Thursday, [February] 27. — Clear, cold, windy. On steamer Glen-wood passed up to Camp Piatt. Left Gallipolis about 9 A. M., reached Charleston 7 P. M., Camp Piatt at 10 P. M.
Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes
Gallipolis, February 26, 1862.
Dear Uncle: — On my way to the wars again. Left all well and happy at home. Your letters reached me. There will be no difficulty about “camping down” in your house. Lucy could get up out of her furniture a camp chest which will be ample for comfort without buying anything.
I shall be away from mails soon. Shall not write often. You will hear all important things by telegraph.
Sincerely,
R. B. Hayes.
S. Birchard.
Wednesday, 26. — Spent in Gallipolis waiting for a steamboat going up the Kanawha. Quartermaster Cuthbert and I slept, walked, and watched the clouds and rain.
Cincinnati, February 25, 1862. Tuesday. — A. M., 8:30, bright, cold, gusty, started in cars on Marietta Railroad; reached Hamden, junction of railroad to Portsmouth, about 2 P. M.; twenty-five miles to Oak Hill on this railroad; Cuthbert, in quartermaster department under Captain Fitch at Gauley Bridge, my only acquaintance. Took an old hack — no curtains, rotten harness, deep muddy roads — for Marietta [Gallipolis]. The driver was a good-natured, persevering youngster of seventeen, who trudged afoot through the worst holes and landed us safely at Gallipolis [at] three-thirty A. M., after a cold, sleepless, uncomfortable ride. He said he had joined three regiments; turned out of two as too young and taken out of the third by his father. Poor boy! His life is one of much greater hardship than anything a soldier suffers.
Cincinnati, February 22, 1862.
Dear Mother: — I am ready to start back to Virginia on the first steamer for the Kanawha River. I expect to get off tomorrow or next day.
I found Uncle in good health for him. The other friends were as usual. … I returned home Monday finding all here as 1 left them.
The recent victories convince everybody that the Rebellion can be conquered. Most people anticipate a speedy end of the war. I am not so sanguine of a sudden wind-up, but do not doubt that the Confederacy is fatally wounded. We are having a gaudy celebration of the 22nd here with the usual accompaniments which delight the children.
Affectionately, your son,
Rutherford.
Mrs. Sophia Hayes.
Cincinnati, February 18, 1862.
Dear Uncle : — It will be agreeable to Lucy to go to Fremont with the family as soon as you wish. She proposes to take all of our furniture that may be wanted there — to store the rest, and to rent the house — thus in effect moving to Fremont until the war is ended. This or any other plan you prefer will suit. Our furniture will be enough for all purposes — unless you wish to show off in some one room or something of that sort.
All well here. The great victory is a crusher.
Sincerely,
R. B. Hayes.
S. Birchard.
Delaware, February 14, 1862. Friday morning.
Dearest Lucy : — I reached here last night. Mother, Mrs. Wasson, and Sophia, all well and happy. Old Delaware is gone; the bright new town is an improvement on the old.
Snow deep, winter come again. Old times come up to me — Sister Fanny and I trudging down to the tanyard with our little basket after kindling. All strange; you are Sister Fanny to me now, dearest.
I go to Fremont this evening. Mother sends love, Write to her. Love to all.
Affectionately,
R.
Mrs. Hayes.
Steamboat Dunleith, Ohio River, Tuesday, February 4, 1862. — A bright cold winter day; a good sail down the Ohio. Banks full. Beautiful river.
Reached home as the clock finished striking 12 midnight. A light burning in front room. Wife, boys, Grandma, all well. “Perfectly splendid.”
[The entries in the Diary for the next few days are very brief. Tuesday, February 11, Hayes went to Columbus to visit his brother-in-law, W. A. Platt, and family; two days later to Delaware where he remained two days with his mother. The week-end he spent “happily at Fremont with Uncle. All the talk is of battles — the late victories at Roanoke Island, Fort Henry, and the pending struggle at Donelson.” Monday, the 17th, returning to Cincinnati, he hears “of the decisive victory at Fort Donelson as we reached Crestline and Galion. Joy and excitement, cannon, flags, crowds of happy people everywhere.” The following days at home in Cincinnati “getting ready to return to his regiment.”]
Monday, February 3. Charleston, Virginia.—Leave this morning on the steamboat ––for Gallipolis. Reached there at 2 P. M. A drizzly, cold day, snow on the hills, mud, snow, and slush at Gallipolis. With Avery and Bill Brown over town; oysters, eggs, and ale. At nine P. M. on Dunleith down the Ohio.
Loup Creek Landing, five miles below Landing, February 2. — Sunday morning finds us waiting for a steamboat to get down Kanawha River. General Meigs took us aboard about 12 M. A cold ride — occasional gleams of sunshine — down the Kanawha to Charleston. A picturesque valley, high hills, ruins of salt-works, etc., etc., a fine river, make up the scene. A servant girl of Mrs. Mauser, apparently under the auspices of Thomas (he passed her on the steamer as his wife!), was met by our team yesterday and taken aboard a half mile out of Fayetteville. She must have been there by preconcert with Thomas. The feeling of the soldiers, a sort of indifferent satisfaction, easily roused to active zeal, expressed itself, “Another shade of Mrs. Mauser’s lost.” Not another syllable by way of comment in a circle of six around the camp-fire.
Reached Charleston before dark. Avery and I took quarters at the Kanawha House, a good hotel. Visited General Cox; a good talk; a sound man; excellent sense. I wish he commanded our brigade. . . . Heard the church bells at Charleston — the first for six months; a home sound.
