1862 May 27 Chapel Hill, N.C.

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

It is very cloudy to day--& it makes us who are
left feel sad to see others leaving & in so large a number as the
Murder family--They all go off at 7 o'clock--6 ladies &
five children-1 servant & Lieutenant Murder
who had his arm shattered at Hatteras by a shell from the
Yankees---Mrs Wilson the oldest sister is a lovely character
very intelligent & fine looking she would grace a Court
her daughter Mary is a sweet affectionate girl--& will no
doubt make a very strong fine woman when older--She is now
only 16 & has never been in company==Mrs Reid is the youngest
of the family & like the others very clever--But I saw less of her
than the others she has two little boys--Willie & Jimmie--
Mrs Da[?]ing is more dignified than the rest-& has 3 children
of the smartest kind--Maggie--Charlie & [blank space] Then there
is Miss Murder that they all look up to & Miss Davis they call Grand
Ma--She is an invalid.  I have never seen her--
They are all going to Charlotte to keep house together--We
shall miss them very much--It is pleasant and painful to form
acquaintances at a Hotel.  For as soon as we become in
-timate we have to part--This has been the case some 1/2
dozen times since we came here---

MSS 6960