NEW CREEK, [WEST]
VIRGINIA, April 5, 1865.
DEAR LUCY: — I
am assigned to a new command of cavalry, infantry, and artillery
— mostly West Virginia troops. I hated to leave my old command and at
first was disposed to rebel. I am ordered to take command of an
expedition through the mountains towards Lynchburg. It is over awful mountain
roads, through a destitute country, and is in all respects a
difficult, if not impossible, thing to do. I hope that Lee in his retreat will
take such a direction as will make it plainly useless. If so, it will be
abandoned, I trust. There will be little danger or hardship to me, but great
hardships for the men. I will write you often till I start. I am to make my
headquarters here while getting ready. I am to start from Beverly in Randolph
County. Warm Springs, Staunton, and Lexington are named as points. —
Love to all.
General Crook had
the advance of Sheridan [in] the late movement at Petersburg.
MRS. HAYES.
SOURCE: Charles
Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard
Hayes, Volume 2, p. 571-2
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