Fayetteville, Virginia. — It rained almost all night;
still falling in torrents. A great freshet may be expected. . . .
Great war news expected. Burnside's expedition sailed; near
Cairo, a great movement forward; Green River, ditto. What we need is greater
energy, more drive, more enterprise, not unaccompanied with caution and
vigilance. We must not run into ambuscades, nor rush on strongly entrenched
positions. The battle of New Orleans and many others in our history teach the
folly of rushing on entrenchments defended by men, raw and undisciplined it may
be, but all of whom are accustomed to the use of firearms. Such positions are
to be flanked or avoided.
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and
Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 191
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