November 14, Thursday. — A dark, cold, rainy morning. Marching before daylight in pitchy darkness. (Mem.: — Night marches should only be made in extremest cases; men can go farther between daylight and dark than between midnight and dark of the next day, and be less worn-out.) We stopped in the dark, built fires, and remained until daylight, when we pushed on in mud and rain past enemy’s entrenchments on Dickinson’s farm to Fayetteville where we arrived about eight or nine A. M. After passing enemy’s works, [we found] the road strewed with axes, picks, tents, etc., etc. — the debris of Floyd’s retreating army. Fayetteville, a pretty village, deserted by men and by all but a few women. We quartered with Mrs. Mauser; her secession lord gone with Floyd. We heard P. M. of General Benham’s skirmishers killing Colonel St. George Croghan today — colonel of Rebel cavalry and son of Colonel George Croghan of Fort Stephenson celebrity. Died in a bad cause; but Father O’Higgins, of the Tenth, says he behaved like a Christian gentleman. Colonel Smith wears his sword. Shot through the sword-belt.
Diary of Rutherford B. Hayes.
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