Major Charles Wright Wills: May 15, 1865

South of Bowling Green, Va., May 15, 1865.

Crossed the Pamunky river this morning and the Mattapony this p. m.

Beautiful country, but most desolate looking. Stopped at a house for the "cute and original" purpose of asking for a drink of water. While a servant went to the spring had a very interesting chat with the ladies, the first of the sex I have spoken to in Virginia. One of them was quite pleasant. She inquired if we Yankees were really all going to Mexico. Told her "such was the case," when she remarked, "Well, all our men are killed off, and if all you Northerners go to Mexico, we women will have our rights sure.”

Heard of Davis' capture. Did not excite an emotion.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 381

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: Sunday, May 29, 1864

Reached the 3rd Div. C. C. little before midnight. 1st Brigade Col. McIntosh. Camped near Hanovertown on the Pamunkey. Crossed the Mattapony today and passed through Dunkirk. Like to remain with the Regt.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 117

Diary of Judith Brockenbrough McGuire: June 7, 1863

We are living in fear of a Yankee raid. They have a large force on York River, and are continually sending parties up the Pamunky and Mattapony Rivers, to devastate the country and annoy the inhabitants. Not long ago a party rode to the house of a gentleman on Mattapony; meeting him on the lawn, the commander accosted him: “Mr. R., I understand you have the finest horses in King William County?” “Perhaps, sir, I have,” replied Mr. R. “Well, sir,” said the officer, “I want those horses immediately.” “They are not yours,” replied Mr. R, “and you can't get them.” The officer began to curse, and said he would burn every house on the place if the horses were not produced. Suiting the action to the word, he handed a box of matches to a subordinate, saying, “Burn!” In half an hour Mr. R. saw fourteen of his houses in a light blaze, including the dwelling, the kitchen, corn-houses and barn filled with grain, meat-house filled with meat, and servants' houses. Scarcely any thing was saved, not even the family clothes. But he did not get the horses, which were the objects of his peculiar wishes; the faithful servants had carried them away to a place of safety. How strange it is that we can be so calm, surrounded as we are by danger!

SOURCE: Judith W. McGuire, Diary of a Southern Refugee, During the War, p. 222