Wednesday, 7th.—This A. M., at 10 o’clock everybody ordered into the ditches, and skirmishers sent forward. Drove in pickets on the main line. W. F. White wounded in leg. Extremely cold.
Saturday, December 6, 2014
Tuesday, December 6. — Lieutenant Belcher on. Men sent off to Florence. Day pleasant. Rumors of a fight with Sherman.
Tuesday, December 6. — Lieutenant Belcher on. Men sent off to Florence. Day pleasant. Rumors of a fight with Sherman.
Camp Russell Near Winchester, Virginia,
December 6, 1864.
Dear Mother: — I received your cheerful letter on Sunday. It finds us in the best of spirits and so comfortably camped that we all would be glad to know that our winter quarters would be at this camp. We have the railroad finished to within eight miles; daily mails and telegraphic communication with the world. The men have built huts four feet high, eight or nine feet square, of logs, puncheons, and the like, banked up with earth and covered with their shelter blankets. My quarters are built of slabs and a wall tent. Tight and warm. We are in woods on a rolling piece of ground. It will be muddy but we are building walks of stone, logs, etc., so we can keep out of the dirt. — I have a mantel-piece, a table, one chair, one stool, an ammunition box, a trunk, and a bunk for furniture.
We get Harper’s Monthly and Weekly, the Atlantic, daily papers from Baltimore, New York, and Philadelphia. The Christian Commission send a great many religious books. I selected “Pilgrim’s Progress” from a large lot offered me to choose from a few days ago.
Our living is, ordinarily, bread (baker’s bread) and beef, and coffee and milk (we keep a few cows), or pork and beans and coffee. Occasionally we have oysters, lobsters, fish, canned fruits, and vegetables. The use of liquor is probably less than among the same class of people at home. All kinds of liquor can be got, but it is expensive and attended with some difficulty.
The chaplains now hold frequent religious meetings. Music we have more of and better than can be had anywhere except in the large cities. We have very fine horse-racing, much better managed than can be found anywhere out of the army. A number of ladies can be seen about the camps — officers’ wives, sisters, daughters, and the Union young ladies of Winchester. General Sheridan is particularly attentive to one of the latter. General Crook is a single man — fond of ladies, but very diffident. General Custer has a beautiful young wife, who is here with him.
I have just seen a case of wonderful recovery — such cases are common, but none more singular than this. Captain Williams of my command was shot by a Minie ball on the 24th of July in the center of the back of his neck, which passed out of the center of his chin, carrying away and shattering his jaw in front. He is now perfectly stout and sound (his voice good) and not disfigured at all. But he can chew nothing, eats only spoon victuals!
Dr. Webb is a great favorite. The most efficient surgeon on the battle-field in this army. He is complimented very highly in General Crook’s official report. He hates camp life, especially in bad weather, when he suffers from a throat disease.
My love to the household.
Affectionately, your son,
R.
Mrs. Sophia Hayes.
Camp Russell, December 6, 1864.
My Darling: — We are very comfortable and very jolly. No army could be more so. We have had no orders to build winter quarters, but we have got ready for rough weather, and can now worry through it. . . .
We have horse-races, music, church (sic!), and all the attractions. No fighting, which makes me hope I shall get off the last of this month to see my darling and the dear ones.
Affectionately,
R.
Mrs. Hayes.
Tuesday, 6. — Good weather. The battle at Franklin, Tennessee, was a fortunate escape from a disastrous defeat. It was probably also a damaging blow, perhaps severely so. Nashville can probably hold out. The situation there is interesting with a favorable look for us.
December 6th, 1864.
I find, on inquiry, the time has not yet come for me to visit my loved home. Since the fourteenth of last month, furloughs have only been given in extreme cases. They are now entirely suspended, for a brief period, in the Ninth Corps.
Grant is concentrating his forces. The Sixth Corps has just arrived, and is moving to the left. The Nineteenth Corps is on the way. Porter is collecting his fleet of ironclads in the vicinity of Dutch Gap. Butler’s canal is nearly completed. Should this canal prove to be a success, Porter may make a desperate attempt to reach the Rebel Capital, the land force co-operating on the right and left. But this move, whatever it may be, is not the cause of furloughs being withheld, for the order is confined to the Ninth Corps. Men are going, every day, from other portions of the army. General Burnside was here on Saturday, and returned to Washington on Sunday. On Monday the order was issued: “No more furloughs from the Ninth Corps until further orders.”
Lieutenant Colonel Swift is trying to get leave to take the regiment to Michigan to recruit. General Wilcox tells him the old members have seen more than their share of hard service, and advises him to let them remain where they are until their term of service expires. Swift is ambitious, and has an “itching palm” to wear the silver eagle.
December 6th.—Bright and beautiful. Indian summer apparently.
All quiet below—but it is anticipated by some that a battle will occur to day, or in a day or so.
The enemy’s negro troops have been brought to this side of the river, and are in full view on picket duty.
The Signal Bureau reports a large number of transports descending the Potomac a few days ago; probably Sheridan’s army, to reinforce Grant.
And yet our conscription superintendents, under orders, are busily engaged furloughing and detailing the rich slaveowners! It is developing a rapidly growing Emancipation party, for it is the establishment of a privileged class, and may speedily prove fatal to our cause. Our leaders are mad, and will be destroyed, if they persist in this policy.
Fort Gillem, Tuesday, Dec. 6. A pleasant day. Nothing startling. Artillery firing and skirmishing as usual. Some of our boys have been to the post line, report the enemy still throwing up works for artillery and infantry. Camp is full of wild rumors about Forrest’s venture against Nashville, but it is not reliable. Trains arrived from the North as usual. Wrote to Hannah this afternoon. Captain Hood has received orders to draw horses. This indicates work ahead of us.
6th. Tuesday. In camp. Bill Smith officer of the day.
