1862 August 22 Parkersburg, Va.

[from the diary of Charles Hay of the 23rd Ohio]

                             Parkersburg, Va., Aug. 22.
     At 10 A.M. we left Portland, our
boat having but just worked over the
shallow water at Buffington’s Island.
The citizens of Portland and vicinity showed
us great generosity, and proved their friendship
for a needy soldier, as most of us, by the 
remissness of the Paymaster were minus funds,
and our rations had run short, consequently
we were dependent, in a measure, on charity.
And this quality the Portlanders understood,
as we had ample evidence.  They have our
good wishes would that their kindness
could be better repaid.
     At 2 P.M. we reached the foot of
Blennerhassett’s Island, six miles from here.
Here we were obliged to land, and obliged
march to Parkersburg.  The road was dusty,
and weather hot, but we were in Ohio, and
that helped the matter, as the change from
Western Virginia hills, hovels, and interminable forests,
to which we have so long been used, to Ohio’s fine
farms and residences, would certainly be a remedy.

On page 17. of this book, under date of Feb.
5th. I have referred to, and spoken of Blen=
=nerhassett’s Island at length, I need not
repeat here.  In our passage walk up the river,
we stopped at a fine country mansion,
and were by the proprietor invited into his orchard and
house, where we received a cold lunch, which
was gratefully received, and plenty of rich, ripe
peaches we got for the picking.  As we 
were about leaving, it was announced that
we had been treated so generously just
then by Wm. Pitt. Putnam, a grandson of
Old Israel Putnam, of revolutionary memory.
It was proposed that we give three cheers
for this patriotic descendent of @ patriot,
which was heartily responded to, when
three more were given for the ladies of
the house.  The only brother of Mr. Putnam
is @ colonel in the Confederate army, but this
gentleman is a staunch Unionist.  What 
a dark phase is this, in this unhappy war.
But friendship and the ties of consanguinity are nothing
to country; our country before our friends.
     At six P.M. we crossed the Ohio River to
Parkersburgh, and marched through it over
a mile to a grove out of town where we
encamped for the night.  This morning,
on taking a walk through town and
looking around a little, I came to the
conclusion that my opinion of Parkersburg,
as expressed on Page 17 was wrong; that
it is quite a considerable of a town, and
has not obtained a notoriety solely from
it being the terminus of the N.W. branch of
the Balto. & O. R. R.  The town is well
built, and considerable business is transacted.
But many of the people are Secession
sympathizers, as can easily be seen, but,
fortunately they control nothing.
     Preparations are going forward for our 
departure.  We will embark on the cars
towards evening.  Troops are leaving as fast
as cars can be procured. - Many of the
Soldiers proved superior to martial law today, by
getting whisky, despite orders to the contry [contrary], and are
exceedingly patriotic & jubilant in consequence.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13925