[Camp On Munson's Hill, Near Washington, August 30, 1862.]
We are in hearing of a battle that is progressing some ten
or fifteen miles distant. The cannonading has been kept up pretty steady all
day long; at times it is quite brisk; what would you think of it were you here?
This country presents the same appearance as western Virginia, save only on a
grander scale. There is not a fence between here and Alexandria,
although it is almost a continuous village; splendid residences line this road
that have had fine parks of trees around, all of which have been cut down to
clear the way for the artillery; every mile almost, you come upon a line of
forts. This point was for some time held by the Rebels, and between the armies
this section is pretty badly used up. Many of the finest residences are
deserted, some have been burnt. It is a sorry sight to witness it.
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and
Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 334
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