1862 March 5

[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, a war refugee from Wilmington, N.C.]

We left Wilmington on the 5th of march 1862 for Chapel Hill
& after a very pleasant trip arrived safely at 3 oClock Thursday
afternoon in the Village--Our party consisted of Mrs Wm Hill
Miss Eliza Hill & Lieutenant Mason who kindly escorted us
up--We are still t the Hotel finding it difficult to obtain
board where we would like to stay. The weather is very cold--Too
much so for my feelings--Yesterday we had quite a snow
storm. But under the rays of a bright sun it has melted
away-Liz has gone to spend the day with Mrs Sam Phillips & we
hope my Monday to get to Mrs Nuns where we will have more comfortable
rooms--

[added to the entry several days later]

Mr. Mason left us Saturday night 8th 2 oclock.

Mrs. Hill was the mother of sons Frederick J., Thomas S. and Joe, all of whom served in the Confederate Army, and a daughter, Eliza, who was married during the war to Capt. James M. Mason. Fred served with the Starke Cavalry, Co. D of the 28th Regiment Mississippi Voluneers and Tom with the Burt Rifles, Co. K of the 18th Mississippi Volunteers. William, another son, died in 1860, leaving as his widow, Eliabeth (Liz), a daughter of John Branch, a Governor of North Carolina, Mrs. Hill was the widow of William Hill, who died before the Civil War.
MSS 6960