Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes

Camp White, Charleston, West Virginia, July 8, 1863.

Dear Mother: — . . . We received the news of the capture of Vicksburg last night. I hope it will not turn out as so many reports — stock-jobbers’ lies. We have thus far had encouraging success in Pennsylvania. If it is continued the Rebels will hardly repeat the experiment of invading our soil. Altogether things wear a hopeful appearance, but I do not expect an early end of the war. A great deal remains to be done, and it is gratifying that the people seem determined to be patient and firm. . .

Affectionately, your son,

Rutherford.

Mrs. Sophia Hayes.

July 7. P. M. — Heard the news of Vicksburg captured. Fired one hundred guns and had a good time.

Camp White, July 6, 1863.

Dear Uncle:—. . . I propose to take in your bank twenty-five hundred dollars stock in Lucy’s name. Please see when you get the cash to put the stock in her name. I have in Stephenson’s hands one thousand dollars and expect fifteen hundred dollars more in three weeks. I send you an order for it.

Reports from the East look well. If true, we shall perhaps go forward here. The Rebels found fighting in the enemy’s country a different thing from battling on their own ground.

Sincerely,

R. B. Hayes.

S. BIRCHARD.

Camp White, July 6, 1863.

Dearest: — Dr. Joe got back yesterday — twenty-four hours from Chillicothe. Very glad to hear his cheerful account of you.

I am in the tent occupied by Captain Hood and wife in front of the cottage. We all miss you. You could not have felt the loss of me more than I did of you. Notwithstanding the loss of the dear little boy, your visit leaves a happy impression. I love you more than ever, darling.

The Ninth has gone to Fayette. If the good news from the East holds out, I think the Twenty-third will follow soon.

We had a good Fourth. Salutes from Simmonds and Austin. A good deal of drinking but no harm. We let all out of the guard-house.

I send you a deed to execute and send to Stephenson. Do it before a notary. I will ask Uncle to put twenty-five hundred dollars stock in his bank in your name.

I am sorry to hear Uncle Scott is in poor health. I think the news from the East will be a good tonic. We shall whip the rascals some day. — Love to all.

Affectionately,

R. B. Hayes.

Mrs. Hayes.

Camp White, West Virginia, July 1, 1863.

Dear Uncle: — Lucy and family left here today. They go to Ross County. They will probably visit Delaware during the summer. Unless we should have more active duty, I shall be quite lonely for a while without them.

The invasion of Pennsylvania is likely to work important changes; possibly to take us East again. The Army of the Potomac has another commander. I still suspect that in the case of that army, the soldiers are more in fault for their disasters than the generals. I dread to hear of a battle there. They will do better, however, on our own soil. If Grant could only get Vicksburg in time to spare a corps or two of his troops for the campaign in the East, we should be safe enough. If Lee really is pushing into Pennsylvania in full force, it ought to prove his ruin; but we shall see. I think, as you do, that it will do much to unite us.

Sincerely,

R. B. Hayes.

S Birchard.

July1, [1863]. — Lucy and the family left on the Marwood today. The visit has been a happy one, saddened though it is by the death of our beautiful little Joseph. Lucy has been cheerful since — remarkably so — but on leaving today without him she burst into tears on seeing a little child on the boat. The boys, the three, all lovable. Birchie is delicate, looks like Billy Rogers. Must take care of his training.

Little “Jody” died in the Quarrier house, a little frame cottage on the bank of the Kanawha opposite the lower end of Charleston. Camp White was on the same premises.

Camp White, June 25, 1863.

Dear Uncle: — Our little Joseph died yesterday after a few days’ severe illness. He was eighteen months old — bright and very pretty. I have hardly seen him, and hardly had a father’s feeling for him. To me, the suffering of Lucy and the still greater sorrow of his grandmother, are the chief afflictions. His brain was excessively developed, and it is probable that his early death has prevented greater suffering. He was the most excitable, nervous child I ever saw. We have sent his body home for burial. Lucy and the rest will leave here in a few days for Chillicothe. This has dashed the pleasure of their visit here.

I have one thousand dollars for your bank (at Cincinnati), and will [shall] have fifteen hundred dollars more in two or three weeks. I want stock to that amount. I have one thousand dollars’ worth of 7:30 bonds, but I will keep them in preference to the stock.

I like Brough’s nomination [for governor of Ohio.] We everywhere lack energy. He will have enough.

Sincerely,

R. B. Hayes.

S. BIRCHARD.

Camp White (opposite Charleston), West Virginia, June 25, 1863. — Last Monday, the 15th, Lucy, Mother Webb, and “all the boys” came here from Cincinnati on the Market Boy. A few happy days, when little Joseph sickened and died yesterday at noon (12:40). Poor little darling! A sweet, bright boy, “looked like his father,” but with large, handsome blue eyes much like Webb’s. Teething, dysentery, and brain affected, the diseases. He died without suffering; lay on the table in our room in the Quarrier cottage, surrounded by white roses and buds all the afternoon, and was sent to Cincinnati in care of Corporal Schirmes, Company K [D], this morning. I have seen so little of him, born since the war, that I do not realize a loss; but his mother, and still more his grandmother, lose their little dear companion, and are very much afflicted.

Camp White, June 19, 1863.

Dear Mother: — . . . Mother Webb, Lucy and the four boys all got here in good health last Monday. They are housed in a pleasant little cottage on the river bank — plenty of fruit and flowers and not over fifty steps from my tent.

General Scammon’s wife left yesterday. Four of [or] five officers’ wives are here, making society enough. It is not likely they will remain in the present stirring times more than a week or so.

Lucy had a long letter from Nellie Howells (Mead) just before she left Cincinnati. Nellie is very happy in her European home. — Love to all.

Affectionately,

R. B. Hayes.

Mrs. Sophia Hayes.