1862 May 14 camp at mouth of East River, Va.

[from the diary of Charles Hay , Co. H., of the 23rd Ohio]


                                       Camp at Mouth of East River
                                                                  May 11th, 1862.
Col Scammon this morning sent out Cos.
H of the 23rd & H of the 30th under command
of Capt. Drake on the road toward Giles, too
reconnoiter.  A little over a mile from camp,
their enemy’s pickets came to view.  A shell from
a Mountain Howitzer drove them in in
a hurry.  We followed as far as prudent.
The result of our reconnaissance, went
to show that the enemy were in force
at the “Narrows,” a strong natural position,
and that our present force was insufficient
to dislodge them.  After an exchange of
artillery shots, without damage to us,
we returned to camp, and this after=
=noon moved back to the mouth of
East River, where it flows into New River,
and took up a strong position on a
ridge or “backbone” of a hill.  New
River, at this place is about 200 yards
wide, water pure and clear, and quite
rapid.  We are now 12 miles from Giles.

  [transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13925