The last three days have been most exciting. The enemy on
the south side of the river have made heavy demonstrations; their force is
perhaps 40,000; ours not half that number. The militia, the City Battalion, and
the clerks have gone from Richmond. They have had a heavy fight at Port
Walthall, and another near Chester, in which we had, upon the whole, the
advantage of them. In the mean time a large body of raiders are going over the
country. They have cut the Central Railroad, and burnt three trains of cars,
laden with provisions for General Lee's army, and are doing all manner of
mischief to public and private property. Not a word can we hear from General
Lee, except through private telegrams sent from Guiney's Station. The wires
(telegraph) above that place have been cut. Our accounts from Guiney's are very
encouraging. It is astonishing how quiet everybody is — all owing, I must believe,
to an abiding faith in the goodness of God. Prayer-meetings are held in almost
all the churches, and we take great comfort in them. It seems to me evident
that the Lord is fighting our battles for us.
The last was a most disturbed night. We knew that the
attaches of the War Department had received orders to spend the night there,
and our son had promised us that if any thing exciting occurred he would come
up and let us know. We were first aroused by hearing a number of soldiers pass
up Broad Street. I sprang up, and saw at least a brigade passing by. As we were
composing ourselves to sleep, I heard several pebbles come against the window.
On looking out, I saw J. standing below. In a moment the door was opened and he
was in our room, with the information, brought by a courier, that 7,000 raiders
were within sixteen miles of us, making their way to the city. He also said
that 3,000 infantry had marched to meet them. Every lady in the house dressed
immediately, and some of us went down to the porch. There we saw ladies in
every porch, and walking on the pavements, as if it were evening. We saw but
one person who seemed really alarmed; every one else seemed to expect something
to occur to stop the raiders. Our city had too often been saved as if by a
miracle. About two o'clock a telegram came from General Stuart that he was in
pursuit of the enemy. J. came up to bring us the information, and we felt that
all was right. In a very short time families had retired to their chambers, and
quietness reigned in this hitherto perturbed street. For ourselves, we were
soon asleep. To-day General Stuart telegraphs that the enemy were overtaken at
Ashland by Lomax's Brigade, and handsomely repulsed. We have just heard that
they have taken the road to Dover's Mills, and our men are in hot pursuit.
SOURCE: Judith W. McGuire, Diary of a Southern
Refugee, During the War, p. 264-6
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