Ashland. — We
are now snugly fixed in Ashland. Our mess consists of Bishop J. and family,
Major J. and wife, Lieutenant J. J. and wife (our daughter,) Mrs. S. and
daughter, of Chantilly, Mr. –––, myself, and our two young daughters — a goodly
number for a cottage with eight small rooms; but we are very comfortable. All
from one neighbourhood, all refugees, and none able to do better, we are
determined to take every thing cheerfully. Many remarks are jestingly made
suggestive of unpleasant collisions among so many families in one house; but we
anticipate no evils of that kind; each has her own place, and her own duties to
perform; the young married ladies of the establishment are by common consent to
have the housekeeping troubles; their husbands are to be masters, with the
onerous duties of caterers, treasurers, etc. We old ladies have promised to
give our sage advice and experience, whenever it is desired. The girls will
assist their sisters, with their nimble fingers, in cases of emergency; and the
clerical gentlemen are to have their own way, and to do their own work
without let or hindrance. All that is required of them is, that they
shall be household chaplains, and that Mr. ––– shall have service every Sunday
at the neglected village church. With these discreet regulations, we
confidently expect a most pleasant and harmonious establishment. Our young
gentlemen are officers stationed in Richmond. Mr. and themselves go in every
morning in the cars, after an early breakfast, and return to dinner at five
o'clock. Julia Johns and myself have free tickets to go on the cars to attend
to our hospital duties. I go in twice a week for that purpose.
A dispatch just received from General Bragg, claiming a
signal victory at Perryville; but in consequence of the arrival of large
reinforcements to the enemy, he had fallen back to Cumberland Gap. These
victories without permanent results do us no good, and so much blood is
spilled. There seems to be a revolution going on at the North. Ohio, Indiana,
and Pennsylvania have given the Democrats a large majority for Congress! So may
it be!
SOURCE: Judith W. McGuire, Diary of a Southern
Refugee, During the War, p. 168-9
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