But little like the day of sacred rest. Last night, after
dark, and just after I had heard that 14,000 of the enemy were advancing, and
there had been two days' fighting near Huntersville, or rather, twelve miles
this side, and when my mind was filled with discouragement, G., who had gone
out, was heard to exclaim, “Here is Papa!” Yes! to my joy — but he had hardly
drawn off his gloves, had certainly not been one minute in the house, before he
was sent for to receive a dispatch brought by a courier, summoning the cadets
to Covington. He started out at once, but came back and stayed until morning,
when he hastened on to join the corps, and march towards Covington. We went to
church, but the services were interrupted by the announcement that the ladies
must go home and make instantly 250 haversacks. All was commotion and anxiety.
The congregation had been anxious before; it was composed wholly of females,
and a few old men and boys; but all anxiety was heightened. Met Mr. Middleton
as I came home, who was just returning to hurry on provisions. All the force of
the county is ordered to Clifton Forge for the present. The whole available
force is so small, that if there are 14,000 of the enemy near Lewisburg,
pushing on eastward, this handful can't keep them back. The reason Imboden sent
Mr. P. the dispatch yesterday to send the corps back, was because he said he
was moving so rapidly that only mounted men would avail him any thing. But now
infantry and, everything is desired.
SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and
Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 169-70
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