Blacksburg, nine miles, through a finely cultivated country;
constant pursuit of mounted videttes. We caught Colonel Linkus, formerly of
[the] Thirty-sixth [Virginia], as he was leaving town. Camped about 2 P. M. on
a fine slope in a fierce rain-storm. No comfort.
I protect all the property in my vicinity. I take food and
forage and burn rails, but all pillaging and plundering my brigade is clear
from. I can't say as much for the Pennsylvania regiments, Third and Fourth,
etc. Their conduct is most disgraceful. An officer may be excused for an
occasional outrage by some villain in his command, but this infamous and
universal plundering ought to dispose of shoulder-straps. Camped on Amos' farm
— engaged in the Rebellion.
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and
Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 457
