Yesterday passed as usual. We attended Mr. Peterkin's
prayer-meeting before breakfast, which we generally do, and which was very
interesting. Then came by market for our daily supplies; and at nine I
commenced my labour in the office, while Mr. went to his hospital, which
occupies a great deal of his time.
Washington, North Carolina, has been evacuated by the
Federals, who have retired to Newbern. All quiet on the Rapidan. Six steamers
have run the blockade within a few days, laden with ammunition, etc. Surely God
is with us. It is a delightful thing to contemplate that so many of our
officers of high position, who are leading and giving an example to our
soldiers, should be God-fearing men; from the President and General Lee down, I
believe a majority of them are professing Christians. On Sunday I saw General
R. Ransom (who has lately been put in command here) and General Kemper, who has
just recovered from the wound received at Gettysburg, both at the communion-table.
On Saturday our President had a most heart-rending accident
in his family. His little son was playing on the back-portico, fell over, and
was picked up apparently lifeless. Both parents were absent, nor did they get
home in time to see their child alive. The neighbours collected around him,
physicians were immediately called in, but the little fellow could not be aroused;
he breathed for about three-quarters of an hour. His devoted parents returned
to find their boy, whom they had left two hours before full of “life in every
limb,” now cold in death. They have the deep sympathy of the community.
SOURCE: Judith W. McGuire, Diary of a Southern
Refugee, During the War, p. 261-2
