Camp Ewing. — I am officer of the day today and
interested in the weather. It stopped raining towards evening yesterday. It is foggy
and damp this morning—will probably be pleasant during the day. I have to visit
all the pickets; the stations are ten or twelve in number and it takes about
three hours' riding to visit them. They are on the Lewisburg pike for three or
four miles, on the Chestnutburg road about the same distance, and on suitable
points commanding views of the country on either side and of the river.
Went with Colonel Scammon, Captain Crane [Company A,
Twenty-sixth Ohio], [and] Lieutenant Avery to Pepperbox Knob and looked over
into enemy's camps on [the] south side of New River; thence with Avery to
Townsend's Ferry, the proposed crossing place. Most romantic views of the deep
mountain gorge of New River, near the ferry. Climbed down and up the hill by
aid of ropes. Two Rebel soldiers got up an extempore skiff, just opposite where
our men were getting our skiffs, and crept down the cliffs. They came over and
were caught by our men as they landed. They were naturally surprised and
frightened. A third was seen on the other bank who escaped. So our scheme is by
this time suspected by the enemy.
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and
Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 143-4
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