1862 July 8 Fauquier County, Va.

 [from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler as transcribed by her granddaughter Anne Madison Wright Baylor in 1972]

Tuesday July 8 1862
Another useless miserable day- I can't feel satisfied
not to hear from you--All my patience has
forsaken me-I have none left-
I spent the day sewing, nursing & reading. Have
just begun the life of Washington--  You remember
that you gave it to me the summer before we
were married & I read it then, but thinking a
great deal of Washington lately, & wondering who
would turn out his equal in this war. I
feel like reading it over again to refresh my
memory--certainly thus far in our war, no one as
great or good as he was have presented themselves. 
-I also have read an account of the battles
of the 27th & 28th from a Dispatch of the 30th-It was
truly heroic for our men to storm their
batteries in such a brave manner--Poor fellows
my heart aches for the loved ones of those who
fell--But they died fighting in a good cause -
Peace be with them--Just before nine o'clock a
buggy drove up containing Dr. Williams & Mr. A.- they
were on their way to our army & were taken up by
the enemy at Waterloo, thoroughly searched & many
articles they had for our soldiers taken from them--
They also had about 150 letters but Mr. A. hid them
in a barn after they passed  the first pickets
fearing they might be in their midst & so it
           for soon after they were taken prisoners--
proved ^ They were threatened with being hung if
any letters were discovered.  But so they were not found
out, they were let off after traveling around
with them all day & were told to
go home  they could not pass through their lines. 
They started homeward, glad to escape on such terms

MSS  15406