February 21st. Snow melting very fast. Must wade through the wet snow. Orders to fall in and to report at Bolivar Heights, near Harper’s Ferry, a march of about four miles. When we arrived we were surprised to learn that we must witness the execution of two deserters. Strange that we must march so far to witness such a sad thing. Just before all things were ready, and in the nick of time, a pardon was received from President Lincoln. When it became known that a pardon was received there were a few faint cheers from some of the boys. For my part I was thankful that I did not have to witness the execution. Returned to camp late this afternoon.
February 2015
21st. Went down and saw Chester. Went home with Houghton and played chess. Beat him three games. Cold and chilly. In P. M. studied my lesson. No school in evening—very stormy. Signed and returned a Warranty Deed for a lot.
February 21st.—Another bright and glorious morning.
Charleston fell on Thursday night last. A large number of heavy guns fell into the hands of the enemy. The confidential telegraph operators remained with the enemy. They were Northern men; but it is the policy of those in possession of this government to trust their enemies and neglect their friends.
Congress passed yesterday a bill abolishing the “Bureau of Conscription” in name—nothing more, if I understand it. The bill was manipulated by Judge Campbell, who has really directed the operations of the bureau from the beginning.
The negro bill also passed one House, and will pass the other to-day.
Also a bill (in one House) abolishing provost marshals, except in camps of the army.
These measures may come too late. The enemy is inclosing us on all sides with great vigor and rapidity. A victory by Beauregard would lift up the hearts of the people, now prone in the dust.
Mr. D. H. London (on the street) is smiling this morning. He says there is no doubt but that we shall be speedily recognized by France, and that Gen. Lee has gone South to checkmate Sherman. I fear some one has been deceiving Mr. London, knowing how eager he is for a few grains of comfort. He is a rich man.
A dispatch was sent from the department to Gen. Lee this morning, at his headquarters, supposed to be near Petersburg. Gold was selling at $60 for $1 yesterday. This may be a “dodge” of the brokers, who want to purchase; or it may be the government selling specie.
A gentleman from South Carolina reports that the Georgians (militia and reserves, I suppose) refused to enter South Carolina in obedience to Gen. Beauregard’s orders, and that Gen. B. has not exceeding 10,000 reliable men. If this be so, Sherman may march whither he chooses! This is very bad, if it be true, and more and more endangers the capital.
Surgeon-General S. P. Moore’s estimates for the year’s expenses of his bureau are $46,000,000.
Cumberland, February 21, 1865.
Dear Lucy: — You will be sorry to hear that the Rebels got General Crook this morning. A party of perhaps fifty or so dashed into town in the night, went direct to the hotels where General Crook (the Revere) and General Kelley (the St. Nicholas) quartered, took them prisoners and hurried off. All possible pains to recapture them have been taken, but I have no confidence of success. No special blame will attach to anyone, I suppose. General Kelley commanded the post and had such guards posted as he deemed necessary — the same I suppose he has had for the last year or more. The picket post was not blamable, I think, — at least not flagrantly so. It is a very mortifying thing to all of us. I have been in the habit of staying at my camp out a mile or so, and so was not looked for. The fact was, I had received an order to get quarters in town and was in town that night at General Duval’s headquarters. But he, having left as everybody knew a week before, his quarters were not searched. A narrow chance for me. The only other officer taken was Captain Melvin, adjutant-general of General Kelley. The only possible danger to General Crook is the chance of his attempting to escape and failing. — Love to all.
Affectionately ever
R.
Mrs. Hayes.
Shiver Mansion, January 21.1 — At 3:30 A. M. Captain McNeal and fifty or so of his band kidnapped Generals Kelley and Crook from their hotel on Baltimore Street. Daring and well executed. They inquired for me but on learning that I quartered in camp did not look further.
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1This date should be February 21. General Hayes was on furlough in Ohio on January 21. — M. Goad; October 13, 2013
February 20.—Since my return I have visited three of the hospitals; they have very few patients. The Levert (so called in honor of the late Dr. L. of this place) is set apart for officers. Our old patient, Captain Curran, is in it, and, much to my astonishment, is recovering.
This hospital is a small one, but seems perfect in every department. The surgeon— Dr. Redwood — was captured at Shiloh, and was for some time practicing in prisons in the North, and has his hospital arranged as they have them there. A hospital like his is all very well in a place like Mobile; but I am afraid, if he had a few runs like we have had, it would not be quite so nice. Captain C. asked me if I would not like to be in such a one. I answered him no; for then I might forget we had a war on hand, with all these nice things around me. There is one room trimmed with blue, another with yellow, etc. The whole hospital is not as large as one of our wards. I asked Captain C. what he thought would become of all these “pretty things,” if some few hundreds of wounded were brought in from the field, as we have had them many a time. I think the blue and yellow spreads would be slightly soiled.
On one of my visits there, Captain Curran informed me that the day previous his surgeon had neglected to state what was to be his diet, and he had to fast all day, as the matron could not give him any thing not prescribed. To think of a wounded man, who is convalescing, fasting a whole day! I think I should have broken the rules that day. I believe in discipline; but, as I heard a friend say, we need not break the rules, just bend them a little.
A good many jokes are told on Dr. R., on account of his strict discipline. It is said, one day when the examining board met there, and one of the surgeons was taken suddenly ill, Dr. R. could not procure whisky for him until he put his name down as a patient.
The other hospital (the Canty, so called in honor of General C.) is in a very handsome building. It was the city hospital, and part of it is still reserved for the use of the sick citizens. The Sisters of Charity are its matrons, and we all know what they are in hospitals. And, by the way, why can we not imitate them in this respect, during these war times? Here one of them is a druggist; another acts the part of steward; and, in fact, they could take charge of the whole hospital, with the exception of the medical department.
My friend, Dr. Henderson, is surgeon of this hospital; he kindly took us all through it. He is making great improvements, in the way of chicken-houses, etc., but somehow I never look at these things now without thinking we are doing all this work for our foes.
Dr. H. related an anecdote about the quartermaster. He was in want of lumber, and had tried fair means about getting it till he was tired; so he made it a rule to spend every spare hour he had in the quartermaster’s office, till the latter gave him as much lumber and other material as he wanted.
I tell the surgeons here that they do not know any thing about the war, compared with those in the field, and near it. There is one thing that I have remarked: they have many more privileges than those near the front. Nearly every surgeon in Mobile boards in the hospital; whereas, with us, they were on no account permitted to do so.
The Ross Hospital, so called in honor of Dr. R. of this place, is, like the others, parfait in every respect. Dr. Needlet of Missouri is surgeon, and Mrs. Crocker matron.
The surgeon-general, Dr. Moore, is constantly issuing orders to the medical department, and the order of one day contradicts that of the day previous. The surgeons are a good deal annoyed at these orders.
While visiting the Ross Hospital, Mrs. C. showed me a book large enough to keep all of the records of the Confederacy, in which she was to note every mouthful eaten by the patients, and every drop of whisky that they drank. According to the rules in this book, she will be compelled to keep some half dozen of assistants. On looking at its size, I could not but think that paper must be much more plentiful than we thought for. The diet-lists are amusing to read. We know there are such articles as those named in them, from having seen them in good old peace times, but that is about all we know of them. The lists always put me in mind of the receipt, “First catch your hare, and then make your pie.”
Monday, 20th—We continued our march northward today about ten miles, destroying six miles of railroad. All the railroads within twenty miles of Columbia have been destroyed, every tie is burned and every rail is twisted into a corkscrew. A sad accident happened yesterday afternoon in Columbia when a detail from the Fifteenth Army Corps was casting the fixed ammunition into the river. A man dropped a shell on the bank of the river, which exploding, caused other ammunition to explode and ignited a large quantity of powder, killing several soldiers and wounding twenty others. When Sherman heard of it, he is said to have remarked that one of his soldiers was worth more than all that ammunition or even the city of Columbia.
Sixteen miles northeast of Columbia,
February 20, 1865.
The Provost Guards were the last to leave town. Fifty families of Columbians accompany us; have no idea how many negroes. Hard day’s march.
Chattanooga, Monday, Feb. 20. Another enchanting day and great exuberance of spirits is to be seen in camp, ball and other active outdoor amusements being the order of the day. On guard. Do not have to stand till night, watching mules, etc. We are surrounded by artillery camps, batteries that have laid here all winter. Have beautiful camps and excellent houses (not shebangs) to live in. Much more attention is paid to the soldiers than at Nashville, all seem happy at the change. The fever of example is wonderful. Our officers have already absorbed the spirit of other batteries, and require everything done according to “military”, or in camp slang, “put on style”. Right, a good sign of discipline. Lieutenant Silsby, formerly my old teacher, came to see us. Looking well, glad to see him.
February 20th. The deep snow is settling down very fast, weather very mild. General Seward from Martinsburg a visitor in camp. The commander of our brigade and this section of the valley.
