Diary of Lieutenant-Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes: Thursday, March 20, 1862

Cold; no rain falling this morning, but the storm not over. Fremont at the head of our department, the Mountain District, western Virginia and east Tennessee. Good! 1 admire the general. If he comes up to my anticipations, we shall have an active campaign.

Colonel Scammon returned, also Major Comly, to Fayetteville. They send no news and bring no newspapers. Thoughtless fellows! No, I must not call the colonel fellow. He put down a countryman who came in with, “Are you the feller what rents land?” Colonel Scammon: “In the first place I am not a feller; in the second place, take off your hat! and in the third place, I don't rent land. There is the door”!

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 213

New York, May 20 [1862].

The Post’s special dated Franklin, Va., 19th, says the Headquarters of the Mountain Department are now at this place.

The guerrilla parties in this region are tolerably active, but our cavalry are continually on their track, and the bushwhackers lead an uneasy life.  A few days ago a train with four officers and some convalescent soldiers was attacked by guerillas between Moorfield and Peterhugh, and the whole party was killed or captured except one surgeon, who got away and brought in a report of the affair.  Lieut. Col. Douney, who was sent after the bushwhackers with a guard of men, reports to-day that he got on the trail of the party, overtook them, killed their Captain and three men, wounded a number and took 12 prisoners.  Lieut. Col. Douney and his party did not receive a scratch.  Thus one more band of guerillas is broken up.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, May 21, 1862, p. 1

Headquarters Mountain Department, Franklin, Va., Via Baltimore, May 17, 1862.

Unofficial dispatches, but considered reliable, announce that Princeton, capitol of Mercer, where Gen. Cox’s advance was stationed, was attacked and captured yesterday by rebels under Humphrey Marshall.  This morning the place was recaptured and the rebels defeated by Cox.  No particulars.  Scouts report the rebels have been reinforced.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 20, 1862, p. 2

A Fair Settlement

Gen. Schenck, of the Mountain Department, in a reply to a rebel owner claiming some slaves who had taken refuge in his camp, gave the following fair decision, a fortnight ago:

The General commanding this brigade will, therefore, as has been stated to you, not interfere with the military force at his command between the claimant and the fugitive slave.  He will neither allow the one class nor the other as loafers about his camps.  But if either of them, coming voluntarily within his lines, can be profitably employed, within the scope of military restrictions and usage, as guides, servants, laborers, or any other available capacity, he will not hesitate to so engage them or permit them to be so engaged.  He will punish any officer or private soldier of his command who may be caught either enticing or forcing a slave to leave his loyal master; but he will not lend his soldiers to be established as guards to prevent the escape of fugitives from bondage seeking their liberty.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, May 14, 1862, p. 2

The War News

Sewall’s Point Evacuated.

A NAVAL FIGHT ANTICIPATED.

Active Movements in the Mountain Department.

Tremendous Destruction of Property along the Mississippi.

The Galena gone Up the James River.

The Victory at New Orleans.

THE CITY AND ALL THE FORTS TAKEN.

Continued Reports of the Evacuation of Corinth.

A Fleet Starts towards Norfolk.

ANOTHER BATTLE ON THE PENINSULA.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, May 10, 1862, p. 1

From Western Virginia

Times’ Special.

HEADQUARTERS MOUNTAIN DEPARTMENT,

NEAR HARRISBURG, May 8.

A dispatch from Fayetteville, announcing the advance of Gen. Cox, composed of a part of the 33d, under Maj. Cawley, occupied Giles C. H., and Darrows, on New river, yesterday.  The rebels ran, and did not burn the town as intended.  Abundant commissary stores, a Lieut., Major and 20 privates were captured.  The citizens remained, and seemed loyal.

The defeat of the rebels at Camp Creek, was more important than at first supposed.

Gen. Milory is now fighting, and Gen. [Schenck] is advancing.  Particular[s] of this movement are forbidden.

HEADQUARTERS MOUNTAIN DEPARTMENT,

May 8, 1862.

To E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War:– Gen. Cox telegraphs that his advance, consisting of part of the 23d Ohio, occupied Giles Court House and the narrows of New River yesterday, driving away the rebels, who were taken by surprise.  A large quantity of commissary stores and 20 privates were captured.  Our surprise prevented the burning of that place as the rebels intended.  Most of the citizens seem loyally disposed.

Signed.

J. C. FREMONT.

WASHINGTON, May 8.

Information has been received here that a cavalry reconnoissance was recently made to Culpepper C. H.  Seven prisoners were captured as they were attempting to escape – they have been sent to Washington.  Our troops were favorably received by the people, and only temporarily occupied the town.

Minister Adams has presented a claim to the British Government for the restoration of the Emily St. Pierre, the Captain of which rose on the prize crew and conveyed her to Liverpool, after her capture by the United States fleet, for a violation of the blockade.

An order from the War Department says: “Upon requisitions made by commanders of the armies in the field, and authority will be given by the Department to the Governors of the respective States to recruit for regiments now in the service.”

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, May 10, 1862, p. 1

From the Shenandoah

Times’ Dispatch.

WASHIGNTON, April 29.

By advices from the department of the Shenandoah received to-day, we learn that Gen. Banks notwithstanding the bad roads is cautiously bushing his advance towards Staunton, being already within a few miles of that place.

It is considered doubtful whether the rebel Jackson will make a stand at Staunton, as he fears being flanked by a column from the mountain department.

Gen. Banks’ troops are in the best spirits.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, May 1, 1862, p. 1

Gen. Fremont’s Departure

It is announced that news from Gen. Fremont’s department is to be looked for before many days.  Gen. Fremont is at Wheeling, Virginia, where he has issued general orders, assuming the command of his division and assigning to Gen. Kelly the Command of the railroad district, including the north eastern counties of the State.  The Wheeling Press on the 31st ult. says:

“Gen. Fremont comes among us in the face of considerable popular prejudice growing out of his prior political status and associations, but he is a patriot and a skillful officer, a man of determined and untiring energy, and has the advantage of birth and education in the South, and enlarged experience in the mountainous regions, and among mankind generally, which will enable him to appreciate the wants and peculiar position of our people; and we have confidence that he will rightly fulfill his mission in the mountain department.”

Gen. Rosecrans, relieved of his command by the appointment of Gen. Fremont, addressed a general order to his troops, taking leave of them in which he says:

“Companions in arms: in this vast department of mountains and forests, in the rains of summer, and cold and storms of winter, for nine months I have witnessed your uncomplaining patience, zeal and activity – your watchings, your marchings and your combats.  Under God, to your bravery and good conduct it is due that not a single reverse has attended our arms in all these vast regions.  Wherever I go, I shall bear with me the remembrance of men, who, leaving home and all its endearments, against the force of all former tastes and habits, have under taken to inure themselves to the toils, privations, hardships and dangers of military life, and have succeeded.  But, comrades, proud as I am of the manly energy you have thus displayed, I am prouder still to bear testimony to the pure and lofty patriotism which has called it forth.  No mean and sectional spirit, no low truckling to reckless leadership, no blind and ignorant fanaticism has animated you.  By your intelligence, your magnanimity and forbearance toward those whom the rebellion has misled, you have shown that you entered into the conflict with a conviction that the interests of free government and even of freedom itself, opposed by arbitrary and despotic will – by rebellion in favor of despotism – lay in the issue, and that you fought for the liberties of all, both North and South.  Such men deserve to be and will be free themselves, or dying, will bequeathe liberty and a glorious name to their posterity.  That it may be your happy lot, in the Union under the Constitution and the laws, to be free and happy yourselves, and to bequeathe freedom, happiness and a glorious name to your children, is my cherished hope.”

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 12, 1862, p. 1

Gen. Fremont at Wheeling

Fremont arrived at Wheeling on Friday, that city being the head quarters of the “Mountain Department,” which comprises Western Virginia, Eastern Kentucky and such part of Tennessee as lies east of a line through Knoxville.  It is said that his department is also intended to include all the country south of the sections named, and is included within the same parallels.  This however is a matter of dispute.  The soldiers and loyal citizens included under his command express the greatest satisfaction at his appointment.  With the opening of spring we may look for active movements in the Mountain Department.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, April 7, 1862, p. 2