Camp Green Meadows, Friday. — Captains Drake and Skiles of [the]
Twenty-third and Captain Gilmore of the cavalry returned today. They brought
fourteen head [of] good cattle got from Secesh. Captain Drake is very much
irritated because he and Captain Sperry were not detailed on my recommendation
to go on recruiting service, the reason given being that captains in the
opinion of [the] general commanding, General Cox, ought not to be sent. Since
that, a number of captains have been sent from this division. This looks badly.
Captain Drake tenders his resignation “immediate and unconditional.” I
requested the captain not to be too fast. He is impulsive and hasty, but
gallant and brave to a fault, honorable and trustworthy. I prefer to send him
on any dangerous service to any man I ever knew. I hope he will remain in the
regiment if I do.
I ordered camp changed today to get rid of old leaves,
soured ground, dirty tents, and the like. Have succeeded in getting more room
for tents and more room for drill.
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and
Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 319
No comments:
Post a Comment