Bulltown, September 3, [4], 1861.
Dear Uncle: —
All your letters come safely; got one of the 26th yesterday. Mail facilities
coming this way are perfect.
We are now under General Rosecrans in person going south
toward Summersville, through Sutton, until we meet the enemy unless he leaves
western Virginia. Unless overwhelmingly superior in numbers, we shall beat him,
accidents always excepted. Our numbers are not, perhaps, as great as we would
wish, but you must remember we are over one hundred miles from a railroad and
bad roads (not very bad) to haul supplies. It is physically impossible to
supply a very large army without a very long preparation. The wagon-trains
would actually impede each other, if you were to attempt to crowd too fast,
faster than we are now doing.
Take it easy, we shall clean them out in time, if the people
at home will hold on and be persevering and patient.
We have had the severest experience soldiers are required to
bear, except a defeat; viz, forced marches without shelter, food, or blankets
over mountain bridle-paths, in the night and rain. Many fail. My little horse
came out well and sound again, the best in the regiment. The doctor's gave out
and was left. I gain strength and color; a little flesh perhaps. Never before
so healthy and stout. You will hear first of our welfare in the [Cincinnati] Commercial.
Their “special correspondent” wrote a letter in my tent this A. M.
Good-bye.
Sincerely,
R. B. Hayes.
S. BlRCHARD.
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and
Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 84-5
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