A bright, fine winter day. We moved our quarters fifty yards
up the river into a house lately occupied by a daughter of Mr. Riggs. Its
windows on the north side afford a good view of the river and of the Falls of
the Kanawha. With our new cooks, two soldiers, we are living sumptuously —
better than ever before since I have been in camp.
Signed a recommendation for Sergeant Chamberlain, Company A,
as second lieutenant. Introduced to Captain Rigdon Williams, of the Twelfth.
While at Middletown, Maryland, wounded, I heard he was killed, and on my return
to Ohio I reported him killed. It was a Captain Liggett who was shot at South
Mountain in the head.
The Rebels did not carry the American flag at
Antietam to enable them to get into the rear of the Ohio troops. It was their
battle-flag. Yet I have reported this, on good authority, as I thought. Our
sergeant-major was probably killed attempting to escape from the enemy,
although Lieutenant Ritter thinks — and I have reported — that he was killed
pushing ahead of the regiment. So difficult it is with the best intentions and
no motive to deceive, to get the truth of these battle incidents even from
eyewitnesses. The men are building the new city very rapidly.
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and
Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 369-70
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