We did hear cannon to-day. The woman who slandered Mrs.
Davis's republican court, of which we are honorable members, by saying they — well,
were not young; that they wore gaudy colors, and dressed badly — I took an
inventory to-day as to her charms. She is darkly, deeply, beautifully freckled;
she wears a wig which is kept in place by a tiara of mock jewels; she has the
fattest of arms and wears black bead bracelets.
The one who is under a cloud, shadowed as a Yankee spy, has
confirmed our worst suspicions. She exhibited unholy joy, as she reported seven
hundred sick soldiers in the hospital at Culpeper, and that Beauregard had sent
a flag of truce to Washington.
What a night we had! Maria had seen suspicious persons
hovering about all day, and Mrs. Preston a ladder which could easily be placed
so as to reach our rooms. Mary Hammy saw lights glancing about among the trees,
and we all heard guns. So we sat up. Consequently, I am writing in bed to-day.
A letter from my husband saying, in particular: “Our orders are to move on,'”
the date, July 10th. “Here we are still and no more prospect of movement now
than when I last wrote to you. It is true, however, that the enemy is advancing
slowly in our front, and we are preparing to receive him. He comes in great
force, being more than three times our number.”
The spy, so-called, gave us a parting shot: said Beauregard
had arrested her brother in order that he might take a fine horse which the
aforesaid brother was riding. Why? Beauregard, at a moment's notice, could have
any horse in South Carolina, or Louisiana, for that matter. This man was arrested
and sent to Richmond, and “will be acquitted as they always are,” said
Brewster. "They send them first to Richmond to see and hear everything
there; then they acquit them, and send them out of the country by way of
Norfolk to see everything there. But, after all, what does it matter? They have
no need for spies: our newspapers keep no secrets hid. The thoughts of our
hearts are all revealed. Everything with us is open and aboveboard.
“At Bethel the Yankees fired too high. Every daily paper is
jeering them about it yet. They’ll fire low enough next time, but no newspaper
man will be there to get the benefit of their improved practise, alas!"
SOURCE: Mary Boykin Chesnut, Edited by Isabella D. Martin
and Myrta Lockett Avary, A Diary From Dixie, p. 79-81
1 comment:
I have this book waiting to be read on my bookshelf. I really need to move it up in the to read list!
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