dead turn out to be doing well. There are probably fifty families of good Union people (some quite wealthy and first-familyish) in Winchester. It is a splendid town, nearly as large as Chillicothe.
Much love to all. Good-bye, darling.
Ever lovingly, your
R.
Mrs. Hayes.
[1] General McCausland had recently been on a raid in Pennsylvania; had captured Chambersburg, and the citizens being unable to pay the exorbitant levy he demanded, had burned it to the ground.
