Camp Hayes, Raleigh, Virginia. — Cold raw morning; snow
at last lying on the ground enough to whiten it. Stormy (rather Aprilish) and
bright by turns all day.
Mrs. Beckley (General) called (with another lady) in tears
saying her husband, the general, was at home. Had concluded to surrender
himself; that she hadn't seen or heard from him for three months, hoped we
would not send him to Columbus, etc., etc. In his letter he pledged his honor
not to oppose the United States; to behave as a loyal citizen, etc., etc. I
called to see him; found him an agreeable old gentleman of sixty; converses
readily and entertainingly; told an anecdote of General Jackson capitally; he
said, Old Hickory's hair bristled up, his eyes shot fire, and his iron features
became more prominent, as, in a passion, raising both hands, he said (speaking
of a postmaster General Beckley wished to retain in office, and who had himself
taken no active part against General Jackson but whose clerks had been against
the general): “What if the head is still when both hands are at work against me
I” — shaking his hands outstretched and in a tearing passion. The lieutenant
(then) subsided in the presence of such wrath.
General Beckley thinks western Virginia is given up to us,
and that his duty is to go with his home — to submit to the powers that be. I
agreed to his views generally and told him I would recommend General Cox to
assent to his surrender on the terms proposed.
Sent Captain Zimmerman and company out scouting the woods in
our vicinity; Captain Harris out to break up a bushwhacking party he thinks he
can surprise.
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and
Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 210-1
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