A package arrived last night from our sisters, with my
sister [Mary's] diary, for my amusement. It was kept while our dear ones of [William]
and S. H. were surrounded by McClellan's army. I shall use my leisure here in
copying it, that our children's children may know all that our family suffered
during this cruel war. During the six weeks that they were surrounded by the
foe, we only heard from them through letters written to their husbands in
Richmond. These letters were captured by the enemy, and published in a New York
paper; and one was republished in the Richmond Enquirer, where we were
most delighted to find it. In that way [William B. Newton], then
incarcerated in the walls of Fort Delaware, heard from his mother, wife, and
children, for the first time since he was captured, in March.
Mrs. [Newton’s] diary begins:
May 22, 1862
May 23, 1862
May 24, 1862
May 26, 1862
May 27, 1862
May 28, 1862
May 30, 1862
June 1, 1862
June 7, 1862
June 8, 1862
June 9, 1862
June 11, 1862
June 13, 1862
June 14, 1862
June 15, 1862
June 16, 1862
June 17, 1862
June 18, 1862
June 20, 1862
June 21, 1862
June 22, 1862
June 24, 1862
June 25, 1862
June 27, 1862
June 28, 1862
July 1, 1862
July 2, 1862
July 4, 1862
I quote no further from Mrs. N's diary, as the next page was
devoted to the visits of those dear ones whom God had preserved amid strife and
carnage. She mentions the return of our dear W. B. N. from Fort Delaware on the
5th of August, where he had been for several months. He asked but five days'
furlough to be with his family, and then returned to his regiment, (Fourth
Cavalry.) His reception by his company was most gratifying. As soon as he got
to camp, it drew up in line, and requested him to come to the front, when
the “Orderly” came up, leading a very handsome bay horse, elegantly equipped,
which he presented to his “Captain,” in the name of the company.
SOURCE: Judith W. McGuire, Diary of a Southern
Refugee, During the War, p. 134-149
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