12th.—The armies around Richmond remain quiet. Butler is digging the canal at “Dutch Gap,” and Grant is fortifying “Fort Harrison” most vigorously. General Rosser has had a little reverse in the Valley, losing some guns. He had a cavalry fight, overcame the enemy, and drove them for miles; but encountering a body of infantry which was too much for him, he had to retreat, leaving his guns to the enemy.
The hospitals are full of the wounded; my afternoons are very much engaged, nursing them. I was very sorry yesterday to find R. S. painfully wounded.
Wednesday, 12th.—Marched eighteen miles to Resacca by 3 P. M., and surrounded the place. After dark relieved and began tearing up railroad; tore up two miles, to where Stewart’s Corps began. Captain Jake Morgan wounded in skirmish.
October 1st to 12th. Nothing special has taken place between these dates. Picket duty, and plenty of hard work, has been the order of each day as they come and go. Business is improving in the town. Many places are opening up, ready for business. Trains running quite regular. Lieutenant-Colonel Peale returned to the regiment, taking command, after being absent about two months in Washington, D. C.
Etowah Bridge, Wednesday, Oct. 12. A very beautiful day. Worked the forenoon on the embrasures. Policed camp after dinner. Marching excitement has somewhat abated, but I expect to march before a great while. The troops are all passed now, but the trains and beef cattle pass all day. Artillery firing heard in the direction of Rome.
Wednesday, 12th—We started early this morning and marched to within five miles of Rome by midnight, when we went into bivouac for the rest of the night. We had to move very slowly on account of the teams giving out. Our horses and mules are getting very thin. This is because of the scarcity of forage, and then, too, the roads are very rough, which made it hard on them. Hood’s force is thought to be about thirty thousand, while our army numbers fifty thousand men, of all arms, and the men are in fine shape. We received a large mail at Kingston, when passing through there this evening.
Three miles south of Kingston, October 12, 1864.
Started at daylight this morning. The Rebels were then at Rome. Stopped here at 5 p.m. It is understood that the Rebel Army has moved southwest into Alabama.
Passed through the best country to-day that we have seen in Georgia. We are camped on what has been a splendid plantation (equal to anything on Copperas creek), and on the only clover field, I think, in Georgia. This is about the only ground on which I have seen the Jamestown weed, plantain, or clover. We are very scare of forage, and the officers turned their horses out on the clover to graze. The Northern stock enjoyed it exceedingly, but the Southern horses did not know enough to eat it. They nosed around among the rich bundles of clover to pick out the weeds and hard wild grass, the latter not near as good as our poorest prairie grass.
(A duplicate of dates.) October 12, 1864.
Last night while our train was passing through Cassville, a town four miles south of Kingston, an ambulance gave out and the driver unhitched and concluded to stay all night. That was some three miles from where we stayed. Nine stragglers also laid down beside the ambulance for the night. The 17th Corps came through there to-day and found the driver dead, with a bayonet thrust through him, and the traps of the nine men laying around. The horses and nine men are missing. I heard to-night that the bodies of the nine men had been found altogether. Our men burned the town. I expect we will lie here tomorrow, and if Hood’s army is in this vicinity go for it next day. Nobody thinks he will dare to fight us. We have parts of five corps here.
Camp Near Strasburg, Virginia, October 12, 1864.
Dear Uncle Scott: — I am much obliged for your letter announcing the arrival of the big boy and the welfare of his mother. I had been looking for news somewhat anxiously. I intended to have had a daughter, but I failed to see the new moon over my right shoulder. I am glad to hear he promises to be a good boy, as Aunt Phoebe writes Dr. Joe.
We had a quiet election here yesterday. My old brigade, Ohio voters, were unanimous — the two veteran regiments voting as follows: Twenty-third — two hundred and sixty-six Union; Thirty-sixth — two hundred and fifty-nine ditto, and no Copperheads. The whole of Crook’s Command stands fourteen hundred Union and two hundred Democrats in round numbers — three-fourths of the Democrats being in companies from Monroe and Crawford [counties].
Our campaign in the Valley is supposed to be ended. It winds up with a most signal cavalry victory. It is believed that the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps with Sheridan’s splendid cavalry will join Grant and that Crook’s hard-worked command will have the duty of guarding the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in winter quarters. We hope this is correct. If so, I shall probably get home by Christmas for a good visit.
I am compelled to write this on the half sheet of your letter. — Love to all.
Sincerely,
R. B. Hayes.
Matthew Scott Cook.
Chillicothe, Ohio.
Wednesday, October 12. — Navy went about 5 A.M. We were not allowed to see them off. Meade kindly sent me his hammock. It seemed dreadfully dull all day, and we missed them very much. They were almost all of them very pleasant companions. Mr. John Caldwell was here to-day, and I gave him a draft in triplicate on Father for $50 in gold. He exchanged it at the rate of 24 for 1, making $1200 in Confederate money. I paid him back the $55 which I borrowed, and he returned me my receipt for the same. I lent Charlie Amory $50 and paid Colonel Marshall $50 and took $45 myself, leaving $1000 in the hands of Lieutenant Belcher. Colonel Marshall had a chill in the afternoon.
October 12 — We are still sojourning at General Sheridan’s headquarters, and under strict surveillance in the midst of an infantry camp. We are consigned to the limits of a little square patch out in an open field, without the least sign of shelter. So far our diet has been very simple. The quality of our rations is excellent, but the quantity is considerably below the danger line of dyspepsia. Uncle Sam, the dear generous old soul, is determined that we shall not suffer any pains or disagreeable uneasiness from indigestion or dyspepsia while we are under the kind and hospitable care of his faithful patriots. And our sleeping apartment is as airy as a mountain wind. We wrap our blankets around us and lie down to soothing slumber and pleasant dreams on the cold wet ground without the least shelter against storm or rain. General Sheridan burns a red light at his headquarters all night.
12th. Wednesday. In camp all day.
