Camp Number 6, Giles, May 7, 1862, 6:30 o'clock.
Sir: — We
arrived here after a pretty severe march of twenty-eight miles. We know really
very little of the enemy. It is reported that the Jenifer Cavalry is at
Newbern, the Forty-fifth at Cloyd's Mountain, thirteen miles distant, also the
Twenty-second. We are without artillery and perhaps you would do well to send
us some. We are told that the enemy are informed of our strength and of the
large amount of property of theirs in our hands. There is no reason other than
this fact for apprehending an attack. The current rumor is that they intend
fortifying Cloyd's Mountain. You can judge from these facts what is required.
My opinion is we are perfectly safe. The property is valuable, very valuable,
especially for us here. It is worth here not less than five thousand dollars.
Respectfully,
R. B. Hayes,
Lieutenant-colonel 23D Regiment O. V. I.,
Commanding.
P. S. — General Heth is nowhere near here.
[colonel E. P. Scammon.]
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and
Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 255
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