Cross Lanes, Near Gauley River,
South Of Summersville, Virginia,
September 19, 1861.
Dear Mother: —
I am in the best possible health. Since the retreat of the enemy I have been
too busy to write. You must look in the correspondence of the Commercial or
Gazette for my welfare. If I should lose a little toe, it will be told
there long before a letter from me would reach [you]. Their correspondents send
by telegraph and couriers every day from this army. Their accounts, making
proper allowance for sensational exaggeration, are pretty truthful.
Dr. Joe and his assistant performed their duty and the duty
of about half a dozen other surgeons during and after the fight. Everybody was
well cared for — even the enemy. The number of killed and badly wounded did not
exceed twenty-five; other wounds about seventy-five, mostly very slight. The
suffering is not great. Gunshot wounds are accompanied with a numbness which
relieves the wounded. Laura's bandages figured largely.
We are now enjoying ourselves very much; beautiful weather;
fine fruit, vegetables, and other food, also pretty nights. Love to all.
Affectionately your
son,
R. B. Hayes.
P. S. — You must excuse my short letter. I have a prodigious
amount of writing to do. I am acting judge-advocate and have tried five cases
lately. — H.
Mrs. Sophia Hayes
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and
Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 98
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