Still nothing from the army. We go on here quietly and
happily — as happily as the state of the country will allow. The household
peaceful and pleasant. The ladies — all of us collect in one room — work, while
one reads some pleasant book. We are mercifully dealt with, and I hope we are
grateful for such blessings.
The Northern papers tell us that General Patterson has
withdrawn from the Northern army. The reason thereof is not mentioned; but we
shrewdly suspect that the powers at Washington are not entirely satisfied that
he was so completely foiled by General Johnston. General Johnston was fighting
the battle of Manassas before General P. knew that he had left the Valley. The
rumour that he had gone to join McDowell was unfounded. For many days there was
no intercourse between the section occupied by the Federal army and that
occupied by ours; pickets were placed on every road, to prevent any one from
passing towards General P. Gentlemen who had come to Winchester and Berryville
on business for a few hours, were not allowed to return home for days. So how
could the poor man know what was going on? We only fear that his place may be
supplied by one more vigilant. General Scott, too, has been almost superseded
by General McClellan, who seems just now to be the idol of the North. The
Philadelphia papers give a glowing description of his reception in that city.
It was his luck, for it seems to me, with his disciplined and large command, it
required no skill to overcome and kill the gallant General Garnett at Rich
Mountain. For this he is feted and caressed, lionized and heroized to
the greatest degree. I only hope that, like McDowell and Patterson, he may
disappoint their expectations.
SOURCE: Judith W. McGuire, Diary of a Southern
Refugee, During the War, p. 49-50
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