Received a note from Major [Comly] that the enemy was moving
from Red Sulphur either towards us or Colonel Crook. Kept the men preparing for
the “secret” inspection or movement. Got a letter from the major, rather
obscurely intimating that I did wrong in sending him aid at the time of the
attack on him, and showing that he is offended about it, or hurt about it, at
any rate. He says I lent official color to the rumor that he had abandoned the
place by doing it, etc., etc. I replied that he was in error in thinking I had
said I sent reinforcements to him instead of sending to Bluestone because of
a rumor that went to Raleigh that he had abandoned the ferry without firing a
gun. I had not heard the rumor then; but I did fear he was losing, As I
heard from couriers that he was destroying boats, and that the column a mile or
more out was still marching this way.
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and
Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 325
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