August 17. Saturday.–Dispatches came last [night] from Colonel Matthews. He can’t return as ordered for fear of losing his command between Summersville and Sutton; rumors of Wise, etc., etc. Colonels Tyler and Smith go with him nine miles back towards Gauley Bridge to fortify. The colonel thinks this is a mistake of judgment and is disgusted with it. I think Colonel Scammon is right.
Lieutenant Rice’s men report that three men named Stout were taken near Jacksonville by some of Captain Gaines’ men and part of his command and that afterwards Gaines’ men killed them, alleging orders of Captain Gaines, etc., etc. This is too bad. If any of my men kill prisoners, I’ll kill them.
Captain McMullen with four mountain howitzers arrived this morning–12-pounders. Good! My horse, not Webb first but Webb second, by hard riding foundered or stiffened. Mem.:– Lend no horse; see always that your horse is properly cared for, especially after a hard ride.
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HEADQUARTERS 23D REG’T, O. V. INF., U. S. A.,
August 17, 1861.
DEAR UNCLE:–We are kept very busy, hunting up guerrillas, escorting trains, etc., etc. Attacking parties are constantly met on the roads in the mountains, and small stations are surrounded and penned up. We send daily parties of from ten to one hundred on these expeditions, distances of from ten to forty miles. Union men persecuted for opinion’s sake are the informers. The Secessionists in this region are the wealthy and educated, who do nothing openly, and the vagabonds, criminals, and ignorant barbarians of the country; while the Union men are the middle classes–the law-and-order, well-behaved folks. Persecutions are common, killings not rare, robberies an every-day occurrence.
Some bands of Rebels are so strong that we are really in doubt whether they are guerrillas or parts of Wise’s army coming in to drive us out. The Secessionists are boastful, telling of great forces which are coming. Altogether, it is stirring times just now. Lieutenant-Colonel Matthews is nearly one hundred miles south of us with half our regiment, and is not strong enough to risk returning to us. With Colonels Tyler and Smith, he will fortify near Gauley Bridge on [the] Kanawha.
Dr. Rice is here sick in charge of Dr. Joe. He got in safely from a post that was invested about thirty miles west. He will get well, but has been very sick. This is the healthiest country in the world. I have not been in such robust health for a great while. My horse is not tough enough for this service. I had better have taken Ned Jr., I suspect, although there is no telling. The strongest horses seem to fail frequently when rackabones stand it well. The Government has a good many horses, and I use them at pleasure. When I find one that will do, I shall keep it. . . .
Sincerely,
R. B. HAYES.
S. BIRCHARD.
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WESTON, VIRGINIA, August 17, 1861.
DEAR MOTHER:–Nothing new to tell you. We are kept more busy than heretofore with watching and hunting after the robbers who are plundering the Union men in our neighborhood. We have rumors of invading forces from eastern Virginia strong enough to drive us out, but we know nothing definite about them. Captain McMullen arrived safely with my box. His company of artillery is a great addition to our strength.
Our men are very healthy and busy enough to keep them out of mischief. Dr. Joe finds a number of old ladies who do all in their power to make our sick soldiers comfortable. One poor fellow who was thought to be gone with consumption is picking up under their nursing and strengthening food, and will, perhaps, get well. None of our regiment are seriously ill. We were never in so healthy a country. . . . .
The war brings out the good and evil of Virginia. Some of the best and some of the worst characters I ever heard of, have come under our notice during the last fortnight. It is not likely that we shall move from here for some weeks. We are required to send expeditions to protect Union neighborhoods and wagon trains, and to drive off scamps almost every day. We are probably doing some good to the better sort of people in this country, besides the general good which we are supposed to be doing in the cause of the country.
My love to all.–Affectionately,
R. B. HAYES.
MRS. SOPHIA HAYES.