August 28—We moved this evening, and I stayed in a gentleman’s house all night with Wolf.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
August 28, Friday. The Rebels are demoralized and discouraged, yet have not the manly resolution to confess it. Great is the tyranny of public opinion in all this land of ours, and little is the individual independence that is exercised. Men surrender their honest convictions to the dictates of others, often of less sense and ability than themselves. The discipline and mandates of party are omnipotent, North as well as South. Toombs of Georgia publishes a letter in which he speaks with freedom and boldness of the wretched condition of affairs among the Rebels, and of the ruin that is before them. This is audacity rather than courage. Toombs is a malcontent. Scarcely a man has contributed more than Toombs to the calamities that are upon us, and I am glad to see that he is aware of the misery which he and his associates have inflicted on the country. I have ever considered him a reckless and audacious partisan, an unfit leader in public affairs, and my mind has not changed in regard to him. Toombs, however, was never a sycophant.
Was at the navy yard with E[dgar] and F[ox] to examine the Clyde, one of the fast boats purchased by the Rebels in England, which was captured by our blockaders.
28th. Was mustered soon after breakfast (as 2nd Lieutenant). Ordered to march. Boys got in about 5, then started. Saddled several hours in the rain. Moved half a mile, teams fast. Stopped till 10 P. M., unsaddled and got lunch, just asleep. Wrote to Lucy Randall. Spencer ordered back to Camp Nelson, leaving me in command. Awful roads and hills, many wagons mired. Camped about 2 A. M. in woods. Had the pleasure of answering several inquiries from Gen. Burnside. Met 50 prisoners.
Camp Dick Robinson, Ky, August 28th, 1863.
Again we are on the move en route to Crab Orchard, thirty miles from our late camp, where a military post is to be established. I understand there is to be a line of posts from Lexington to Cumberland Gap. Report says these posts are to be held by the Ninth Corps. I hope not. I much prefer active service, with its toil and exposure, to a life of comparative ease in camp. While there is work to be done, and God gives me strength, I want to be doing. When I can be of no more service, then I would go home.
But I see no preparations for field service. We have no artillery or ambulances, which is proof conclusive. I was disappointed in Camp Dick Robinson. I had read so much of it, I expected to find a military Station, or fortifications of some kind. Instead, I find a beautiful grove of oak and black walnut trees. It is noted as being the first camping ground occupied by loyal troops in Kentucky. General Nelson, its founder, who was shot last fall by General Davis, is buried here.
I have borne the march well today. My feet were somewhat tired, and what wonder? Two hundred twenty pounds—the weight of myself and load—is quite a load to carry ten miles over a macadamized road in half a day.
August 28.— Our surgeons mess together; to-day they had a dinner party; we were at it. Mr. and Mrs. Green were there, and we had quite a pleasant time. Rev. Mr. Bryson has presented the hospital with a number of interesting books, which have just run the blockade from England. Mr. B. is a Presbyterian minister, and a co-laborer with Dr. Quintard in the responsible work of supervising and promoting the spiritual interest of the army. I am not personally acquainted with him, but I have often heard him spoken of in terms of the highest commendation, as a zealous worker in the cause.
Mrs. Green is a very pleasant lady; is from Columbia, South Carolina; a sister-in-law to Rev. Dr. Palmer from New Orleans. The doctor was here a few days ago, and looked the worse for wear. He had just come from Chattanooga, and I have been told was holding divine service when that place was shelled, and went on with it as if nothing was the matter.
Troops are daily passing, they say from Mississippi, to reinforce our army. We are expecting a battle every day. General B. left here several days ago. If General Rosecrans should try to outflank our army by Rome, it will be compelled to fall back. General B. has a trying time, as there seems to be so many points from which the enemy can march their army right down on us; and they have so many more men than we have, that they can make any movement they please.
After dinner Mrs. Green, Mrs. Collier (whose husband is here sick), Mrs. W., and myself walked down to Catoosa depot, to see if we could hear of any news from Chattanooga, but the train did not come in. I hope nothing is the matter, and that it has not been captured by the enemy.
A number of men were at the depot, expecting to get off, and were much disappointed at not succeeding.
We have a very sick doctor here, who has been telling mo ho is greatly in favor of our having negroes in the army; somehow I do not like the idea; his arguments were, however, very plausible.
We have had a man desert, which has annoyed Dr. Bemiss not a little. He made pretense he was very sick, and the surgeons were very kind to him, and every thing that the hospital could afford was given him; his father came to see him, and because he could not get a furlough for him carried him off. The old man called himself a Baptist preacher, and wanted to hold service. I have very little patience with any one who could be guilty of leading his son to commit such a crime. Dr. B. has sent after them.
Vicksburg, Friday, Aug. 28. Felt pretty well. Fine day. Just before dinner I was informed that there was a box for me at the express office. I immediately obtained the necessary papers from Lieutenant Clark; George Spencer and myself hitched up the team and started down. Found it “a good large one”, but just as I got in the wagon it commenced raining, and did rain all the way back, giving us as good a wetting as ever a soldier had. Pound my tent nearly immersed in water, a large stream running between our bunks and the rain pouring in from above. Obliged to lay the box away for two hours before the storm abated so as to open it—was Job ever tempted so? But at last it stopped and we found lots of good things, butter, cake, dried fruit, cheese, etc. Much obliged to you.
Friday,. 28th—We bid bur friends adieu and came out eight miles above Rome. I got my hunting shirt as I passed through town, cost me sixty-eight dollars.
Friday, 28th—We had company inspection this morning and then started out for Monroe, expecting to have a little fight in taking the town. But upon reaching the place we found that the rebels had withdrawn, leaving at 6 o’clock in the morning. General Logan’s Division entered the town at 10 o’clock, while our brigade had come within a mile of town, where we again went into bivouac. In the afternoon there was a heavy rain. The rebels have a hospital here, with about fourteen hundred sick and wounded. Monroe is a nice town, well situated, and has some fine buildings. Strict orders had been given us not to kill any livestock on this expedition; all persons caught in the act were to be arrested. But some of the boys of our regiment had killed a hog and were in the act of cutting it up when the general of our division came riding along with his staff. The boys were caught in the very act. General Stephenson halted, and wanting to know by what authority they had killed the hog, he was going to have them arrested on the spot. But they had one fellow equal to the occasion, who explained that they had killed a wild hog. They were out in the timber getting wood with which to build fires, when some wild hogs there made a charge upon them, and in self-defense they had killed the boldest one; they then thought that as they had killed it they might as well bring it in and have some fresh pork. The general rode on.
Friday, 28th.—Reported Federals have taken Knoxville.
Camp White, West Virginia, September 28, 1863.
Dear Mother: — . . Your letter from Delaware dated the 20th came this morning. I am glad you are safely back to Mrs. Wasson’s pleasant home. I always feel uneasy when you have a journey before you.
Lucy left Webb and Ruddy with their Grandmother Webb at Mrs. Boggs’. Birch went with Uncle back to Fremont.
I am in no hurry about having my boys learn to write. I would much prefer they would lay up a stock of health by knocking around in the country than to hear that they were the best scholars of their age in Ohio.
I am glad to see that Laura’s husband has distinguished himself in the recent great battle and has escaped without injury. His good fortune will be gratifying intelligence at Columbus.
Lucy is in camp with me. Mrs. Comly (late Libby Smith) and Dr. Barrett’s wife are also in camp and make a pleasant little circle. She sends love. — Remember me to Sophia and Mrs. Wasson.
Affectionately, your son,
R.
Mrs. Sophia Hayes.
