1862 February 10

[from the diary of Charles Hays, Private, Co. H. 23rd Ohio, returning from furlough]

Raleigh, Va. February 10th, 1862.
Yesterday morning, I, with a companion, started
from Fayetteville for this place. It was a
pleasantly cool morning, the mud was frozen up
so as to make the roads easily possible, and we
had hoped that it would so continue, but towards
noon, the air became balmier, and the genial and
familiar face of “Old Sol” stole from behind a cloud.
Presently the roads gave indication of a “thaw”, which
we were not long in discovering. The mud of which
there was no scarcity effectually retarded our progress,
so that we accomplished but 15 miles of our journey
by sundown, and were quite tired at that. We
staid at the log house of a native Virginian last night=
and as the place was a pretty fair specimen of
Virginia residences at least what I have seen, I give a
short description. The exterior of the house (?) was
by no means inviting, inasmuch as there was but
part of a chimney, about one=third the h[e]ight of
the house, and not a window=glass was anywhere
visible, although a place had been left for such
purpose. Numerous cracks and holes, signifying the
absence of chunk and daubing, do not appear to
indicate a very great degree of comfort. The interior
of this “air=castle” was equally as forbidding as the
outside. The walls were low, and the furniture scarce
and extremely rough and uncouth. A bedstead, a
trundle bed, 3 or 4 old chairs, an old chest, an
old table, 2 or 3 barrels, a few bed=clothes, cooking
utensils, cups and saucers, which latter adorned the board,
which by way of courtesy, was called the mantel, and you
have the entire inventory of their household goods.
Supper consisted of some poorly=baked biscuit, poorly=
cooked pumpkin, tolerable good meat, and some very
good coffee, this, and nothing more, comprised our
evening repast. Breakfast consisted of the same,
except the “pumpkin’ was removed, and in its stead
we find dried apples and butter. I must do the
family the credit justice of saying for them that they
used us with kindness and cordiality.
We traveled the remaining 10 miles by noon today,
but found upon our arrival that nearly all of the
company had gone on a scout the Saturday previous,
but were expected back every hour. I felt somewhat
tired after the trip. The first 10 miles from Fayetteville
is tolerably level, then commences a series of ascents and
descents which continue with but little variation
the remainder of the way to Raleigh.
The boys returned returned near dusk this
evening, very tired and footsore, for they had
had a sorry time and hard marching. After a
separation of over five weeks, I was glad to see
the company again, and see all looking so well.
A brief account of their expedition, I subjoin as
furnished me: Accounts had been received at
times of the existence of a body of the enemy
at a village called Jumping Branch, some 20
miles south=west of this place, but the number
was not supposed to be near so great as it after=
wasds turned out to be. Major Cornly [?] of the
23rd Regt, commanding at this post, determined to
attack them, and with that end in view, he
left Raleigh on Saturday ^ ‘2 P.M.’ at the head of 221 men,
all told, consisting of detachments of Cos. B.D. F.
G. & H. of the 23rd, 32 of the 1st Va. Cavalry, and one
of McMullin’s howitzers manned by 9 members of
the Artillery. During the night they arrived within
half a mile of the enemy, then halting, laid down
to sleep without fires, but under the circumstances
it was not possible. Day dawned, when they
advanced upon the enemy, who, without showing
fight, fled in precipitate haste; and in the most
utter confusion. Our men killed 2 and took 3
prisoners, some horses, arms, &c., without any loss.
Part of our men pursued them some 4 or 5 miles,
but being fatigued they were obliged to give up
the chase. Returning, they staid all night at
Jumping Branch, and then, in the morning, set
fire to the town, an insignificant little place
of some dozen log houses, which had served
as a rendezvous for the rebels. Only two or
three houses were spared, they being occupied
by families. Many of the men had their feet
frozen on account of the first nights exposure.
Had the rebels had courage, and but stood their
ground they might have proved a formidable
adversary for our little band to encounter, or
had they shown tact, they might have completely
cut them off and hemmed them in easily,
with the overwhelming force which, we have the
best of evidence, was near at hand.

[This may be the 8th Feb. skirmish at the mouth of the Blue Stone River, western Va.]

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13925