[from the diary of Charles Hay, Co. H, 23rd Ohio]
Camp Green Meadows, Aug. 10th.
An expedition was set on foot yesterday,
consisting of a portion of the 23rd.
Reg’t, and about 20 of Gillmore’s
cavalry, all under command of Capt.
Drake, for the purpose of destroying a
salt manufactory on or near New river
on the east side, in Monroe County.
It was hazardous for a small force
to undertake such a project, but they
did so, and were successful to the
extent desired or intended. The distance
from this camp, is probably not
less than 26 miles, over such roads
as Western Virginia alone can boast.
The infantry, of course, were not
intended to march this distance in
the short time set apart for the
accomplishment of our purpose, (less
than 24 hours,) but only to proceed
a portion of the way, and act as a
support to the cavalry, should they, in
the prosecution of their designs, bring
on an engagement, or be likely to get into
difficulty. The infantry marched over
half the distance, when they were halted,
and the cavalry pushed forward rap=
=idly; this, be it understood, after night,
after the hour when it is supposed
all honest men in civil life, should
be in bed. A little after midnight,
our little band of cavalry hove in
view of the salt works, rendered con=
=spicious by its being in full blast,
and every building illuminated. Knowing
that every moment was precious, they
thundered up the stony road, but, on
their approach, the workmen all
fled, and when our boys arrived, not
a man was visible, neither workmen
nor guard, if any, as was supposed,
all having gone, not “on the order
of their going, but at once,” being
deceived, no doubt, into the belief that
a large force was attempting to surprise
them, from the noise made in their approach.
Finding no immediate resistance, half
the men dismounted, and forthwith bent
their exertions to the work of destruction,
which could only be accomplished by
considerable manual exertion. The
powerful engine used to work the
machinery, and then at high speed,
was assigned to Serg’t McVey of the
Cavalry, he fully understanding engine=
=ering, while the rest, in all haste,
gathered all the inflammable ma=
=terial at hand, and piled against
the four buildings used for the salt
works, for the purpose of rendering
certain their destruction, as, from
long usage, all the timbers had become
so saturated with salt as not to
readily ignite. In thirty minutes the
whole concern was in a blaze, our
boys having carried out their scheme
thus far uninterruptedly, when they re=
=tired from the vicinity of the bright-blaze,
and from their unobserved position
had the satisfaction of seeing one concern
which afforded material aid & comfort
to the rebels, crumble to atoms.
Without long delaying, they started on
their return. They were not destined,
however, to get back without a morn=
=ing salutation from bushwhackers. A
little after daylight this morning, as
they were riding along leisurely,
the sharp crack of a number of
rifles aroused them from the lethargy
into which they may have fallen from
loss of sleep. Fortunately, however,
no other damage was done than the
wounding very badly of three very
good cavalry horses.
The cavalry having rejoined the
infantry, they all moved back to
camp this forenoon, many of the
men and all the horses much
exhausted from their arduous march,
loss of sleep, and over-exertion; but
rendering full satisfaction to our commander.
Through some carelessness or remissness,
I have failed to keep my diary posted
up in the manner I should in order to
keep a reliable record. From this cause,
I have failed to mention a couple of re=
=currences, which, although of no particular
significance in themselves; however, it might
not be out of place to note them. About
the 1st. inst. a squad out of Cos. H. & C.,
under command of Capts. Drake & Skiles,
was sent out into Boone County, some
20 or 30 miles west of Raleigh, for the
purpose of confiscating such property of
disloyal citizens as would be beneficial
to the Army, in accordance with a recent
order of Maj. Gen. Pope, Comd’g the Army
of Virginia. This detachment was also
accompanied by Capt. Gilmore with a small
body of cavalry. In pursuance with
instructions from the Commander of this
Regiment, Capt. Drake entered the border
of Boone County, the second day out, and
proceeded to put into execution his orders,
by seizing upon such property as would
subserve the purposes of the service to
advantage, giving as a guarantee of pay,
a promise in the name of the Govern=
=ment, that if the persons from whom
such property was obtained would, at
the end of the war, furnish good
evidence of his being a loyal citizen, he
could recover a reasonable compensation.
After being gone a week, they reported
on the 8th, bringing 14 head of very
good beef cattle as the result of their
expedition.
In this interim, a detachment of
four companies of the 23rd. Reg’t
proceeded across New River at Pack’s
Ferry into Monroe county, for the purpose
of bringing away the family of Squire
Caldwell, a loyal citizen who had been
with us all summer. They were entirely
successful, although Tho. Caldwell loses
considerable personal property, but he preferred
living in peace to uncertainty. He has gone to Indiana.
MSS 13925
