Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes to Sophia Birchard Hayes, September 27, 1864

HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA, September 27, 1864.

DEAR MOTHER: We are now one hundred miles south of Harpers Ferry. Our victories have so broken and scattered the Rebel army opposed to us that it is no use for infantry to pursue further, except in small parties scouting the woods and mountains. The cavalry are going on. We are resting in a lovely valley. I rather think that our campaigning is over for the present. It has been exceedingly fortunate. General Crook's whole command has done conspicuously well. I commanded in the last fighting the fine division formerly commanded by General Crook. We led the attack on both days. It is the pleasantest command a man could have. Half of the men are from Ohio, the rest from West Virginia.

I think we shall stay here some time and then go back towards Martinsburg.—Love to all.

Affectionately,
R. B. HAYES.
MRS. SOPHIA HAYES. 

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 516

No comments: