Weston, Virginia, August 12, 1861.
Dear Uncle: —
We are still getting on nicely. We have a good deal more excitement now than
usual. Wagon and cattle trains and small parties are fired on by guerrillas
from the hills on two of the roads leading from here. Dr. Joe has about eight
or ten in charge who have been wounded in this way. Two only have been killed.
None in our regiment. The men all laugh at “squirrel guns” and the wounds they
make. Several would have been killed if shot in the same part by the conical balls
of our military guns. The “deadly rifle” of olden times shoots too small a
bullet, and is too short in its range; but as Cassio says, it is often “sufficient.”
We send out parties who bring in prisoners — sometimes the right men, sometimes
not. All this keeps up a stir. In a week or two we shall get up a regular
system of scouring the country to get rid of these rascals. The Union men here
hate and fear them more than our men.
The threatened invasion by Lee from eastern Virginia hangs
fire. They will hardly venture in, unless they come in a few days, as we are
daily getting stronger. I hope you are still getting better.
Good-bye,
R. B. Hayes.
S. Birchard.
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and
Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 63-4
No comments:
Post a Comment