Upton's Hill, Fairfax County, Virginia,
September 4, (P. M.),
1862.
Dearest: — I
received your good letter of the 29th yesterday. Our situation now is this:
Washington is surrounded for a distance of from seven to fifteen miles by
defensive works, placed on all the commanding points. For the present the thing
to be done is to keep the enemy out of the capital until our new army is
prepared for the field and the old one is somewhat recruited. We (that is
General Cox's Division, viz.: Eleventh, Twelfth, Twenty-third, Twenty-eighth, Thirtieth,
and Thirtysixth regiments of infantry, Captains McMullen's and Simmond's
Batteries, Gilmore's, West's, and Schaumbeck's Cavalry, all from western
Virginia) are placed to guard important roads and points of which Upton's Hill
and Munson's Hill, Forts Ramsay, Buffalo, and "Skedaddle," all in the
same vicinity, are the chief. We are about seven miles from Washington, in
sight of the capitol, and eight miles from Alexandria.
For a few days after the retreat of our forces from
Centreville and Bull Run, these were points of peril. In case of an advance of
the Rebels we would be first attacked. I slept in boots and spurs with my horse
saddled. But now all the forts are manned and I do not expect to see the enemy
approach in this direction. They could easily storm our positions with a strong
force, but it would cost so many lives to storm all the works between here and
Washington that they would be ruined to attempt it.
I therefore look for quiet camp life for some time to come,
unless the enemy makes such advances to Washington from other directions as
will make these works worthless, when we should probably go to Washington. This
I do not anticipate. We shall drill, brush and burnish up, sleep and get fat.
Things have had a bad turn lately, but I don't give it up.
Something far more damaging than anything which has yet happened must occur, or
these attempts to carry the war into our territory must recoil heavily on the
Rebels. Failing to hold their advanced conquests, they must go back vastly
weakened and disheartened, while our following wave will be a growing and
resistless one. It will be a few weeks yet before the evil time and the
occurrence of sinister events will cease. But frosts and rains are coming and
when they come will be our day. We can only hope to get off as easily as
possible until that time.
The Kentucky disaster I fear injured many of your friends;
but if not made permanent, it will do good.
Well, this is talk about public affairs. I sent my trunk
today via Washington to Platt. If not intercepted (no unlikely event) I will
mail one key to Mother and the other to you.
An old gentleman — too old to stand this "biz"—
named Kugler, called to see me just now, saying that my commission in the
Seventy-ninth was made out; that he was a captain in the Seventy-ninth and was
trying to get the War Department to let me go. I said "nix" either
way. At present I prefer to stay here, but no odds. While he was talking, the
enemy began to fire on one of our cavalry pickets with shell. He said to me: “When
do you start in such a case?” I told him, “When I got orders.” He seemed much
astonished at the quiet reigning in camp, while the teamsters were tearing in
like mad. He is a wealthy distiller at Milford who gave twenty-five hundred
dollars to raise a company which he intends to turn over to a son or nephew. He
seems determined to get permission for me to join the regiment and may possibly
succeed.
A lovely sunset on a most animating scene. Troops are
getting into shape and things look better. McClellan is indeed a great favorite
with the army. He is no doubt the best man to take the defense of the capital
in hand. He is the only man who can get good fighting out of the Potomac Army.
McDowell is detested by them. Pope coldly regarded. McClellan is loved. Not thinking
him a first-class commander, I yet in view of this feeling, think him the best
man now available.
There, darling, is a long letter and yet not a word of love
in it. But I do you love so much, dearest. You may emphasize every word of that
sentence.
I hope they will whip Kirby Smith and his Rebel horde. But,
at any rate, he will soon get to the end of that rope.
Affectionately,
R.
Mrs. Hayes.
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and
Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 343-5
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