Wednesday, 3 [4].–Saw General Rosecrans and staff. Caught our guard without a salute. We go with him south today. A good time with McCook and his Ninth. Marched from Bulltown to Flatwoods on road to Sutton, about ten or eleven miles. Camped on a hill with Captain Canby’s Company F of our right wing and Captain Moore’s Company I, ditto. How pleasant to meet them after our long (five weeks) separation. They have had troubles, hard marches, and fun; one man shot resisting a corporal, two men in irons for a rape, and one man arrested for sleeping on post (third offence penalty death!)
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BULLTOWN, September 3, [4], 1861. Wednesday Morning.
DEAREST:–Let me say first that the army mail arrangement is perfect. All letters are got promptly here. We march forty or sixty miles to a new point. We are hardly stopped at our destination on a sidehill, in a wood or meadow, before a courier steps up and hands us, privates and all, letters just from Clarksburg. For instance, we are seventy miles over mountains from our last camping place. I had not got off of Webby before a fellow came up, “Are you the Major?” and handed me a letter from you, 27th, from Mother, 26th, from Uncle, 26th, and half a dozen others all late. The same thing is happening all the time.
We have had a forced march without tents, cooking utensils, or knapsacks over a mountain road–bridle path. I came out first best. All the horses injured except Webby. . . .
Good time here. McCook gathered his whole regiment. They serenaded us and we them. The Ninth and Twenty-third swear by each other. They Dutch, we Yankees. General Rosecrans takes command here. We go south to Sutton, etc., until we meet the enemy. Shall not write often now.
Good-bye. Blessings, love, and kisses for all.
Affectionately,
R. B. HAYES.
MRS. HAYES.
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BULLTOWN, September 3, [4], 1861.
DEAR UNCLE:–All your letters come safely; got one of the 26th yesterday. Mail facilities coming this way are perfect.
We are now under General Rosecrans in person going south toward Summersville, through Sutton, until we meet the enemy unless he leaves western Virginia. Unless overwhelming[ly] superior in numbers, we shall beat him, accidents always excepted. Our numbers are not, perhaps, as great as we would wish, but you must remember we are over one hundred miles from a railroad and bad roads (not very bad) to haul supplies. It is physically impossible to supply a very large army without a very long preparation. The wagon-trains would actually impede each other, if you were to attempt to crowd too fast, faster than we are now doing.
Take it easy, we shall clean them out in time, if the people at home will hold on and be persevering and patient.
We have had the severest experience soldiers are required to bear, except a defeat; viz, forced marches without shelter, food, or blankets over mountain bridle-paths, in the night and rain. Many fail. My little horse came out well and sound again, the best in the regiment. The doctor’s gave out and was left. I gain strength and color; a little flesh perhaps. Never before so healthy and stout. You will hear first of our welfare in the [Cincinnati] Commercial. Their “special correspondent” wrote a letter in my tent this A. M. Good-bye.
Sincerely,
R. B. HAYES.
S. BIRCHARD.
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ON ROAD TO SUTTON, SOUTH FROM
WESTON, September 3 [4], 1861.
DEAR MOTHER:–We are having great times with forced marches over the hills. It agrees with me. I get all letters by couriers very promptly. . . .
We go south under General Rosecrans. All things look encouragingly. We meet friends constantly and unexpectedly. . . . On Sunday we had church in camp, with a Presbyterian Congregation of Yankees who came here forty-five years ago. We occupied their church for shelter. They treated us most hospitably. All from Massachusetts and retaining the thrift, morality, and loyalty of their native State, or rather of the State of their fathers, for most of them were born here.
Affectionately,
R. B. HAYES.
MRS. SOPHIA HAYES.