From two miles west
of Craig [Craigsville] to within six or eight of Staunton. A fine day. At Pond
Gap crossed Central Railroad and over a mountain—a detour which let us into
[the] Valley of Virginia, avoiding the Rebel position in Buffalo Gap. A lovely
valley, we dine now (12 M.) on a
beautiful farm in this lovely valley — all happy to get here so easily. Reports
say Hunter is in Staunton; got there last night. The general (Crook) found a
four-leafed clover yesterday. I saw the new moon over my right shoulder. Funny
howa man of sense can think for an instant even of such follies.
We crossed the mountain to Summerdean, a
little pretty hamlet. Skirmished into Middlebrook, a beautiful country.
Supplies are abundant. Hunter flogged the Rebels badly and took Staunton
yesterday. Eighteen miles today.
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of
Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 470-1
