29th. Went over to see Thede. Attended Mr. White’s church —Thede the Cathedral. Took tea at Byron’s. Heard Mr. Van Meter again in the evening.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Sewell Mountain, September 29, 1861.
Dearest L —: — A beautiful bright Sunday morning after a cold, bitter, dismal storm of three days. It finds me in perfect health, although many a poor fellow has succumbed to the weather. The bearer of this goes home sick — a gentlemanly German. I am still living with McCook, my regiment being back ten miles. We are in doubt as to whether we shall fight the enemy ahead of us or not. We are compelled now by roads and climate to stop and return to the region of navigable waters or railroads. No teams can supply us up here much longer. In this state of things we shall probably be content with holding the strong points already taken without fighting for more until another campaign.
We have three generals here. Rosecrans, Cox, and Schenck. General Cox is a great favorite, deservedly I think, with his men. We suppose, but don’t know, that there are three generals in the enemy’s camp, viz: Lee, Wise, and Floyd. Their force is believed to be much larger than ours, and many more cannon, but they dare not attack. They are industriously fortifying hills which we care nothing about.
My regards to the family. Love and kisses to the boys. The bearer, Mr. Harries, will, I hope, call on you.
Affectionately as ever, your
R.
Mrs. Hayes.
Sunday, 29th—I went to meeting once more before leaving for camp. After preaching I went to Mr. Moore’s, remaining there the rest of the day and stayed over night with John Moore. John presented me with a pocket Bible which he asked me to carry with me.[1]
[1] I carried this Bible during my four years’ service and read it through four times.—A. G. D.
![Post image for “The Sunday[s] are very quiet here even now, but the long wagon trains keep moving. We too expect to move tomorrow.”—Horatio Nelson Taft](https://dotcw.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/taft_horatio_nelson.jpg)
SUNDAY 29
Went to church in the morning with the boys. Dr Smith preached “Unless the Lord keep the City the watchman wait in vain.” From the way he handled the Text it was to be infered that the Army now here was of little account. He does not believe that the Lord is usualy on the side of the “heaviest Battalions” as old Napoleon did. The Sunday[s] are very quiet here even now, but the long wagon trains keep moving. We too expect to move tomorrow.
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The three diary manuscript volumes, Washington during the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, are available online at The Library of Congress.
Sunday, 29th.—Colonel Rains had learned that Colonel Brown, who was in command of the Home Guards that had fled to Wildcat the evening before, lived some two or three miles beyond London, and, thinking that perhaps Brown might have some supplies for his men stored away at his home, he (Rains) ordered Colonel McNairy to take his battalion, go to Brown’s and search for the supposed supplies. Swinging ourselves into the saddle, before 1 o’clock A. M., we went by the way of London, and searched Brown’s dwelling and premises, but found only a box of shoes.1 As soon as he was satisfied that there was nothing more to be found in the way of army supplies, our Colonel called out, “Mount your horses!” and we were soon on our way back to London. Arriving at that place about daylight, we halted until McNairy treated the whole battalion on brandy, after which we returned to camp and took another breakfast.
Besides the three prisoners and the shoes (twenty-five pairs) already mentioned, Colonel Rains captured 8,000 cartridges, 25,000 caps, three kegs of powder, several guns, six barrels of salt, two wagons and teams, loaded with the last of their camp equipage, and three other horses.
Soon after breakfast, our picket came dashing into camp and reported that they had been fired on just beyond London. Major Malcomb was immediately sent out in the direction of London with two companies of McNairy’s Battalion to meet the enemy and bring on the engagement, while Col. Rains deployed his men into battle line ready to receive the enemy should Malcomb be forced back. The Major returned, however, and reported no enemy found, so we concluded that it was only a scout, or “bush-whackers,” that had fired on our picket.
Having accomplished the object for which he had been sent out, Col. Rains now set out on his return. Going about eight miles back in the direction of Barboursville, his regiment and Allison’s Company bivouacked, while McNairy with the rest of his battalion went on to Barboursville.
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1It would seem that the panic struck Colonel Brown’s family just as they were ready to take supper last eve, for we found their supper still on the table when we entered the house this morning before day, but I did not say that it was on the table when we left.
SEPTEMBER 29TH.—To-day Mr. Benjamin issued several pass-ports himself, and sent several others to me with peremptory orders for granting them.
September 29.—General Price, commander of the rebel forces at Lexington, Mo., commenced the evacuation of that place.—Baltimore American, October 5.
—Governor Moore, of Louisiana, issued orders to compel all persons subject to the militia laws to drill every evening, these refusing or evading to be recorded on the black list as suspicious and enemies to the South. No home guards allowed unless foreigners or over age. Full authority to enforce discipline by court martial was given; the men to bring such arms as they had.— Cincinnati Commercial, Oct. 7.
—Tub Ninth regiment of Iowa Volunteers, Col. Vandeveer, arrived at St. Louis, Mo., from Dubuque, on two steamers—the Denmark and the Canada. Soon after arriving they marched from the boats, at the foot of Washington avenue, to the levee. They are a splendid body of men, hardy and muscular, and are fine material for the campaign in Missouri. Their exact concert of motion, their steady, solid tread, betoken superior drill. They are only partially uniformed, and had no arms on their arrival. This regiment—officers and men—are a quiet-looking, steady, determined set of men. Captain Hayden’s company of artillery, with six pieces, accompany the Iowa Ninth.—St. Louis Democrat, September 30.
—This morning, about one o’clock, as some of the Federal regiments were advancing in the neighborhood of Munson’s Hill, Va., Colonel Owen’s Irish regiment mistook a portion of Colonel Baker’s for secessionists, and commenced firing upon them. The fire was returned, and before the mistake was discovered nine men were killed and about Twenty-five wounded. Among the killed were three officers.
During the day some disgraceful acts were committed by a portion of the Federal troops, such as the burning of several houses, stables, &c. These acts met the decided reprobation of General McClellan.—National Intelligencer, September 30.
—A brisk fight took place at the bridge across James Bayou, six miles southwest of Norfolk, Ky. A force of about one hundred Federals were guarding the bridge, when a force of rebels, some two or three hundred strong, infantry and cavalry, approached with the intention of destroying it. The Federals came back to the side of the bayou, and after heavy firing on each side for a while, the rebels withdrew, leaving one man badly wounded and several dead bodies in the field.—Dubuque Times, Oct. 2.
—Acting Governor Root, of Kansas, issued orders that every man in the State, between eighteen and forty-five years, should enroll himself in the militia, and that each company be ready for immediate marching orders.—National Intelligencer, Sept. 30.
