Friday, January 10. — Heard rumors from Fayetteville of a great battle and victory at Bowling Green. Three thousand of our men killed and wounded. Enemy driven into the river — camp taken. One adds thirteen thousand taken prisoners. Floyd captured, says another. Fort Sumter retaken, says a third, and so on. Rode to Raleigh [slip of the pen for Fayetteville] with Avery, — very muddy — twenty-five miles in five to six hours. Rumors of the battle varied and conflicting. We ask all pickets and all we meet. As we approach Fayetteville the rumor loses strength. At Fayetteville, “Nothing of it, Colonel,” says a soldier. So we go.
Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes
Tuesday, December 10. — A little warm rain last night: cloudy and threatening rain in morning; turned off bright and clear. Had a good drill after evening parade. Moved into a good room in a pretty cottage house owned by J. H. Phillips, a drygoods dealer, who has left with the Rebels. His store was burned by McCook’s men because he was a persecutor of Union men. Captain Sperry and Lieutenant Kennedy are my co-tenants. We shall take good care of the premises and try to leave them in as good condition as we find them.
Camp Union, December 8, 1861.
Dearest : — It is Sunday — inspection day. Visited all quarters and hospital. All in improving condition. Tell Dr. Joe we have had five bright warm lovely days and a fair prospect for as many more. Roads improving; telegraph wire here, and will be in working order tomorrow or day after.
Have the daily Commercial mailed to me here from the office for one month. If it comes as often as twice a week, I will renew the subscription, otherwise not.
A trunk full of nice doings, socks, mittens, small looking glasses, needle doings, etc., etc., came up from Gauley among our baggage. Nothing to show who from or who to. I assumed that it was an instalment from Cleveland for the Twenty-third and Dr. McCurdy disposes of it accordingly. . . .
I am feeling anxious about you. Write often all about yourself. Love to the dear boys and all. Ever so much for yourself.
Affectionately,
R.
Mrs. Hayes.
Sunday, December 8. — A cloudy morning, threatening rain. After ten A. M. cleared up and a bright, warm day. Inspected quarters informally with Lieutenant-Colonel Eckley. Favorable impressions of his disposition confirmed; dined with him and his adjutant, Lieutenant James, of Urbana, and Rev. Long, ditto. Wrote letters — very short — to Uncle, mother, and Lucy.
Had a good drill after evening parade. Colonel Scammon, Lieutenant Gardner, quartermaster, and Major Comly play whist in the other room. . . . We have intimations that Jenkins and his cavalry are coming in here again. The colonel is taking precautions against surprise. I shall see that my regiment is ready, if possible.
Saturday, December 7. — Another warm, bright day — the roads improving. People come twenty-five miles to take the oath. How much is due to a returning sense of loyalty and how much to the want of coffee and salt, is more than I know. They are sick of the war, ready for peace and a return to the old Union. Many of them have been Secessionists, some of them, soldiers.
Rode Schooley’s high-tailed, showy horse twice. Drilled after evening parade. Met the sergeants for instruction tonight.
Friday, December 6. — A warm, bright day. The chaplain returned today; not an agreeable or useful person. He has been absent over two months. I wish he had not returned.
Colonel Scammon gave me a good, long confidential talk. Like all men having some trifling peculiarities which are not pleasant but who are sterling in all important things, he is best liked when best known. He is a gentleman by instinct as well as breeding and is a most warm-hearted, kindly gentleman; and yet many of the men think him the opposite of all this. I must take more pains than I have [taken] to give them just ideas of him.
Fayetteville, Virginia, Thursday, December 5. — Another bright, warm day; the afternoon was like spring. Held the first meeting of regimental officers in the adjutant’s office last evening. Went over guard duty in the “Regulations.” I learned something and think the others did.
Today a foolish young countryman came in with apples, pies and bread, [and] tobacco. Undertook to sell apples at ten cents per dozen, pies twenty cents. The soldiers got mad and robbed the apple cart in the streets. I got mad; paid the F. F. V. five dollars out of my own pocket; got Colonel Eckley to do likewise; had the colonel informed and the thing suitably noticed.
Drilled after parade in a few simple movements; got along tolerably.
Monday, 2. — Snows all day in the mud. Letter from Lucy dated 24th. Seems in pretty good heart. Kanawha ferry stopped— flood wood too much for the rope. Men engaged fixing quarters as well as they can in such bad weather.
Fayetteville, Virginia, December 2, 1861.
Dearest : — … Dr. Joe made up his mind to go by the first wagon to Gauley on his way to Cincinnati. Won’t the boys jump to see him!
I should like a first-rate pair of military boots — not so high as common — high in the instep and large. Two or three military books — good reading books. We have Halleck [“Elements of Military Art and Science”] and Scott’s dictionary and don’t want them. . . .
Affectionately,
R.
Mrs. Hayes.
Sunday, December 1, [1861]. — A dry, cold day, no sun, leaden sky, — threatens snow. About noon gets gusty, wintry and colder. No severe cold yet. Am preparing to have regular lessons and drills. P. M. Began to drizzle — a wintry rain. Loup Creek or Laurel, up yesterday, prevented our waggons crossing. Today fifteen wagons with food came in. Read Halleck’s “Lectures on the Science and Art of War.” Goodish. Youth, health, energy are the qualities for war. West Point good enough, if it did not give us so much of the effete.
