Saturday, July 7, 2012

1862 July 5 Fauquier County, Va.

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Saturday, July 5, 1862
This morning I felt the effects of my long ride
was weary & sleepy.  took a nap quite early & felt
much better after it--  We had quite a levee
this morning.  Sister Fannie & cousin James-- Dr. Withers--
cousin John of Markham.   The gentleman
did not give such favorable accounts of  their
reports of the battle.  Dr. W said he was by
no means sure that Richmond was not in
the enemies possession.  Oh, it makes me tremble--
I finished a letter commenced last night--
& Mary,Fannie & I walked over to M. L's to take
them to him to carry to Warrenton.  We met
Nannie and she was rather down, too, about the
battle-said there was an account that Halleck-
had reinforced Mc,Clellan with 80,000 men--
& that Beauregard arrived two hours later with
all of his army - We cannot believe it.  It 
must be only rumor, but can it be true?  It is awful 
to think what a bloody fight it must be--  
Mr. DeButts left Richmond Tuesday morning &
said that McClellan had asked for time to bury 
his dead but Lee said he must go on fighting 
or surrender = & that the dead would be cared for 
if he did.  Johnson is still reported incapable 
of service-.  We are most fearful as to the 
ultimate result of all this fighting. Oh
God have mercy upon us--Have mercy upon us.


[transcript from 1972 by her granddaughter Anne Madison Wright Baylor]


MSS 15406

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