1862 June 26 Chapel Hill, N.C.

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

Thursday 26th  It is so cool this morning I have put on a shawl & let
down my windows--Katy has just brought me a letter from
Fred which I joyfully received--As I felt anxious to hear how
he was getting on in his new way of living--Or rather Camp
life--He has been in no engagement so far--But was to start
on picket shortly after writing--& said he heard the mosquitoes were
intolerable bad where they were to be sent--He had been on
drill for two hours that day --& found it very warm & tire
some--Made more so by his horse being an untrained one.
No papers from Richmond to day--But a passenger in the Hack last
night still asserts the battle is going on at Richmond--The Report
that Burnsides had sent 6000 troops from Norfolk & Suffolk to
take Welden also proved to be untrue.

One of three sons in the Confederate Army, Fred Hill was with Peter B. Starke's Washington Cavalry

MSS 6960