Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: June 8, 1864

I must continue to make some notes, as I have opportunity.  . . . Listened all night for the knock of the courier who was to return to Mr. P. bringing tidings from McCausland; but he did not come till morning. McC. says he will dispute the whole way with the enemy.  . . . A cadet, who will probably die, is to be removed to our house from the V. M. I. hospital this morning. I am about to have the library carpet lifted, and the room prepared for him; he is too ill to be taken upstairs. Mr. P.'s overseer was to drive the cattle off from the farm at daylight. We wait the unfolding of events. I would that my father and J. knew the situation in which I find myself to-day. I wonder if they wouldn't pray for the defeat of those who are coming against us! Mr. P. talks of going to join McC. He can't stay here; but with McC. he could only go into the ranks, and he holds a Lt. Col.'s commission. I pray he may not go; for what can that handful of men do? They may harass a little, but are too small a force to make a stand, without the prospect of being cut to pieces.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 186

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: June 6, 1864

No sooner is one alarm over than another comes. Mr. P. took me down to the hospital this morning, to see some wounded cadets, one of whom was wounded in seven places, and will probably die. As we returned, and were stopping at Mr. Sam Moore's, to see a V. M. I. professor who had a piece of his skull grooved out by a minnie ball, we were startled by the news that the enemy were at Milboro'. We reached the church just as the services were closing, so did not go in. Found that Gen. W. E. Jones's command was approaching the town, only two miles out. At dusk, in walked Capt. George Junkin and another officer; they belong to Jones' division, and have left their companies five miles out, to come in and pass the night with us. We were just about to have our bread and milk supper handed; but of course more substantial fare had to be prepared for tired soldiers; so we all had real coffee, biscuits, and bacon; a royal repast for these times. . . .

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 182-3

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: June 25, 1863

The joy of a note from Julia by Flag of Truce. Thank God! my beloved father and sister are well, and my other friends too. I wrote instanter in answer.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 167

Lieutenant-Colonel John T. L. Preston to Margaret Junkin Preston, December 5, 1861

Headquarters, Valley District,

Winchester, Dec. 5th, 1861.

(This is the regular heading to all documents that we send out.)

Two letter in one day! This is getting worse instead of better. I do not think that while I was a crane, musing, crabbing, and spreading the pinions of fancy, I ever perpetrated more than one epistle in 24 hours.  . . . But now that Jim Lewis is going home on furlough, I cannot refrain from scribbling again. White people here have no chance of getting a furlough; it is only our colored friends who can escape for a time the evils of war. I had but time to gobble up your letter this morning before I wrote, but to-night I have enjoyed it as an epicure ought to eat and be thankful for a dainty. Speaking of dainties, we had for supper to-night two pheasants and some partridges; that will do pretty well, I should say! In fact we live very well. Our mess is: the General and myself; Alfred Jackson, Sandy Pendleton, and George Junkin; very smart fellows all of them (Sandy most uncommonly so), and as nice as can be, and full of gayety. We have a merry table; I as much a boy as any of them, and Jackson grave as a signpost, till something chances to overcome him, and then he breaks out into a laugh so awkward that it is manifest he has never laughed enough to learn how. He is a most simple-hearted man. He said to me the other day, “Do you know that the thing which has most interested and pleased me to-day, is to learn by a letter from Mr. Samuel Campbell that my lot is well set in grass.” This would make Clark laugh, that any one should think so much of such a rocky bit of land! Don't repeat this; it would seem as if I were laughing at the General. Jackson said to me last night, that he would much rather be at the Institute than in the army, and seemed to think fortunate those of us who are to go back. I sleep in the same room with the young men. Jackson invited me to share his room,  . . . but I know that privacy would be more agreeable to him. Besides, I have a notion that he goes to his room many times a day for special prayer. As to myself, you know anything will do for me and  . . . any place to sleep will answer very well. I sleep on what they call a stretcher, a military cot, with my overcoat and cape under my head for a pillow. I sleep soundly and get up early. . . . Well, I have written you an objective letter, and I enclose you a sort of diary that I keep on my business table, to help my indifferent memory. I do so many and such various things that I jot them down to prevent my forgetting. This is the diary of one day, and gives you a sample of my occupations; you must allow that it would take up a good deal of time to fill up these outlines! Hardly room left to say — I love you!

Your Husband.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 122-3