Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes to Sardis Birchard Hayes, October 21, 1864

CAMP NEAR STRASBURG, VIRGINIA, October 21, 1864.

DEAR UNCLE:— Early reinforced by a division or two of Longstreet's Corps was foolish enough to attack us again on the 19th. It was a foggy morning, and the attack before daylight. One of General Crook's divisions (the First) was doubled up and our whole army flanked out of its position in confusion. But after daylight, order was gradually restored and in the afternoon, General Sheridan attacked in turn; retook all we had lost and utterly ruined Early. It was done easily and with small loss.

The fact is, all the fight is out of Early's men. They have been whipped so much that they can't keep a victory after it is gained. This is the last of fighting on this line, I am confident. My horse was killed under me instantly, dashing me on the ground violently. Luckily, I was not hurt much. I was hit fairly in the head with a spent ball. Narrow escapes! The Rebels got my saddle, pistol, etc. The elections also are encouraging. In haste.

Sincerely,

R. B. HAYES.

P. S. — General Max Weber, a “veteran of European reputation,” and one of the senior brigadiers in our service, came out yesterday with the intention of taking command of this division. General Crook sent him to Hagerstown, Maryland, to await orders!

S. BIRCHARD.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 529

Diary of Private Charles H. Lynch: April 19, 1864

All quiet in camp for the past few days. Detailed for picket duty this morning. Weather fine. Located at the bridge over the Shenandoah River. Officer of the guard a Lieutenant from the 5th New York Heavy Artillery. General Max Weber, a former colonel, 20th New York Regiment known as the Turner Rifles, in command at this post. A fine old German officer. Military rules require that the reserve guards turn out and salute the General. I had never seen him, did not know him. Did not see the star denoting his rank until it was too late to call out the guard. The Lieutenant, a fine young man, felt very badly about it. I was generally on the lookout, but got caught this time. After the General left I went to the Lieutenant and made an apology, informing him how badly I felt over it, because I always prided myself on being on the lookout.

SOURCE: Charles H. Lynch, The Civil War Diary, 1862-1865, of Charles H. Lynch 18th Conn. Vol's, p. 52-3

Enlargement of the Illinois Canal

WASHINGTON, April 28. – Mr. Arnold, from the Committee on Roads and Canals, reported in favor of the bill for the enlargement of the Illinois and Michigan canal. The report states that the work has been more than half completed by the State of Illinois. She having expended thereon over six millions. The canal has been in operation since 1848, and now yields an annual revenue of about 2,000,000 dollars. This will be greatly increased by the enlargement of the Illinois river as proposed. The State of Illinois offers this canal and its revenue to the United States on condition that the Congress will provide the means of enlarging it, so as to pass gunboats from the Lakes to the Mississippi. – This will place us on equality with Great Britain, that power being able by her canals to pass by war vessels from the Ocean to the lakes.

The report, in view of the fact, that by the treaty of the United States is prohibited from building or maintaining armed vessels on the Lakes, urges the necessity and importance of the immediate enlargement of this canal by which the gunboat fleet in the Mississippi could be passed through to the lakes. Had this medium of communication been open at the beginning of the rebellion, the 1200 vessels and 15,000 sailors now shut up on the lakes would have been at the disposal of the Government. The saving to the Treasury during the past year would have been vastly more than the cost of the complete work.

The committee believe its income will more than pay the interest on its cost, and ultimately pay the entire investment.

The Senate Executive Session to-day, confirmed a large number of military nominations including the following named to be Brigadier Generals of Volunteers:

Col. Max Weber, 8th New York, Thomas P. Crittenden, of Illinois, Col. Wm. H. Benton, Jeremiah C. Sullivan, James C. Neator, and P. A. Hackleman, of Indiana.

The bill reported by Mr. Colfax, from the P. O. Committee, provides that all persons carrying the U. S. mails, shall enter into a contract with the Post Office Department, and if they disagree as to the price, it shall be referred to the Committee on Claims.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday May 3, 1862, p. 4