Camp Ewing, Virginia. — Yesterday and today it has
been rainy, stormy, and disagreeable. I came up to my regiment yesterday as
lieutenant-colonel. The men and officers seem pleased with my promotion. All
regret the loss of Colonel Matthews and say that if I go their interest in the
regiment is gone. The paymaster has paid me up to the 31st [of] August, four
hundred and ninety-six dollars. Lieutenant Richardson has also collected for me
two hundred and fifty dollars of money lent the company officers. I can send
home seven hundred dollars and still have two months' pay due me. I have been
very economical in order to a fair start for my family. I shall now feel
relieved from anxiety on that score and will be more liberal in my
expenditures.
A Mr. Ficklin, of Charlottesville, Virginia, a
brother-in-law of Mrs. Colonel Tompkins, came with her bearing a flag of truce.
He staid with us last night. He is an agreeable, fair-minded, intelligent
gentleman of substance, formerly and perhaps now a stage proprietor and
mail-carrier. He says he entertains not the shadow of a doubt that the
Confederate States will achieve independence. He says the whole people will
spend and be spent to the last before they will yield. On asking him, “Suppose
on the expiration of Lincoln's term a state-rights Democrat shall be elected
President, what will be the disposition of the South towards him?” he replied
hesitatingly as if puzzled, and seemed to feel that the chief objection to the
Union would be removed. So it's Lincoln, Black Republican, prejudice, a name,
that is at the bottom of it all. His account of things goes to show that great
pains have been taken to drill and discipline the Rebel troops, and that their
cavalry are especially fine.
All the sick sent over Gauley last night. A new lot appear
today. We have had three deaths by the fever.
I now enter on new duties. I must learn all the duties of
colonel, see that Colonel Scammon does not forget or omit anything. He is ready
to all but so forgetful. He loves to talk of West Point, of General Scott, of
genteel and aristocratic people; and if an agreeable person is found who will
seem to be entertained, he can talk by the hour in a pleasant way to the
omission of every important duty.
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and
Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 136-7
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