Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: January 1, 1864

New Year's Day, 1864: How times flies! though his wings are heavy. Had hardly gotten used to '63, when here is '64 upon me. A bright beautiful day, after ten days' rain and snow.  . . . Roads and streets terribly muddy; scarcely attempt going out. Most of the servants back again. Excessively cold.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 176

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: December 20, 1863

An order from Imboden for the cadets to march to Buchanan. They started this morning. Mr. P. went at noon. A very cold day.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 174-5

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: December 21, 1863

Averill has escaped! To-day Mr. P. returned; also Eben: all are terribly chagrined at the escape of Averill. We hear thro' a dispatch from Staunton that the enemy is advancing from Harrisonburg. A letter to-night from Sister Julia; thankful that my father is better.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 175

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: December 24, 1863

Making a few simple preparations for Christmas, such as crullers with molasses, and mince pies without sugar or fruit or spirit. The Moncures came back at night, worn out with their bootless marching. They blame E. with the miscarriage of the expedition against Averill.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 175

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: December 19, 1863

Busy all forenoon getting breakfasts for soldiers, and filling haversacks. Two young cousins of Mr. P. (Moncures) who have lived most of their lives in Paris, came, looking as rough and dirty as any of the soldiers we saw yesterday. They belong to Lee's cavalry, and had straggled behind. We fed them, mended them up, and they passed on refreshed. I asked one of them if he could realize that he used to promenade the “Boulevards,” and take his dinner at the “Palais Royal.” Their father is worth millions.  . . . Yet these young men were just as merry and contented as possible, though living a life infinitely harder than the worst worked slave. One of them had on coarse jeans trousers. The cadets are to go on to Buchanan tomorrow morning. The weather is bitterly cold, the roads very bad, and hard frozen. This day a twelvemonth poor Randolph was buried.

“Pain in the heart — pain in the head —

Grief for the living — grief for the dead!”

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 174

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: December 18, 1863

Went on the street to hear some news; found that a dispatch had been received, ordering a body of men to go on to Pattonsburg to burn down the fine bridge over the James river, to prevent Averill's escape ; Averill is at Salem with 4000 men.

At 11 o'clock, Imboden's cavalry and artillery passed through. It is the first time I have seen an army. Poor fellows ! with their broken down horses, muddy up to the eyes, and their muddy wallets and blankets, they looked like an army of tatterdemalions; the horses looked starved. Then came the Home Guard, drenched and muddy, as if they had seen hard service, though they had only been out four days; but such weather! It rained terribly, the rain part of the time freezing as it fell; and they were out in it all: stood round their fires all night, or lay down in the puddles of water. At 3 P. M. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry (2700) passed through. Their horses were in better condition. All the men in both divisions looked in fine spirits, and cheered vociferously as the ladies waved scarves and handkerchiefs on their passing. People brought out waiters of eatables for the poor tired men. I put our dinner, which was just ready, on a waiter, and sent it down to them. Found Bro. E. and brought him home to dinner, and filled his haversack. All went on to Collierstown last night . Bro. W. is Lt. Col. of the Home Guards. They were all sent on for the protection of Lexington last night, it being supposed that Averill would advance upon us from Salem. An exciting day indeed.

At night my husband came; the Cadets were water bound; some of them waded to their waists in water, building bridges for artillery. Mr. P. says he saw one marching along in his naked feet. This is "glorious war "!

Received a note from A. enclosing a Flag of Truce letter from J. Thankful that my dear father is better.  J. says, “It doesn't matter how soon all of us go.” She would feel so indeed, if she were in the midst of such war scenes as now surround us.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 173-4

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: December 6, 1863

Again the Cadets and Home Guard are summoned out; they started yesterday; and Mr. P. went early this morning. It is a cold raw day, and they will find marching and bivouacing in the open air very disagreeable. The reports are that the enemy is advancing upon the Valley from four different points. When will these alarms cease? I am in despair about the war.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 172-3

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: November 26, 1863

Had 12 hogs killed today.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 172

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: November 27, 1863

Busy with putting up pork. Got a wretched cold.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 172

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: December 2, 1863

All day Sunday sick in bed; not much better on Monday; and today still hors du combat. Weather very cold; river frozen.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 172

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: December 4, 1863

Bro. E. came up yesterday on business; bought 150 lbs. of brown sugar, and gave for it $450.

Bad news from Bragg and the Southwest, and everybody discouraged.

A recent fight on the Rapidan; one of our neighbors had a son killed; one other person from the town also killed.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 172

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: December 11, 1863

Sister had a letter last night, giving positive information of William Cocke's death. He was instantly killed on July 3d and fell without a groan. She bears this confirmation of her worst fears better than we could have expected; the long suspense has broken the shock in some measure.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 172

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: November 25, 1863

Last night Sister and P. came: Sister does not allude in any way to William, nor have we mentioned his name to her. She must surely believe in her heart that he has perished, though she will not allow it to herself.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 172

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: November 24, 1863

Wrote today to my dear father by Flag of Truce. Still suffering with my eyes, so as not to be able to read or write much. I pretend not to sew any, but am constrained to do some almost every day, though I always suffer in consequence.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 172

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: November 16, 1863

Was present tonight at Louisa Brockenborough's wedding at the Episcopal Church; a beautiful affair; eight bridesmaids; one of the bride's silk dresses cost between $500 & $600 for the unmade material.  Wood is now $30 per cord; flour $100 per barrel in Richmond, $50 here, and rising. Butter selling here by the quantity for $3.50 per lb.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 171-2

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: November 12, 1863

After dark last night Mr. P. returned, and I find that I was greatly mistaken in supposing that the hurrying out of the Rockbridge forces had accomplished nothing. But for their acting as Imboden's reserve, he would not have dared to open fire upon the enemy as they approached Covington. Strange to say, although they numbered several thousand (for Imboden himself counted 90 wagons in the train), they retreated at the first fire towards Huntersville. It was discovered afterwards that they had heard of large reinforcements being received by Imboden, which it is supposed they thought were from Lee. Every body expected a fight, and I think there was general disappointment that there was only a skirmish. For the present, the forces have returned, and gone to their homes; with the expectation, however, that at any time they may be recalled.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 171

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: November 11, 1863

I feel angry when I have been tortured to no purpose, as now. This evening the Cadets and Home Guard are back again without anything happening to them. I have heard no particulars; last night rumor after rumor reached us, and at last we became convinced that they were really on the return. Imboden had a slight skirmish with the enemy, but whether any of the Rockbridge forces took part in it, I don't know. Mr. P. has not returned; stayed to hunt deer on the mountain, as he failed to find Yankees!

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 171

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: Tuesday, November 10, 1863

Hear that there was fighting yesterday all day at Callihans, six miles west of Covington; that the Home Guard and cadets were being pushed on as fast as they could move, in order to assist, and expected to arrive at 4 o'clock, P. M. So my husband and Bro. W. may have been in a battle — may be wounded — may be prisoners — may be killed — all is uncertainty. These torturing rumors are very hard to bear.

Exceedingly cold today. A Flag of Truce note from Julia to W. — Father is sick, to add to my anxieties. Had a letter in reply to mine to Judge Ould about William Cocke. Mine was sent on to Washington City, and is returned endorsed, “No record of W. F. Cocke.” So that settles the question; he perished in the assault upon Gettysburg. I have to communicate this to his mother. What awful times we live in!

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 170-1

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: Monday, November 9, 1863

We hear today that Echols has had a fight at Lewisburg with 8000 of the enemy, and been badly whipped — lost all his artillery, and many of his men. Hear too that the Home Guard and cadets are ordered on from Clifton Forge to Covington, so that the provision that was started last night would not reach them. All is anxiety. So hurriedly did many go off, that they carried no blankets, and some went with cotton clothes only. Mr. P. went with a pair of worn-out summer boots, and without an article of clothing but what he had on; not even an extra pair of stockings. It is bitterly cold tonight; snowed a little today; the coldest day of the season as yet. I am tasting some of the cruel anxieties which war occasions.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 170

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: Sunday, November 8, 1863

But little like the day of sacred rest. Last night, after dark, and just after I had heard that 14,000 of the enemy were advancing, and there had been two days' fighting near Huntersville, or rather, twelve miles this side, and when my mind was filled with discouragement, G., who had gone out, was heard to exclaim, “Here is Papa!” Yes! to my joy — but he had hardly drawn off his gloves, had certainly not been one minute in the house, before he was sent for to receive a dispatch brought by a courier, summoning the cadets to Covington. He started out at once, but came back and stayed until morning, when he hastened on to join the corps, and march towards Covington. We went to church, but the services were interrupted by the announcement that the ladies must go home and make instantly 250 haversacks. All was commotion and anxiety. The congregation had been anxious before; it was composed wholly of females, and a few old men and boys; but all anxiety was heightened. Met Mr. Middleton as I came home, who was just returning to hurry on provisions. All the force of the county is ordered to Clifton Forge for the present. The whole available force is so small, that if there are 14,000 of the enemy near Lewisburg, pushing on eastward, this handful can't keep them back. The reason Imboden sent Mr. P. the dispatch yesterday to send the corps back, was because he said he was moving so rapidly that only mounted men would avail him any thing. But now infantry and, everything is desired.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 169-70