Last night all our alarm was again aroused by a courier
arriving with the news that the enemy had turned suddenly back, and were in
full force at Brownsburg, and that McCausland was retreating with his 1400 men
before him. This was soon confirmed by the arrival of brother Eben and Mr. W.
again fleeing. The enemy's column entered Brownsburg as they left; they stayed
long enough to hear the musketry of the skirmishers; this return was so sudden
that they had barely time to escape. Some of the Institute professors were here
to tea; all had to depart at once, when Mr. P. came in saying that he had just
read a dispatch from McC. saying that he would be here in two hours, and
that the enemy was at Cedar Grove, eight miles from this. Sure enough, in less
than two hours, McC's men were at Cameron's farm. Mr. P. and two of the
officers rode out to see McC. — did not get back till three in the morning; we
sitting up till then. Indeed we did not go to bed at all; only threw ourselves
down for an hour or so. The cadets have been under arms all night; have not yet
moved. Resistance was at first spoken of; but there are only three of the
Institute cannon brought back, and McC. has found to his cost that it is in
vain to offer opposition with such a mere handful as could be brought together,
to the ten thousand who are approaching. So certain did we feel yesterday that
the danger was for the time over, that Mr. P. had his stock all brought back
from the mountains, and I had “unhid” as George says, our silver. At once Uncle
Young [a trusted servant] was dispatched with the carriage horses to Overseer
Clark, and he was ordered to proceed at daylight to the mountains. A courier
came in at ten o'clock P. M. saying that another force was advancing by way of
Kerr's Creek; whereupon E. and the gentlemen from Brownsburg, one a wounded
Lt., mounted and decamped. If the enemy advances on Lexington this morning,
McC. will most probably burn our bridge, and retreat, the Cadets with him, on
the Lynchburg road. Mr. P. goes with the Cadets. They only arrived from
Richmond night before last.
SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and
Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 187-8
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