October 10.—I am cast down by hearing that J. P. has been captured; he was caught while scouting in the enemy’s lines, on James River. Poor child! I feel very, very anxious about him.
Our army in the Valley has regained its foothold, the enemy having retreated. B. C. had his horse killed under him in a fight near Waynesborough, but he escaped unhurt.
The Federal Army below Richmond advanced a few days ago, and took “Fort Harrison.” We live now amid perpetual firing of cannon. The loss of Fort Harrison is, I am afraid, a very serious loss to us. The enemy made a second advance, which has been handsomely repulsed. They seem to be putting forth their utmost efforts against us. I pray that our armies may be able to resist them and drive them to their own land.
Monday, 10th.—Crossed Coosa River, 9 A. M. Marched fourteen miles on Dirt Town Road.
Etowah Bridge, Monday, Oct. 10. Hailed the coming day with gladness this morning as it was so very cold we suffered from it. More like Wisconsin than Georgia. Found the infantry under arms since 3 A. M. and another “scare” prevailing. Fell out to work at 7, pioneers helping us. Ordnance train came up from town this morning and deposited their stores inside of the fort, filling our magazines with artillery ammunition; 90 boxes of three inch rifle; 40 12-pounder guns; 150 boxes of infantry ammunition, guns, sabres and other stores piled up inside the works covered with tarpaulins. A sergeant and seven men with them as guards, to guard our guns also, which lightens our duty greatly. Only three guards on duty.
General Sherman in Cartersville since this morning. The 23rd Army Corps marching through all day, almost on a double quick. His whole army is making a retrograde movement except the 20th Army Corps which is in Atlanta, fortifying it so as to hold it against Hood’s whole army, if necessary. He (Hood) is now north of the Chattahoochee River threatening some northern point. It is confidently expected that he will soon have reason to repent of his rashness. The troops are somewhat disappointed in being obliged to take the field so soon after the capture of Atlanta. In the evening I walked to town with Ed. Hayes. Saw the great but unassuming genius that holds in his hands the fate of the noble Army of the West. He appeared in a brown study, constantly walking with his hands in his pockets, more like a farmer than a general. The Etowah bridge completed by sundown. Disappointed by the non-arrival of mail.
Monday, 10th—A large detail from our regiment was put to work on the railroad. Three of us, Hiram Frank, John D. Moore and I, took French leave this afternoon and climbed to the top of Kenesaw mountain. It is a grand view from the mountain, but we had to pay for our sightseeing, for when we got back to camp we found that our command had left. They were ordered to go on the double-quick to Altoona, Georgia, and we had to run about four miles before we caught up with them. Our bunkmates were carrying our knapsacks, haversacks, canteens and rifles, with all accouterments, and they were about as thankful as we were when we caught up with them.[1]
[1] General Corse had flagged Sherman for reinforcements, as Hood was trying to capture the place. Our army had about one million rations stored at Altoona. Sherman flagged: “Hold the fort; I am coming,” and General Corse answered back that he’d hold the fort to the death if need be.—A. G. D.
Near Kenesaw Mountain, October 10, 1864.
Was on the ground we charged on the 27th of June, and also on top of Kenesaw to-day. Very fine view, but nothing like equal to that from Lookout. The signal station here communicates direct with Atlanta, Allatoona and Roswell.
I picked up some black oak acorns to-day from a tree that shades the graves of 12 or 15 of our soldiers, mostly from our regiment, who fell on the 27th. They were buried where they fell. That charge was the maddest folly of the campaign.
Headquarters Second Infantry Division A. W. Va.,
Camp Near Fisher’s Hill, South Of Strasburg, Virginia,
October 10, 1864.
Dearest: — I am very anxious to hear from you. I hope you are doing well.
We have slowly returned from our splendid campaign to this point. The Rebel cavalry impudently undertook to harass us as we approached here. General Sheridan halted his army and sent his cavalry back supported by two of my infantry regiments (Ninth and Fourteenth Virginia) and gave them a complete flogging, capturing their cannon (nine), train, and many prisoners. They were chased from the field at a run for twenty miles.
I don’t know when we shall return to Winchester, but probably soon. This valley will feed and forage no more Rebel armies. It is completely and awfully devastated — “a belt of desolation,” as Sherman calls it for one hundred and twenty-five miles or more from our lines. — My love to all.
Ever affectionately,
R.
P. S. — Just heard through Captain Douglass (10 A. M.) that I am the father of another boy. God bless the boy — all the boys — and above all the mother. — H.
Mrs. Hayes.
Monday, October 10. — Three officers were brought in last night who escaped from the depot. There are now 1400 officers at the stockade, some two miles from here. We are now kept locked up all the time, I suppose from fear of an outbreak. Gave the letter I was going to send by Lieutenant Ware to one of the hospital stewards who is going to Richmond to-morrow, to be exchanged, with the sick and wounded. Doctor examined several sick to-day and sent them off to be exchanged. Captain McChesney was sent to the hospital to-day. Heard that our privates were dying at the rate of 100 per day at Charleston, of yellow fever.
October 10 — Rations seem to be scarce in Uncle Sam’s domain, especially on his army front. We got no supper yesterday evening, and rations were so slim and slow this morning that I breakfasted on a little green pumpkin that I found in the field close to where I slept; I sliced it up and roasted the slices by the campfire. It was delicious and no mean filling for an empty stomach. This forenoon the Twenty-Second New York Cavalry turned us over into the care of the Third New Jersey Cavalry. Soon after the new guard took charge of us we were put on the move down Tom’s Brook to the Valley pike, then down the pike, through Strasburg, and this evening we are at General Sheridan’s headquarters, at Belle Grove, a large stone house in Frederick County, situated between Cedar Creek and Middletown, and a little distance west of the Valley pike. At Strasburg we were counted and turned over to a new guard, detailed from the First Regiment of Rhode Island Infantry, to march us to General Sheridan’s headquarters; then that guard turned us over to the Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts Infantry, doing guard duty around headquarters. We passed through a great many camps to-day along Tom’s Brook and the Valley pike, between Tom’s Brook and Fisher’s Hill. The whole country seems to be full of infantry.
10th. Monday. Lay in camp at Tom’s Brook. Letter from Minnie. Wrote home. Captured property sent to Strasburg.
October 10th.—A white frost; first frost of the season. All quiet below.
Gen. W. M. Gardner (in Gen. Winder’s place) reports that of the exempts and citizens taken from the streets to the front, last week, a majority have deserted This proves that even a despotic military act cannot be committed with impunity.
Gen. Beauregard telegraphs from Opeleka, Ala., that he has arranged matters satisfactorily between Gov. Brown of Georgia and Gen. Cobb, regarding exempts and State militia.
The President directs the Secretary to ascertain if this has been done in accordance with law and the interests of the service.
Gen. R. Taylor telegraphs that Gen. E. K. Smith has proclaimed pardon to deserters, from trans-Mississippi Department, after he had arrested most of them and sent them to their regiments, and now he recommends that no more troops be brought over the river or they will be sure to desert. The President directs the Secretary to correspond with Gen. Smith on the subject. Gen. Taylor is the President’s kinsman—by his first marriage.
Gen. Beauregard left Opeleka on the 7th inst. for Hood’s army, so in a few days we may expect a battle.
