This has been one of the most exciting days we have ever had
here. At half past six we gave the soldiers breakfast, and filled their
haversacks. But at breakfast we heard of Gen. Elzey's arrival in town, and of
the burning of the woollen factory of which Mr. P. is part owner, at Port
Republic. After breakfast, we all went down street, to see the passage of the
troops, 1700 men; G.'s company among them. Poor fellows! It was melancholy to
see them with the bouquets with which the ladies had saluted them, in their
hands. Such a mockery in the fresh, brilliant-looking flowers, and their soiled,
jaded appearance. I knew they were marching to meet the enemy, and must be
brought into action at once, and I could not but know that many of them would
soon lie down in death. A courier arrived, as they came through the place, with
news of an engagement a few miles from Staunton, in which Gen. Jones was
killed. He had just reached the place — had only a small portion of his command
with him, but he collected parts of some scattered commands, and attempted to
withstand the enemy. His own troops fought bravely, but the others ran
shamefully: Jones threw himself into the thickest of the fight to rally them,
and fell dead. It is a great loss; he was esteemed a fine officer; was an
attached friend of Gen. Jackson.
All has been wild excitement this afternoon. Stages and
wagons loaded with negroes poured in from Staunton. Everybody was in alarm. In
the midst of it, after hearing that the enemy was in possession of Waynesboro
and Staunton both, we went to the daily prayer meeting. There Dr. White calmed
the people by a succinct statement of facts, so far as it was possible to
obtain them. . . .
SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and
Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 183-4
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