Camp Number 5, Princeton, May 2, 1862. 4:30 P. M.
Sir: — Company
B and a company of cavalry scouted the road towards Wytheville several miles
today. They report the enemy all gone to Rocky Gap. None, bushwhackers, or
others, anywhere in the direction near here. Numbers of militia who were in
service here yesterday are reported escaped to their homes and willing to take
the oath of allegiance and surrender their arms. A cavalry company scouted the
road towards Giles. They report the Forty-fifth retreated in great haste to
Giles, saying they found Princeton just occupied by two thousand cavalry and
eight thousand infantry. Their panic on falling in with Colonel Paxton's cavalry
was even more complete than was supposed. They left knapsacks, blankets, and
baggage. They had marched over twenty miles yesterday to get here and were
worn-out.
There was a mistake as to the enemy firing on our couriers.
No bushwhackers have been seen between here and Flat Top since we passed. Three
parties have passed the entire distance since baggage trains. Negro servants of
officers straggling along alone, etc., etc., and nobody disturbed by the enemy.
The courier rode past a picket post of one of my scouting parties refusing to
halt, and was therefore fired on.
Captain Gilmore is here with his company. Lieutenant Cooper
and property left at Shady Spring is here. Forage is turning up in small
quantities in a place but amounts to an important item in the aggregate.
Fifteen head of cattle have been gathered up. There are sheep and hogs of some
value.
Only twelve men reported excused from duty out of seven
hundred Twenty-third men who came up. Company C I left behind to look after
their wounded. They will come up tomorrow. Russell G. French will perhaps be
crippled for life, possibly die. Can't he be put in the position of a soldier
enlisted, or something, to get his family the pension land, etc., etc.? What
can be done? He was a scout in our uniform on duty at the time of receiving his
wound.
If the present indications can be relied on, this region
will soon return to its allegiance. If nothing new of interest transpires, will
not one dispatch each day be sufficient hereafter, with the understanding that
on any important event occurring a messenger will be sent?
Respectfully,
R. B. Hayes,
Lieutenant-colonel 23D Regiment O. V. I.
[colonel Scammon.]
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and
Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 244-5
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