Thursday, June 4, 2020

Diary of Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes: Tuesday, June 7, 1864

From two miles west of Craig [Craigsville] to within six or eight of Staunton. A fine day. At Pond Gap crossed Central Railroad and over a mountain—a detour which let us into [the] Valley of Virginia, avoiding the Rebel position in Buffalo Gap. A lovely valley, we dine now (12 M.)  on a beautiful farm in this lovely valley — all happy to get here so easily. Reports say Hunter is in Staunton; got there last night. The general (Crook) found a four-leafed clover yesterday. I saw the new moon over my right shoulder. Funny howa man of sense can think for an instant even of such follies.

We crossed the mountain to Summerdean, a little pretty hamlet. Skirmished into Middlebrook, a beautiful country. Supplies are abundant. Hunter flogged the Rebels badly and took Staunton yesterday. Eighteen miles today.


SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 470-1

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