Camp White, Near Charleston, Virginia, March 22,1863.
Dear Uncle: —
We came out of the wilderness a week ago today. We are now pleasantly located
on the left bank of the Kanawha, just below (opposite) Charleston. We are
almost at home, and can expect to see anxious friends soon. You would, I think,
enjoy a trip up here in a few weeks. You can get on a steamer at Cincinnati and
land at our camp, and be safely and comfortably housed here. Lucy and the boys,
after a most happy time, went home yesterday. We shall expect to see them again
while we are here.
We seem intended for a permanent garrison here. We shall
probably be visited by the Rebels while here. Our force is small but will
perhaps do. My command is Twenty-third Ohio, Fifth and Thirteenth Virginia,
three companies of cavalry, and a fine battery. I have some of the best, and I
suspect some of about the poorest troops in service. They are scattered from
Gauley to the mouth of Sandy on the Kentucky line. They are well posted to keep
down bushwhacking and the like, but would be of small account against an
invading force. We have three weak, but very good regiments, Twenty-third,
Twelfth, and Thirty-fourth Ohio, some, a small amount, of good cavalry and good
artillery, and about three or four regiments of indifferent infantry. So we
shall probably see fun, if the enemy thinks it worth while to come in. Come and
see me.
Sincerely,
R. B. Hayes.
S. Birchard.
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and
Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 395-6
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