Thursday, 8. —Windy and very cold, but dry. Rode with Dr. Joe around the works on our left. Bitterly cold. Some things look as if we were to move up the Valley to stop Early from going to Richmond, so as to give Grant a fair field.
Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes
Wednesday, December 7, 1864. — Fine weather. We still inquire as to Early’s position, not feeling sure but that he will visit us. Sherman is reported to have taken Millen. If so he is safe; quite sure to reach the sea.
Camp Russell Near Winchester, Virginia,
December 6, 1864.
Dear Mother: — I received your cheerful letter on Sunday. It finds us in the best of spirits and so comfortably camped that we all would be glad to know that our winter quarters would be at this camp. We have the railroad finished to within eight miles; daily mails and telegraphic communication with the world. The men have built huts four feet high, eight or nine feet square, of logs, puncheons, and the like, banked up with earth and covered with their shelter blankets. My quarters are built of slabs and a wall tent. Tight and warm. We are in woods on a rolling piece of ground. It will be muddy but we are building walks of stone, logs, etc., so we can keep out of the dirt. — I have a mantel-piece, a table, one chair, one stool, an ammunition box, a trunk, and a bunk for furniture.
We get Harper’s Monthly and Weekly, the Atlantic, daily papers from Baltimore, New York, and Philadelphia. The Christian Commission send a great many religious books. I selected “Pilgrim’s Progress” from a large lot offered me to choose from a few days ago.
Our living is, ordinarily, bread (baker’s bread) and beef, and coffee and milk (we keep a few cows), or pork and beans and coffee. Occasionally we have oysters, lobsters, fish, canned fruits, and vegetables. The use of liquor is probably less than among the same class of people at home. All kinds of liquor can be got, but it is expensive and attended with some difficulty.
The chaplains now hold frequent religious meetings. Music we have more of and better than can be had anywhere except in the large cities. We have very fine horse-racing, much better managed than can be found anywhere out of the army. A number of ladies can be seen about the camps — officers’ wives, sisters, daughters, and the Union young ladies of Winchester. General Sheridan is particularly attentive to one of the latter. General Crook is a single man — fond of ladies, but very diffident. General Custer has a beautiful young wife, who is here with him.
I have just seen a case of wonderful recovery — such cases are common, but none more singular than this. Captain Williams of my command was shot by a Minie ball on the 24th of July in the center of the back of his neck, which passed out of the center of his chin, carrying away and shattering his jaw in front. He is now perfectly stout and sound (his voice good) and not disfigured at all. But he can chew nothing, eats only spoon victuals!
Dr. Webb is a great favorite. The most efficient surgeon on the battle-field in this army. He is complimented very highly in General Crook’s official report. He hates camp life, especially in bad weather, when he suffers from a throat disease.
My love to the household.
Affectionately, your son,
R.
Mrs. Sophia Hayes.
Camp Russell, December 6, 1864.
My Darling: — We are very comfortable and very jolly. No army could be more so. We have had no orders to build winter quarters, but we have got ready for rough weather, and can now worry through it. . . .
We have horse-races, music, church (sic!), and all the attractions. No fighting, which makes me hope I shall get off the last of this month to see my darling and the dear ones.
Affectionately,
R.
Mrs. Hayes.
Tuesday, 6. — Good weather. The battle at Franklin, Tennessee, was a fortunate escape from a disastrous defeat. It was probably also a damaging blow, perhaps severely so. Nashville can probably hold out. The situation there is interesting with a favorable look for us.
Sunday, 4. — A fine day. All talk is of Sherman and Georgia or Hood and Tennessee. This week is likely to inform us of their movements and so determine our own. Will Early on hearing that the Sixth Corps has left visit us?
Saturday, 3. — Still fair weather. [The] Third Division, Sixth Corps, leave us. Rode around our works. Too numerous for our force. Too extensive for less than forty thousand infantry or more. A battle at Franklin. Reports look well.
Friday, 2. — Another good day. All thought is of Sherman and Hood’s army. Hopeful. Busy fixing new camp for cold and wet weather.
Thursday, December 1, 1864. — An Indian-summer-like day. [The] First Division, Sixth Corps, go back — where? We change camp to their place — a pleasant enough change — west side of Valley Pike one and one-half miles south of Kernstown.
Camp Russell, Army of the Shenandoah, Virginia,
November 30, 1864.
My Dear Son: — I received a letter from your mother today in which she says that you are expecting a letter from me.
. . . I am very glad to hear that you are studying your lessons very well. . . . What a funny name your mother has for your brother “the Little Soldier.” She thinks of calling him after one of her ancestors, Captain Bilious Cook. I would prefer George Crook to such a queer name as “Bilious.”
We are having pleasant weather, and drill the officers and men every day. All the officers of the brigade were out today and we began with the musket drill, shoulder arms, etc. You would like to see our brigade have dress parade. The four regiments are formed in one line — the band and brigade flag in the middle. It makes a fine display. . . .
December 2. — You would have enjoyed being here yesterday. It was a fine warm day and we moved camp. One division of the Sixth Corps left to go south via Washington, perhaps to Grant. We moved our camp about a mile over to their ground. We are getting well fixed again. We hauled over our flooring and bunks, and they left a great deal of material, so we rather made by the change.
Your little letter pleased me very much. If you study hard you will soon be able to write a good long one. Give my love to Grandma, “the Little Soldier,” and all the rest of your friends. If I don’t get home by New Year’s, you must write me about the holidays. — Good-bye.
Your affectionate father,
R. B. Hayes.
Master James Webb Hayes,
Chillicothe.
