Camp Hastings, March 24, 1865.
Dear Uncle: — Crook was all right with Grant, but Stanton was angry. Grant however rules matters where he really attempts it. Stanton refused to make an effort for a special and privileged exchange. Grant, however, had it done. Crook stopped at Grant’s headquarters. Grant wanted him to stay and take an important active command in his army before Richmond. Crook told him he wanted to be restored to the Department of West Virginia, if for only one day, to show the public that he was not in disfavor. It was accordingly so arranged. Crook returned here, took command, came out to my camp and had a happy meeting with the men, and the next day left for Grant’s Army. It is supposed he will take the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac. It is probably better for his reputation that it is so.
Hancock is a very fair man, but nervous, excitable, and hasty. Would not act badly except from want of reflection.
Your suggestion as to Mother is, I think, correct. She is probably happier than her letters would indicate. As people get along in life, their feelings and mode of talking and writing get into channels; they have habits of talking, etc., which do not mean much. If mother was perfectly happy she would write in a strain of melancholy. She is in the habit of thinking that she would like to be with her grandchildren all the time. This is a mistake. Their noise and childish acts and talking would in one week weary her into greater discomfort than she is now in for want of them. For a litle while she enjoys them very much. My only effort is to treat her affectionately and try to turn her thoughts in some incidental way into pleasanter paths. If I were keeping house, I know she would soon become more tired of my home than she is now of Mrs. Wasson’s. Her intellect is twisted into a habit of thinking and meditating too much on herself instead of occupying her mind with external affairs. It can’t be helped. Indirectly we may do a good deal to contribute to her happiness, but scarcely anything in the common way. Suppose I should say, “What do you prefer as your mode of life?” and she should reply, I would do her no favor by complying exactly with her wishes.
I shall try to go to Washington [for] a few days soon.
Sincerely,
R. B. Hayes.
S. Birchard.
Camp Hastings, March 21, 1865.
Dearest: — You would have boiled over with enjoyment if you had been here today. General Crook came out to my quarters. Both bands were out and all the men. We had about forty rousing cheers, a speech from Chaplain Collier, a good talk from the general, a little one from me, and lots of fun. It is four weeks today since the capture.
We are having the finest possible time. The Twenty-third is not camped with me now. It is two and one-half miles off in the prettiest camp they ever had the other side of town. But the brigade is a unit now. The mountain scenery is glorious; the men happy and well behaved. Chaplain Little and his wife get up something good at the log chapel daily. . . .
Affectoinately
R.
We have an old fellow, hard-looking and generally full of liquor, who brings in our wood and builds fires — of the Thirteenth. He says, “I was glad to see old Uncle George.”
Mrs. Hayes.
Camp Hastings, March 18, 1865.
Dear Uncle: — I have very little care or responsibility. My command is exclusively a fighting command. I have nothing to do with guards, provost or routine duty connected with posts. Mine is the only movable column west of Winchester. If an enemy threatens any place, I am to send men there when ordered. My time is wholly occupied drilling and teaching tactics and the like. My brigade furnishes details for guard and provost when needed, but I am not bothered with them when on such duty. My regiments are all large; nearly four thousand men in the four, of whom twenty-five hundred are present at least. General Crook is again out, and we hope he will return to this command. We like Hancock very well. He behaved very handsomely with Crook’s staff, and all of the troops and officers which [that] were particularly favorites with Crook. We were all left in our old positions, although some pressure was brought against it.
I see gold is tumbling. If no mishap befalls our armies, the downward tendency will probably continue. Then debtors must look out. It will not be so easy to pay debts when greenbacks are worth eighty to ninety [cents] on the dollar. My four years are up about the first of June.
Sincerely,
R. B. Hayes.
S. Birchard.
Camp Hastings, March 17, 1865.
My Darling: —. . . You will feel relieved about General Crook. General Kelley is here. General Crook is at Baltimore and will return here in a few days. They were treated in the kindest and most liberal way by the Rebels. The only exception was old Early; he was drunk and insolent. They were furnished with all the money they needed. Crook had no money. His pocketbook was left under his pillow where I found it. Their captors were civil and accommodating. The people at Richmond are whipped and confess it. The West Virginia Rebels at Richmond couldn’t do enough for the generals and in fact, all prisoners there now are courted by the Secesh.
It is an early spring here. We are now enjoying ourselves very much. — Love to all.
Affectionately,
R
March 18. — Great fun — a fine bright night, wind rose unheard of and blew down several hundred tents, etc., etc. Billy’s kitchen, Uncle Joe’s hat, etc., etc., still “absent without leave.”
Mrs. Hayes.
Tuesday, March 14. — Sheridan tearing up railroads, burning bridges, and destroying the James River Canal very successfully; goes near Lynchburg, Gordonsville, and beyond Staunton. I hope he will in spite of high water get over James River and cut the Danville Railroad and join Grant.
Camp Hastings, March 12, 1865.
My Darling: — I am very glad to have heard from or of you several times during the last week. While your rheumatism stays with you I naturally feel anxious to hear often. If you should be so unlucky as to become a cripple, it will certainly be bad, but you may be sure I shall be still a loving husband, and we shall make the best of it together. There are a great many worse things than to lose the ability of easy locomotion. Of course, you will have to use philosophy or something higher to keep up your spirits. I think of Mrs. Little as giving more happiness to her household by her cheerfulness and agreeable ways than most of the walking women I know off.
It is lucky you didn’t come to the inauguration. The bad weather and Andy Johnson’s disgraceful drunkenness spoiled it.
I have bought a “Gulliver’s Travels” which I will give to Webb if he can read it. I remember he was very fond of my telling it, and with his sweet voice often coaxed me to tell him about “the little people.”
We are under General Hancock now, and like him. He is [a] noble man in his physical get-up — six feet three and handsomely proportioned. So far as he has arranged, matters are satisfactory to me. I keep my brigade.
Sheridan is still absent. Of course some solicitude will be felt until he gets through. The last accounts are favorable. . . .
Hastings is promoted lieutenant-colonel, Thompson, major. Good! McKinley and Watkins, Twenty-third, have gone with Hancock to Winchester or somewhere else up the Valley. Dr. Joe visits the “Pirates” (Semmes family, but intensely loyal), but not with any reputed designs. — Chaplain Little runs with his wife all sorts of schools and is useful and a favorite with all sensible people. . . . Love to all.
Affectionately ever,
R.
Mrs. Hayes.
Camp Hastings, March 11, 1865.
Dear Mother: — Nothing of interest in this particular locality. As part of Sheridan’s command, we feel a good deal of interest in his cavalry raid. He has already sent back about fourteen hundred prisoners. We hope to hear further.
Major-General Hancock is now our immediate commander. He is a very large, noble-looking man — not less than six feet three inches high, and very large. All his new arrangements are very satisfactory to our division. He will hardly be so great a favorite as General Crook, but is making a most favorable impression. . . .
Affectionately,
R. B. Hayes.
Mrs. Sophia Hayes.
Wednesday, 8. — Busy replying to letters from divers office-seekers. They come by the dozens.
Tuesday, 7. — Sheridan whips Early near Staunton, takes eleven cannon and over one thousand prisoners. “The boy Jube ran away from the subscribers.”
Monday, March 6. — Sheridan last Monday with a large cavalry force went towards Staunton, Charlottesville, and Lynchburg to destroy stores and connections with Richmond. Mud and water his chief enemies.
