We went to see Mrs. Breckinridge, who is here with her
husband. Then we paid our respects to Mrs. Lee. Her room was like an industrial
school: everybody so busy. Her daughters were all there plying their needles,
with several other ladies. Mrs. Lee showed us a beautiful sword, recently sent
to the General by some Marylanders, now in Paris. On the blade was engraved, “Aide
tรดt et Dieu
t'aidera.” When we
came out someone said, “Did you see how the Lees spend their time? What a
rebuke to the taffy parties!”
Another maimed hero is engaged to be married. Sally Hampton
has accepted John Haskell. There is a story that he reported for duty after his
arm was shot off; suppose in the fury of the battle he did not feel the pain.
General Breckinridge once asked, “What's the name of the
fellow who has gone to Europe for Hood's leg?” “Dr. Darby.” “Suppose it is
shipwrecked?” “No matter; half a dozen are ordered.” Mrs. Preston raised her
hands: “No wonder the General says they talk of him as if he were a centipede;
his leg is in everybody's mouth.”
SOURCE: Mary Boykin Chesnut, Edited by Isabella D. Martin
and Myrta Lockett Avary, A Diary From Dixie, p. 292-3
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