August 2014

Camp beyond Charlestown, August 30, 1864.

Dear Uncle: — We got a big mail today; letters from you, Lucy, Mother, and everybody, all written in July. We have had no general engagement, but a world of small affairs the last week. I think the enemy are giving it up. We are slowly pushing them back up the Valley. General Sheridan’s splendid cavalry do a great share of the work; we look on and rest. This has been a good month for us. We are a happy army.

I see it is likely McClellan will be nominated. If they don’t load him down with too much treasonable peace doctrine, I shall not be surprised at his election. I can see some strong currents which can easily be turned in his favor, provided always that his loyalty is left above suspicion. I have no doubt of his personal convictions and feelings. They are sound enough, but his surroundings are the trouble. We have a paymaster at last.

Sincerely,

R. B. Hayes.

S. Birchard.

[Dr. J. T. Webb, in a letter to his mother from “Camp Charlestown, August 30, 1864,” writes: “This is the place the chivalry hung old John Brown some four years since. It has been a beautiful place, many elegant residences, fine stores, printing press, and public halls. Now how changed! Not a store in the place, in fact nothing but the women and children and a few old men live here; a few of the fine residences look as though they were kept up, but everything around is sad and gloomy, and then to add to all, the Sixth Corps (some fifteen or twenty thousand troops) as they passed through the place, had all their bands, some twenty, play ‘Jonn Brown.’

“I met an old man the other day in the street, and said to him, ‘This is the place you hung old John Brown.’ ‘Yes,’ he replied. ‘How long since?’ said I. ‘Four years since and,’ added he, ‘never had no peace since.'”]

Camp Sheridan’s Army between Charlestown and
Winchester, August 30, 1864.

Dearest: — A lucky day. A big mail — letters (all of July) from you, Uncle, Mother, soldiers, their wives, fathers, etc., etc., and newspapers (all July) without end. So I must write short replies. . . .

We are slowly (I think) pushing the enemy back up the Valley. We have some fighting, but no general engagement. Sheridan’s splendid cavalry does most of the work. Heretofore, we (the infantry, especially [the] First and Second Brigades) have had to do our own work and that of the cavalry also. Now, if anything, the cavalry does more than its share. It is as if we had six or eight thousand such men as Captain Gilmore’s; only better drilled. A great comfort this. Indeed, this is our best month.

The men are fast getting their Kanawha health and spirits back, now that we are rid of Hunter, hard marching night and day, and nothing to eat.

The paymaster, Major Wallace (he inquires after Mrs. Hayes of course), has found us at last. The color-company of [the] Twenty-third is Twelfth men — a fine company of veterans. The color-sergeant is Charles W. Bendel of Maysville, Kentucky, of the Twelfth. He loves the flag as if he thought it his sweetheart — kisses it, fondles it, and bears it proudly in battle,

I hope things turn out so I can be with you about the time you would like me to be at home. Perhaps they will. Love to all.

Affectionately ever, your

R.

Mrs. Hayes.