Diary of Brigadier-General Rutherford B. Hayes, Wednesday, April 19, 1865

Sheridan evidently did the decisive fighting at Five Forks; but for him it would have been a failure again.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 578

Brigadier-General Rutherford B. Hayes to Lucy Webb Hayes, April 28, 1865

NEW CREEK, April 28, 1865.

MY DARLING:—Yours came yesterday. I can't yet decide anything, either as to your coming here, or as to my quitting service. As soon as the Government, in any official way, says officers of my grade, or generally, are no longer needed in their present numbers, I am ready to go.

I am a little bored, at the same time that I am pleased, by the doings of the Ohio soldiers of my old division.* I tried to stop the proceedings getting into print, but am now told that I was too late. I have letters from all the colonels of a very pleasant sort, as to their feelings, etc., etc.

I have a leave to go to Washington, and shall go there early next week, to spend the week. I shall then probably decide all matters as to your coming out or my going home. I think three weeks will be long enough for your absence if you come.

I have a long letter from Crook written soon after Lee's surrender. He thanks the guerrillas for his capture, as it got him into active service. — Sheridan by his personal efforts secured the victory of Five Forks, which decided the fate of Richmond, Lee, and all. — Love to all.

Affectionately ever,

R.

MRS. HAYES.

_______________

* A meeting, April 20, which adopted resolutions urging the Union party to nominate Hayes for Governor of Ohio. See “Life," Vol. I, p. 290

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 580

Obituary of Private Theodore “Thede” Tenney, Co. H, 2nd Ohio Cavalry, April 6, 1865

Another Brave Boy Fallen. — No braver or better soldier has laid down his life for the cause of the Union than young Theodore Tenney, a private in the Second Ohio Cavalry, who was killed by a shell in Sheridan’s hard battle near the South Side Railroad, on Saturday last, April 1st.  The deceased was the youngest son of Mrs. C. E. Tenney, of Oberlin, a brother of Captain L. H. Tenney, and brother-in-law of Lieut. Colonel A. B. Nettleton, of the Second Ohio Cavalry.  He was also brother-in-law of Professor Ellis, of Oberlin, and a nephew of J. H. Harris, Esq., of this city.

Young Tenney first enlisted in the summer of 1864, at the early age of eighteen, joining a company recruited for the three months’ service, from the residents of Oberlin.  Soon after the expiration of his term of enlistment, he joined that famous veteran regiment, the Second Ohio Cavalry, and re-enlisted with them last spring.  At the time of his death he was barely twenty years of age.  A manly and noble-hearted boy, large, athletic and brave, ever in good spirits, congenial and full of hilarity, he was the life of his mess, and one of the prime favorites of his regiment.  A true soldier, he shrunk from no duty or danger, and after one of Sheridan’s battles with Early in the Shenandoah Valley last fall, it was written by his commanding officer — “Thede’s muscle brought in two graybacks.”

Theodore Tenny — another honored name — will be inscribed on Oberlin’s monument to her many patriotic sons and martyrs.

SOURCE: “Another Brave Boy Fallen,” Cleveland Daily Leader, Cleveland, Ohio, Thursday, April 6, 1865, p. 4.

General Robert E. Lee to John C. Breckinridge, April 1, 1865

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,

April 1, 1865.

HON. SEC. OF WAR, RICHMOND.

SIR: After my dispatch of last night I received a report from General Pickett, who with three of his own brigades and two of General Johnston's supported the cavalry under Gen. Fitz Lee near Five Forks on the Road from Dinwiddie Court House to the Southside road. After considerable difficulty, and meeting resistance from the enemy at all points, General Pickett forced his way to within less than a mile of Dinwiddie Court House. By this time it was too dark for further operations, and General Pickett resolved to return to Five Forks to protect his communications with the railroad. He inflicted considerable damage upon the enemy, and took some prisoners. His own loss was severe, including a good many officers. General Terry had his horse killed by a shell, and was disabled himself. Gen. Fitz Lee's and Rosser's divisions were heavily engaged, but their loss was slight. Gen. W. H. F. Lee lost some valuable officers. General Pickett did not retire from the vicinity of Dinwiddie Court House until early this morning, when his left flank being threatened by a heavy force, he withdrew to Five Forks, where he took position with Gen. W. H. F. Lee on his right, Fitz Lee and Rosser on his left, with Robert's brigade on the White Oak road, connecting with General Anderson.

 The enemy attacked General Roberts with a large force of cavalry, and after being once repulsed drove him back across Hatcher's Run.

 A large force of infantry, believed to be the Fifteenth Corps with other troops, turned General Pickett's left, and drove him back on the White Oak road, separating him from Gen. Fitz Lee, who was compelled to fall back across Hatcher's Run. General Pickett's present position is not known. Gen. Fitz Lee reports that the enemy is massing his infantry heavily behind the cavalry in his front. The infantry that engaged General Anderson yesterday has moved from his front toward our right, and is supposed to participate in the operations above described. Prisoners have been taken today from the Twenty-fourth Corps, and it is believed that most of the corps is now south of the James. Our loss today is not known. A report from Staunton represents that the Eighth Corps passed over the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad from the 20th to the 25th ult. General Hancock is at Harper's Ferry with 2,000 men. One division of the Tenth Corps is at Winchester with about 1,000 cavalry. The infantry at Winchester have marching orders, and all these troops are said to be destined for General Grant's army.

The enemy is also reported to have withdrawn all his troops from Wolf Run Shoals and Fairfax Station, and to have concentrated them at Winchester.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. E. LEE,

General.

 

SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 362-3