Camp White, April 5, 1863.
Dearest: — The
weather is good, our camp dry, and everybody happy. Joe has got a sail rigged
on his large skiff and he enjoys sailing on the river. It is pleasant to be
able to make use of these otherwise disagreeable spring winds to do our rowing.
Visited the hospital (it being Sunday) over in town this
morning. It is clean, airy, and cheerful-looking. We have only a few there —
mostly very old cases.
Comly heard a couple of ladies singing Secesh songs, as if
for his ear, in a fine dwelling in town. Joe has got his revenge by obtaining
an order to use three rooms for hospital patients. The announcement caused
grief and dismay — they fear smallpox (a case has appeared). I think Joe
repents his victory now.
Enclosed photographs, except Comly's, are all taken by a
Company B man who is turning a number of honest pennies by the means — Charlie
Smith, Birch will recollect as Captain Avery's orderly.
Five companies of the Twenty-third had a hard race after
Jenkins. They got his stragglers. Colonel Paxton and Gilmore are after him with
their cavalry. General Jenkins has had bad luck with this raid. He came in with
seven hundred to eight hundred men. He will get off with four hundred to five
hundred, badly used up, and nothing to pay for his losses. We lost half a dozen
killed. They murdered one citizen of Point Pleasant, an old veteran of 1812,
aged eight-four. They will run us out in a month or two, I suspect, unless we
are strengthened, or they weakened. General Scammon is prepared to destroy salt
and salt-works if he does have to leave.
I think of you and the boys oftener than ever. Love to 'em
and oceans for yourself.
Affectionately ever,
R.
P. S. — I sent by express three hundred and fifty dollars in
a package with two hundred dollars of Joe's. It ought to reach Mother Webb in a
day or two after this letter. Write if it doesn't or does.
Mrs. Hayes.
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and
Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 402-3
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