Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Diary of Lieutenant-Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes: November 13, 1861

Had a good march down to Gauley — the whole Third Brigade under General Schenck. Weather warm as summer, almost hot. Crossed New River at ferry near its mouth, worked by Captain Lane and his good men, thence down left bank of the Kanawha to the road from Montgomery Ferry to Fayetteville, thence about two miles to Huddleston's farm, where we bivouacked among briars and devil's-needles — officers in corn fodder in a crib. The band played its best tunes as we crossed New River, Captain Lane remarking, “I little hoped to see such a sight a week ago when the enemy were cannonading us.” About 10:30 o'clock General Schenck got a dispatch from General Benham saying Floyd was on the run and he in pursuit, and urging us to follow. At midnight the men were aroused and at one we were on the way.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 147-8

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