Cumberland, Maryland, February 19, 1865.
Dear Uncle: — Yours of [the] 17th received today. I will send you five hundred dollars by express tomorrow. It is in interest-bearing notes. Are they worth any more to you than other funds? We are paid a good deal of it.
A cripple of my regiment from Fremont goes home in [a] day or two. I think he is a first-rate man — Lejune. [He] captured twenty-five Rebels at South Mountain. He was badly wounded at Antietam, and got well just in time to get awfully hurt at Cloyd’s Mountain.
Sincerely,
R. B. Hayes.
S. Birchard.
Cumberland, Maryland, February 17, 1865.
Dear Uncle: — I send for safe keeping my original appointment as brigadier-general. It was confirmed by the Senate a few days ago. . . .
No movements here. It seems to be the expectation that Lee will attempt something desperate to get out of the net forming around him. We are having a gay time. Balls, etc., of the fastest sort are common. . . .
Sincerely,
R. B. Hayes.
S. Birchard.
Cumberland, Maryland, February 15, 1865.
Dear Mother: — We are jogging along in the usual style of a winter camp. The thing about us which you would think most interesting is the doings of our chaplain. We have a good one. He is an eccentric, singular man — a good musician — very fond of amusement and as busy as a bee. He is a son of a well-known Presbyterian minister of Granville, Mr. Little. Since I left he has had built a large log chapel, covered with tent cloth. In this he has schools, in which he teaches the three R’s, and music, and has also preaching and prayer-meetings and Sunday-school. The attendance is large. The number of young men and boys from the mountains of West Virginia, where schools are scarce, in my command makes this a useful thing. He has also got up a revival which is interesting a good many.
Since my return itinerant preachers of the Christian Commission have held two or three meetings in our chapel.
Affectionately, your son,
R.
Mrs. Sophia Hayes.
Wednesday P. M., February 15, [1865].
Dearest: — You notice the last sentence.[1] Is it prudent or possible even for you to drop little George for a fortnight? I have of course no fears about the boy. His grandmother seems to have the full charge of him, but will it do for you? If so, you come to see your husband at Cumberland. Washington is not to be named. We are such little people that we can go “strictly incog.” Bring on two hundred to three hundred dollars — no care about dress — and we can manage it.
Write soon so I can get the leave if you say so. — Love to all.
Affectionately ever,
R.
Mrs. Hayes.
[1] This refers to the last sentence of a letter to Hayes from his friend Judge William Johnston, written from Washington, on the blank page of which Hayes was writing. The sentence read: “Say whether you will be here at the inauguration. I have sent home for my family to be here. It will be the greatest demonstration the world ever saw, and I think both you and Mrs. Hayes ought to be here.”
Shriver Mansion, Cumberland, Tuesday, January 14.1 — Took command of First Division today. General Duval gone to Cincinnati for treatment of his hearing. Came down in a sleigh; sleighing almost all winter.
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1 This date should be February 14. General Hayes was on furlough in Ohio on January 14. — M. Goad; October 13, 2013
Camp Hastings, Sunday, February 12, 1865.
Dearest: — We reached here after a pleasant journey Thursday evening on time. No important changes here. The remnant of the unlucky Thirty-fourth is now in my camp to be consolidated with the Thirty-sixth. General Duval is quite unwell, and will go to Cincinnati to be treated for troubles affecting his hearing. General Crook has had a ball. I send you a ticket. He inquired after you all, particularly Webb and George. He is in fine health and spirits. He has become a convert to negro soldiers — thinks them better than a great part of the sort we are now getting. . . .
It is cold, windy, and snowy. My tent groans, squeaks, and flaps. The sleeping is not so comfortable as in a house these days, but is more refreshing and invigorating. The Shenandoah army is all gone. Part of Nineteenth Corps is at Savannah; the Sixth at Richmond and the most of ours. I had a brigade drill yesterday. The regiments are full, and in fine condition. The First Veterans [Twenty-third Regiment] are rather the crack men in appearance. Major Carey has resigned.
Mrs. Comly is here, that is, in town. I have not yet seen her. The cars upset with her near Newark, but she kept on this way instead of going back home. Good stuff. — Love to all.
Affectionately ever,
R.
Mrs. Hayes.
Chillicothe, Ohio, February 1, 1865.
Dear Hastings: — I returned here from Cincinnati last night and find your letter of the 23d ult. I am surprised and very glad to hear of your arrival home. If the journey has not hurt you it is a capital thing. I shall return to Cumberland in a few days via Columbus. . . .
You will of course be promoted. If the governor should remain fixed in his feelings against [Major Edward M.] Carey, you will be lieutenant-colonel. I hear it said that you would not accept. I can’t suppose this is so. It surely ought not to be. I shall ask Governor Brough to promote Carey. If he will not do it, there is no propriety in your declining the promotion. My wife joins in regards to your sister and yourself.
Sincerely,
R. B. Hayes.
Captain Russell Hastings,
Willoughby, Ohio.
Chillicothe, Sunday morning, January 22, 1865.
Dear Mother: — We returned here yesterday afternoon. . . . I read your journal of the family and your early times in Ohio to Uncle Sardis. It was very interesting. It reminded him of many things which he had entirely forgotten. I am very glad you wrote it. I shall always preserve and prize it. I do not wish to impose any labor on you, but it would gratify me very much if you would occasionally put down in the same way anything you happen to think of.
Aunt McKell’s oldest son (a captain) returned from Sherman since I was here. He is out of service. His time was out three months ago, but he remained to go through the Georgia campaign. . . .
One of our officers from Cumberland tells me he thinks we shall see very little more hard service during the war. — Love to all.
Affectionately, your son,
Rutherford.
Mrs. Sophia Hayes.
[Tuesday evening, January 10, Hayes started for Ohio by railway. He reached the Ohio River the next day at Benwood and there took a steamer, filled with “oil or petroleum speculators,” for Parkersburg. He arrived at Chillicothe January 12, where he found Mrs. Hayes afflicted with rheumatism. A month was spent in Ohio with wife and children at Chillicothe and in visits to relatives and friends at Columbus, Delaware, Fremont, and Cincinnati. He was back at Cumberland, Thursday, February 9.]
Monday, January 9. — Spent the day getting ready to visit home, signing approval of applications for furloughs and leaves, and reading Heine. His wit not translatable; ratherish vulgar and very blasphemous.
