[December 18, 1863]. — December 8. Started P. M. for Gauley (a campaign to Lewisburg). Avery, Mather, McKinley, Dr. Webb; one hundred men under Captain Warren of Twenty-third, whole of Fifth Virginia under Colonel Tomlinson, Ninety-first and Twelfth of Colonel White’s brigade, General Duffie’s Cavalry, General Scammon and staff, to co-operate with General Averell in an attack on the railroad at Salem. Stopped at Clark Wyeth’s, five miles above Piatt, evening of 9th [8th]. 9th to Gauley Bridge at Mrs. Hale’s, Warren and Twenty-third — twenty-six and one-half miles, 10th , nineteen miles to Lookout (Mrs. Jones’s), 11th, twenty-two miles to Hickman’s. 12th, twenty-three miles to Lewisburg, to Mrs. Bell’s. 13th, return thirteen miles to Jesse Thompson’s, where my pistol was stolen by young ladies; got it back by threat of sending father and mother to Camp Chase. 14th, three miles to Meadow Bluff. Stopped with Sharp. 15th, at Meadow Bluff. 16th, returned twenty-seven miles to Mrs. Jones’. 17th, to Gauley, Loup Creek, and steamer Viola to Charleston. — A good trip for the season. What of Averell?
Rutherford B. Hayes.
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