From Bellaire to
Clarksburg in Virginia. All the way, one hundred and thirty miles, in Virginia,
greeted by shouts and demonstrations of joy. The people had seen many
three-months men going, leaving western Virginia for home. This, with the
defeat at Washington perhaps, led the people to fear that the Union men were
left to the Rebels of the eastern part of the State. Our coming relieved them
and was hailed with every demonstration of joy. [Today], Saturday, at 2 P. M.
[A. M.] reached Clarksburg. Worked like a Turk in the rain all the morning
laying out a camp and getting it up, on a fine hill with a pretty scene before
us. Clearing off towards the close of the day. Tried to dry clothes. A busy day
but a jolly.
In the evening
General Rosecrans came over here and ordered Lieutenant-Colonel Matthews to
march at 2 A. M. with the right wing in seventy-five waggons, leaving us with
left wing and baggage to move at 7 A. M. to Weston. Order of march for our
column, ten pioneers, three hundred or four hundred yards in advance of main
body; advance guard of thirty, one hundred yards in advance of main body; next,
main body; waggon train with baggage, twenty-eight wagons; rear guard of
thirty, one hundred and eighty yards in rear of wagons.
(I write one letter
for all friends and want Lucy to keep all these scrawls for future reference.)
SOURCE: Charles
Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard
Hayes, Volume 2, p. 45
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