Lexington, Rockbridge County, June 12 (Sunday), 1864.
Dearest: — I just hear
that a mail goes tomorrow. We captured this town after an artillery and
sharpshooter fight of three hours, yesterday P. M. My brigade had the advance
for two days and all the casualties, or nearly all, fell to me. [A] first
lieutenant of [the] Fifth Virginia killed and one private; three privates of
[the] Thirty-sixth killed and ten to fifteen wounded. [The] Twenty-third had no
loss. Very noisy affair, but not dangerous.
This is a fine town.
Stonewall Jackson's grave and the Military Institute are here. Many fine
people. Secesh are not at all bitter and many are Union.
I am more pleased
than ever with General Crook and my brigade, etc., but some things done here
are not right. General Hunter will be as odious as Butler or Pope to the Rebels
and not gain our good opinion either. You will hear of it in Rebel papers, I
suspect.
Weather fine and all
our movements are successful. The Rebels have been much crippled already by our
doings. We are probably moving towards Lynchburg. If so you will have heard of
our fortunes from other sources before this reaches you.
I got a pretty
little cadet musket here which I will try to send the boys. Dear boys, love to
them and the tenderest affection for you. — Good-bye.
[R. B. Hayes.]
Mrs. Hayes.
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford
Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 474