1862 July 3 Fauquier County, Va.

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler ]

Thursday July 3 1862

The sun shone brightly & we started early to
Orleans.  Mary, Cary, Tom Jacque & myself--
Called at Mrs. Duncan's, found Orleans more
empty than we expected as Mr. Johnson had
gone to Washington to buy more goods. We got a
few things and then went on to Prospect Hill--
Found Beck alone as Cousin Eliza & Milly
were at Dr. S[tribling]s.  I should have said Mrs. Little was
spending the day with her. She was very glad to
see us-- Cousin Jacquelin didn't come home
till late.  Had some trouble about a horse
-- Beck was very uneasy about him.  she reminded
me so much of myself.  When cousin Jacquelin
came he tried to satisfy her as to what he had
done but she as convinced he might have acted
differently.  He wants to go to Richmond--But
Beck said indeed it is a hard case for you to
bring me here to stay & then go off and leave me
all the time. Well I won't go if you
object to it said Cousin J[acque]---so they went on--
I thought that if I only had you at home I
would not complain anymore when you wanted
to make a visit or when you staid out late or spent
the day away from home when you had intended returning--
Those days seem "long ago"--
Cousin Jacquelin brought rumors of the fight--
& we claim a victory so far but we are still fighting--
Oh it is awful.

As transcribed in 1972 by her granddaughter Anne Madison Wright Baylor

MSS 15406