MEADOW BLUFF, May 29,
1864.
Dear UNCLE:—
Contrary to my expectation when I wrote you a few days ago, we are still here.
We are detained, I suppose, by different causes, but I suspect we shall move
soon towards Staunton. We may drift into the army of Grant before a month. My
proper brigade is now here and all of it camped in sight of where I now sit,
viz., Twenty-third and Thirty-sixth Ohio, Fifth and Thirteenth Virginia. I have
seen them all in line today. They form a fine body of troops. We are soon to lose
the enlisted men of the Twenty-third who did not become veterans. I think a
good many officers will leave at the same time. It is probable that the
veterans of the Twelfth will go into the Twenty-third. If so it will make the
regiment better and stronger than ever before.
We are not informed how Grant succeeds in getting into
Richmond. You know I have always thought he must get the Western Army there
before he can whip Lee. It looks a little now as if he might do it without
Western help. We shall see,
Sincerely,
R. B. Hayes.
I hear from Lucy that she is settled in a good
boarding-house at Chillicothe.
S. Birchard.
