1862 February 19 Fayetteville, Va.

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

Fayetteville, Va., February 19th.
Here I am again, where I have already been until
heartily tired of the place and surroundings. From
some cause, the Diarrhoea has prevailed extensively amongst
the troops encamped here this winter, afflicting nearly
all, not even sparing your humble servant, whom it
severely dealt with, so that, if the climate, water, &c, or any=
thing else connected with the place was instrumental in
producing it, no very pleasant recollections can be cited, or if
any, they are counterbalanced by correspondingly miserable ones.
As the Doctor had requested ^ ‘me’ to come back, and clerk in
the Hospital, I so concluded to do, having been so employed
some time previous to going home. ~~ I started from
Raleigh yesterday morning about 8 o’clock. A slight mist was
falling at the time, and, before proceeding far, strong indications
of a rain were visible, but, happily, my suppositions were not
realized. The day becoming quite pleasant, and the sun being
unobscured, naturally enough, a ‘thaw’ took place, consequence
was, plenty of mud, and the discomfiture of the pedestrian
sojourner traveler. Got within 6 ½ miles of this place
last evening without any mishap, and staid
with one of the “natives,” who kept a little better
house than the generality of Virginians.
From parties that I met on the road
yesterday, I learned of the fight at Fort
Donelson, and of the ultimate triumph of
the Federal Army, which was so overwhelming
as to sound somewhat fabulous, but the
report is from such sources as to warrant a
belief of its truth.
In completing my journey this morning, I had
a disagreeable task, as it rained gradually,
almost the entire morning; but I got along
a while ago, wet and muddy, insomuch that
it has taken almost the remainder of the
day to get warm, clean and dry.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]


MSS 13925