1862 April 9 Chapel Hill, N.C.

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

Wednesday 9th--It has been raining incessantly for two
days and nights--& still continues to do so--Katy is sick & I had
to dress without fire this morning & clean out my own bed-
room--It is so raw, chilly -- & unpleasant today that I hate
to leave my seat one moment--Mr. Mears is off in the Hack
for Durham--He called to say goodbye--Tom--Eliza &
Liz are all engaged with interesting books I have writ
-ten a long letter to Mrs. Jewett--The ladies all keep closely in
their rooms such weather as this--We have 5 very pleasant
families boarding here now--We separate after each meal
but assemble in the parlour after tea & spend our eve-
nings together--Four of the ladies are sisters & room
near each other--Mrs. Wilson & daughter quite an in
-teresting lady with a very pretty daughter (Mary),
Mrs. Reid, Mrs. Downy, Mrs. Davis --& Miss Murder--
Some 6 or 7 children among them--Then we have
another Mrs. Davis--No relation of the other ladies--She
being from Louisiana--very pretty--Young & agree
-able--She has two children--Her husband is on parole--Was
taken at Roanoke--Mr. Lee & Mr. Garroll were in tonight--
Mr. Fetter in the morning, Mr. Montague in the afternoon to sit with
Eliza--

MSS 6960