Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: May 26, 1864

We have prayer-meetings very well attended every afternoon at four o'clock. They are very general all over the country. Oh! that the Hearer of prayer would answer the thousands of petitions that rise from all parts of the land! Alarms every day.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 181-2

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: May 23, 1864

At nine o'clock this night my husband returned home, safe, having walked twenty miles owing to a break in the canal. . . . He has had a very pleasant trip; was ten days on the way returning; the difficulty of travelling is now almost insurmountable. Anna Jackson came on as far as Greensboro' on her way to Lexington, but was obliged to give up the attempt to come further. The Government absorbs the railroads for the transportation of troops and supplies, and no passenger cars are run.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 181

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: May 19, 1864

My birthday. I feel the pressure of years upon me in this respect, that all life seems sadder; hope's wings droop; illusions vanish. Yet am I a slow learner of the solemn lessons thus taught me. Letters from Frank; the Cadets have had a severe time of it. Several have died of their wounds; forty-five were wounded. They are now ordered on to Richmond, by the Secretary of War, and I expect nothing else than that they are in for the remainder of the war, and my husband with them. We hear nothing but tales of blood. Today comes another report of a fight between Lee and Grant, and the details of Beauregard's success at Richmond. Pickett's Division stormed the enemy's breastworks, and have 700 or 800 killed and wounded. E. C. is in this Division; we know not whether he has fallen, and are afraid to hear. People busy here scraping lint; the schools dismissed in order that the children may help. . . .

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 181

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: May 13, 1864

Still no mail from Richmond, and only rumors of the continuous fighting. I feel oppressed and spiritless. No letters from Mr. P.; the enemy are at Salem; if they come on to Lynchburg, Mr. P. is cut off from his home, and I will not even be able to hear from him.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 180

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: May 18, 1864

Surely we have fallen upon evil times! Last night we received intelligence of the very severe battle at or near New Market, between Breckenridge and Seigle; the latter was repulsed, and is retreating, pursued by Breckenridge. The Cadets asked to be permitted to take the front; they were allowed to do so. (Later, this is doubtful, but General B. says, “They behaved splendidly!”) Five of them were killed, and forty-five wounded, some of them very badly. For a while we did not know but that Frank or Preston Cocke or William Lewis were among the killed; but when the list came, we could not find their names! Thank God for sparing them! But they are pushing the enemy on; another battle will probably ensue, and then their turn may come. We received a Richmond paper, the first for ten days, and find that a fight has taken place near Sister's; thirty killed; and there she is, alone on her plantation; her three only sons in battle. How do we ever live through such scenes as are daily coming to our notice! The reserve is ordered out all over the State. Matters are touching the point of desperation. All seems to depend upon the final throw. We will soon have attained “the zenith point of hope,” or “the nadir of despair.”

Father and J. do not begin to conceive what we go through here. How should they? Thank God they do not!

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 180-1

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: May 11, 1864

We surely “dwell in the midst of alarms.” We were roused from our beds this morning at five o'clock by an order for the impressment of our horses to haul the Institute cannon: then came Frank, Preston Cocke, and William Lewis for a hurried breakfast, and provision for their haversacks; ordered towards Winchester, where is Seigle with a large Yankee force. They left at seven o'clock; all the Home Guard is ordered out too; so Lexington is left without men. Last night firing was heard by a great many persons, more distinctly they say than ever before. They suppose it to be at Richmond. I'm thankful my husband is away, on the errand of God's Church, and so escapes going to Winchester. He will regret it no little!

I was very much struck, a few weeks ago, in listening to my children at play. They dramatized that familiar passage in Childe Harold as closely as if it had been explained to them, —

“There was a sound of revelry by night,” &c.

Of course they had never even heard it read; but they got their “Mammy” to cut paper soldiers and ladies; then they had a “party,” and made the soldiers and ladies dance together. While they were busy dancing, came a shout from George: “The enemy — the Yankees — they are coming! Your guns! Your guns!” So the soldiers tore themselves away. “There was mounting in hot haste,” and they made them rush to battle, leaving the poor paper ladies scattered disconsolately about the floor. The thought of war is never out of our minds. If it could be, our children would bring it back by their plays! For they are almost wholly of a military character. Oh! when will the end come! No mail last night; but news by stage that Pickett has been successful above Petersburg.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 179-80

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: April 18, 1864

A long hiatus in my notes: I have had a severe attack of illness, from which I have scarcely fully recovered. Took cold from exposure in having some trees set out, and had internal neuralgia, and after that something like gastritis; was confined to bed about a fortnight; have regained my strength very slowly.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 178

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: April 26, 1864

Busy getting Mr. P. ready to go to the General Assembly, which meets at Charlotte, N. C, to which he is a delegate. Busy too in putting up a box of provisions to send to the army to Frank Wilson.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 178

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: April 29, 1864

This evening Mr. P. and T. started to the General Assembly. A curious commentary upon the times is that I had to prepare provisions sufficient for the journey, for them to take along, as nothing can be gotten on the way. All travellers carry their own food, even for a five days' journey.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 178

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: May 10, 1864

The anniversary of Jackson's death. A flag sent from England was reared over his grave this morning with appropriate ceremonies. He is safe from the fearful turmoil of war! Had two letters from Sister Julia last week, written a fortnight apart. She has received none of the letters I sent through the lines. This is discouraging. My hands are rheumatic and I can hardly hold a pen.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 178-9

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: February 23, 1864

This day ten years ago my blessed mother went from us to Heaven. I have thought much about her to-day, and have recalled the anguish of losing her. What she is spared in not being here now!

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 177

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: February 26, 1864

The currency is in a transition state, and it does create the strangest difficulties. Sister pays today $20 for having a home-made cotton dress made up. Unbleached cottons are $8 per yard. People are trading as far as possible, instead of paying money. As for example, the shoemaker tells me that he won't make a pair of shoes for me unless I send him a load of wood; so before the shoes can be had, the wood is sent. Flour is selling at $250 per barrel.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 177

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: February 29, 1864

G. and H. at Sally White's birthday party; H. said they had “white mush” on the table; on inquiry, I found it was ice-cream! Not having made any ice-cream since war-times, the child had never seen any, and so called it white mush. The only luxury I long for is real coffee. I have drunk wheat coffee for more than two years, till I am made a dyspeptic by it. Coffee has sold at $16 a pound. Tea is now $40 per pound.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 178

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: February 10, 1864

Have been suffering more than usual with my eyes, so as not to be able to use them at all.  . . . Rev. W. H. Ruffner here after tea; felt very much depressed by the tenor of his and Mr. P.'s conversation: they seem to think that the Valley must be relinquished this summer.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 177

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: February 19, 1864

Everybody is in an excitement about the currency bill, which we heard of last night. Confederate money is refused this morning. On the 1st of April it is to sink to two thirds its present value; so everybody is trying to get it off their hands. I have ceased noting the prices of things, they are so incredible; as, for example, $30 per gallon for sorghum molasses; calico, $12 per yard; tallow candles, $6 per pound; unbleached cotton, $5 per yard. It is astonishing how coolly we talk about the probability next summer of having to relinquish the Valley, and how our plans take in that probability. Oh! but we are growing weary of this horrid war! How it oppresses us!

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 177

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: January 2, 1864

The coldest day of the season; river frozen over; can hardly keep warm at all. Poor people, soldiers' wives, &c., coming every day for flour and wood; Mr. P. supplies very many of them.

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

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: January 4, 1864

Snowing and sleeting.  . . . Busy cutting out clothes for Mr. P.'s new farm servants.

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

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: January 23, 1864

Wrote a letter which I mean to try to get through the lines to Julia. Weather mild and fine.

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

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: January 27, 1864

Had the Ruffners, Cousin R. Taylor's family, Dr. Madison, Mr. Norton, and two or three others to tea this evening; the first company invited to tea, I believe, since the war began. Had an agreeable evening. Weather beautiful and mild as May.  . . . Had a pleasant ride on horseback with Mr. P. this evening.

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

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: February 3, 1864

Have been making some notes for Dr. Dabney lately, relative to Jackson; find my eyes a great barrier in the way of my doing it properly.

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