Monday, November 4, 2019

Diary of Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes: Friday, May 6, 1864

To Princeton sixteen miles. Very hot and dusty. Enemy left yesterday evening except a small camp guard. Camps and baggage of officers all left; apparently deceived by our manoeuvres or [they] trusted too much to the blockade. General Crook's strategy has succeeded perfectly in deceiving the Rebels. Main force [under] Colonel McCausland, said to have gone to meet us towards Lewisburg. Rebels had begun pretty extensive and well-constructed works. We burn their camps. Foolish business to entrench this point at this stage of the game. In green sods on the parapet was the name "Fort Breckinridge." Our boys changed it to "Fort Crook."

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 456

No comments: