The cannon is now roaring in our ears. It cannot be more
than three miles off. The Lord reigneth; in that is our trust. There was a
severe cavalry fight yesterday morning, in which our brilliant cavalry leader,
General J. E. B. Stuart, was severely wounded. He was brought to the city last
night. One of his aids, our relative, Lientenant T. S. Garnett, has told us
with what difficulty they got him here; in an ambulance, going out of the way,
hither and thither, to avoid the enemy; of course, every jolt inflicting
intense agony. He is now at the house of his brother-in-law, Dr. Brewer,
surrounded by the most efficient surgeons and devoted friends. The prayers of
the community are with him.
My time, when out of the office, is much absorbed by the
hospital. Many wounded are brought in from both sides of the river. This
morning, as I entered St. James's Church, I saw the smoke from the cannon
distinctly. I stood for a moment on the steps and listened to the continued
roaring, and felt that the contest was fearfully near to us. The prayers,
hymns, psalms, and address were most comforting. God be praised for his
goodness, that we are still surrounded by Christian people, and have the faith
and trust of Christians. The town is as calm as if it were not the great object
of desire to hundreds of thousands of implacable enemies, who desire nothing so
much as its destruction.
General Lee's telegram last night gave us an account of
another repulse given General Grant, with great slaughter. “We suffered little
in comparison;” such was his telegram, signed “R. E. Lee.” His signature is
always cheering to our people. For some time we had not seen it, in consequence
of cut telegraphic wires. Both armies are now fortifying. The Yankees have such
indomitable perseverance, that they will never give up.
SOURCE: Judith W. McGuire, Diary of a Southern
Refugee, During the War, p. 266-7
No comments:
Post a Comment