Thursday, 30th—The Seventeenth Army Corps have removed all their surplus baggage to the rear for the purpose of making a flanking movement on the rebels, who are reported to be falling back from their lines around Kenesaw mountain. Our artillery in the front is still in action, but the rebels make no reply.
June 2014
Thursday, June 30th.
There has been great dissatisfaction among, and some outspoken complaint by, both officers and men at the cutting up of the regiment and the sending of its battalions to different infantry commands, and, in company with some of the officers, I to-day called on Colonel Tidball about it at the Headquarters of the Second Corps. The Colonel was very polite, and particularly complimentary about the charge made by the five companies on the 18th, though in the newspaper accounts the name of our battalion was not mentioned. He said that he and General Hancock had watched us with their field glasses; that he had observed that the troops engaged belonged to his own regiment, and had even recognized me and some of the other officers on the field, and he insisted on taking me to General Hancock’s tent and introducing me as the officer whom they had seen leading that charge. The General was always stately but, with a very gracious bow, he said: “Yes, I saw that charge; it was gallantly made, very gallantly made,” and I won’t deny that the commendation of that distinguished officer quite compensated for the hazard of that diagonal trip across the cornfield, which was an exhibition of most inordinate vanity rather than genuine heroism on my part.
After a conference between Col. Tidball and General Hancock it was arranged, as I was informed, that the regiment should be brought together again and be brigaded with the Regular Engineers. Subsequently and during the same day, we learned that Col. Tidball had been relieved from active service in the field and ordered on duty at West Point.
June 30.—We get very little in the way of chickens, eggs, etc. The fact is, the government gives us no money to buy any thing with, which is very annoying.
Mrs. Dr. Pierce has sent a bottle of lotion for the use of the patients in cases of inflammation. As usual, the surgeons paid little or no attention to it, as it had been made by a lady. I found one of the patients suffering very much from a carbuncle. Dr. Wellford had been doing his best to get it ready for lancing. The head nurse said that Dr. W. told him to try any thing he pleased, as he was tired of trying things himself. I got him to try the lotion, and by next morning the carbuncle was ready for lancing, and the man had a good night’s sleep, the first he had had in a long time. This is a cause of triumph for us ladies. Dr. W. is much pleased with the lotion, and is anxious to get more.
A young man has died lately, who was wounded in the arm and in the head at the battle of Chickamauga. A minie- ball entered at the inner corner of one eye and made its exit at the temple of the opposite side. He was in a critical condition for several months. His wound in the arm healed, and that in the temple, near his eye, also healed; the other closed, with the exception of a slight aperture, from which a discharge kept up, the left side of the forehead being swollen all the lime. The young man walked about for weeks, looking very well and cheerful, though he often complained of dull pain in his head. He was at length taken suddenly ill, and became insensible. The surgeons thought he was suffering under compression of the brain. A consultation was held, and it was decided that the only chance to save his life was to trephine. The operation was performed, I think, by Surgeon Pim, medical inspector. It proved unsuccessful, and the poor fellow never rallied—lived a day or two in a state of insensibility, and then breathed his last. The post-mortem examination proved that the inner skull was seriously fractured, so much so as to make it evident that a fatal issue was inevitable. This young man lay for months in bed, with a bandage over both eyes, and seemed to suffer very little. I never saw him without a smile on his countenance.
Near Petersburg, Va., June 30, 1864.
Dear Father, — I send this note by Quartermaster Ladd, who is going home. Am well, and hope you will see Captain Ladd, who will tell you how things are going on here. . . .
Nothing particularly new, except that the rebels amuse themselves more than usual by firing at us. They have put a couple of bullets into the embankment in front of my quarters.
I think that a grand attack will be made in a day or two. I do hope that it will be successful. . . .
June 30. — Sent in our tri-monthly. Captain Howe mustered the companies, but did not finish, as a heavy fire was opened on our right, caused by the Eighteenth Corps advancing their pickets. Soon quieted down, however. Bugler Gallagher was wounded, and during night Sergeant Hanson of F Company was killed by a stray bullet.
[Hanson was lying in a shelter tent, the middle man of three. Any one who knows the size of a shelter tent knows that three men can pack in by lying close together. A bullet came over from the rebs and hit him in the bowels. It skipped the other two.]
Yellow Bluff, Fla.,
June 30, 1864.
Dear Sister L.:—
I know something how near to you the death of Almon comes. He was a comparative stranger to me. I had seen him but twice, once at home and once at Jacksonville, and of course I could not know him very intimately. His comrades spoke well of him and esteemed him highly, and he seemed to me like an excellent soldier and a good young man. I sympathize with you in your sorrow. Your grief is mine and your joy also.
My last letter from E. gives the intelligence that he too is among the host pressing on to Richmond, and I tremble lest in these days of terrible slaughter the next one may bring the news of a fearful wound, or some strange hand may tell me of his death in the field. I feel more anxious for him than I ever did for myself. You know how I have always felt about his going out and I have expressed my views freely to him, but now he is there, he shall hear no discouraging word from me. I have written to him to do his duty fearlessly and faithfully, and if he falls, to die with his face to the foe. He will do it. You will never blush for the cowardice of your brother, and my only fear is that he will be too rash. I glory in his spirit, while I tremble for his danger. Oh, I could hardly bear to give him up now, and yet I suppose his life and his proud young spirit are no more precious, no more dear to me or to you than thousands of others who have fallen and are to fall are to their friends. But I will not look forward to coming sorrow, but hope for the best.
This is the last night in June and very swiftly the month has passed away. The weather has been delightful, not near so warm as May. Almost every day we have had a refreshing shower.
We are in hopes to be ordered to Virginia, or we should not be disappointed if we were ordered there. The Seventh U. S. C. T. started day before yesterday and the Thirty-fifth went by to-day. It does seem hard that I should be lying here in idleness while my old comrades are marching on to victory or death. Perhaps it is for the best.
I have just been looking with pride at E.’s picture. Why cannot I look at yours? Isn’t it worth while to take a little trouble to send it to me? There must be a photographer in Panama.
Kingston, Ga., Thursday, June 30. Arose to find ourselves enveloped by cars and engines. Chattanooga is thriving under the military. Buildings are going up, roads repaired, etc. and an immense amount of stores are kept at this place. After breakfast and morning papers read, we were mustered for pay. Inspected at 8 A. M. Two [extra] engines attached, and with difficulty we reached the tunnel. Passed through it when extra engines left us, and we rode on some time, very fast, but often obliged to halt, trains blockading us in front.
Road very lightly guarded. Engineers’ camps frequently seen in the dense forest, busy at work getting out timber for bridges, etc. Steam mills running, etc. Country very thinly settled and poor land covered with pine shrubs. Tunnel Hill, a small town totally deserted in a mountain gorge, could be seen, Johnston’s winter quarters. Passed through a tunnel three-quarters of a mile long here, nearly suffocating us with fire and smoke. Dalton, next important place, found deserted and crumbling to ruins. Looks old, no new buildings. Disappointed at its appearance. Resaca on Oostanaula River, the strongest fortified position on the line, all cut up in rifle pits and forts, and large enclosure of graves tells of the fearful struggle it required to take it. The railroad bridge was a curiosity, made of round timber without bolt and rod, all wood. Calhoun we reached 4 P. M., the prettiest place on the line, neat houses, pretty yards and inhabited. At the tank we were met by battalion of secesh ladies with blackberries, huckle-berries, pies, milk, etc. to sell. Adairsville next station. A few houses. Women cheered us and boys returned a hearty response. Wheat and oats growing all along the road mostly harvested, but poor crop. Have seen more small grain to-day than I have since I left Wisconsin. Mostly poor people live here. Reached Kingston by dark. Went to the depot 11 P. M., and had to unload the horses and water them.
June 29th. Up very early this morning and on the march. A hot, muggy morn. After being under way about two hours, we could hear in the distance the popping of guns. Sounded like skirmishing firing. We thought there was music ahead for us. We kept pushing on. After a time the road rounded a curve on the mountains, where we could see ahead for a short distance. We could see the men leave the road and some running back. As we came near the point, saw that it was a cliff, a great overhanging rock. We learned that it was known as the Hawk’s Nest, giving a grand view of the New River, the mountains and valleys. We were allowed a look and permission to shoot, and listen to the wonderful echo our old muskets made. The view was something grand and awful. Shall never forget that scene. We learned there was a legend connected with its history. Indian lovers jumped from the cliff because the father, a chief, would not let his daughter marry the man of her choice. The story was told us by people living near.
After a time we began to descend the mountains, which I learned were the Gauley Mountains. At the foot of the mountains we came to a halt at the Gauley River, the bridge having been destroyed at the breaking out of the war, when General Rosencrans drove the rebel General, Robert E. Lee, out of West Virginia. We went up the river a short distance, where we managed to cross. The New River and the Gauley meet at this point and form the Great Kanawah River. A short distance from the Gauley River, on the bank of the Kanawah River, an ideal spot, camp was located. At this point rations had been stored for Hunter’s hungry army. Good bacon, salt beef, salt pork, rice, beans, coffee, sugar, hardtack. Good water. Fine place for bathing. The Kanawah River was as clear as crystal. Plenty to eat, a chance to bathe, wash our clothes, rest, made a great improvement in our condition in a very short time. This is a very interesting point here, as we learn its history from the old residents. They seem pleased to meet us and give us all the particulars about the location. Great lofty mountains on each side of the rivers. More inhabitants here than we have seen in any place for a long time.
June 30, 1864 8 a.m.
There was a terrific fight on our right, commencing at 2 this morning and lasting until 3. I have not yet heard what it was.
Some deserters passed us this morning. I have lost just half the men I left Scottsboro with just two months ago, but what I have left, are every man ready to help. We have a good deal more than “cleared” ourselves. I had my canteen strap cut off by a bullet and a spent glancing ball struck my ankle.
Camp [Piatt], Ten Miles Above Charleston,
West Virginia, June 30, 1864.
Dear Mother: — We got safely back to this point yesterday after being almost two months within the Rebel lines. . . . We have had a severe and hazardous campaign and have, I think, done a great deal of good. While we have suffered a good deal from want of food and sleep, we have lost very few men and are generally in the best of health. . . . General Crook has won the love and confidence of all. General Hunter is not so fortunate. General Averell has not been successful either. We had our first night’s quiet rest all night for many weeks.
Dr. Joe went to Ohio with our wounded yesterday and will see Lucy. He has been a great treasure to our wounded.
We have hauled two hundred [wounded men] over both the Blue Ridge and the Alleghenies and many smaller mountains, besides crossing James River and other streams. Our impression is that the Rebels are at the end of their means and our success now will speedily close the Rebellion.
Affectionately,
R. B. Hayes.
Mrs. Sophia Hayes.
