1862 September 10 Chapel Hill, N.C.

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

Wednesday 10th--Very cloudy & I think we will have rain before din
-ner.  All have gone to morning service but Liz & myself.  She has gone
to pass the day with Mrs Phillips & brandy peaches--Elizas expected letter
from Mr Mason came to day--But I had to forward it to Pittsboro.
I cannot find out whether he mentioned Tom or not--Glorious news from
Virginia our troops have crossed the Potomac & are now in
Maryland--On Thursday during the day the Cavalry force under com
-mand Brig.-Gen. Robertson engaged a portion of the enemy's forces
near Falls Church.  Nearly entire day was spent in skirmishing between con
tending parties.  While this was going on our army was being with drawn
from the vicinity of the late battlefields & marched in the direction of
the upper potomac.  At nightfall Gen. Robertson drew off his forces
and followed the Army.  Early next morning his brigade crossed the
river at________some distance below Leesburg.  At or near the same
time the division of Gen. Hill commenced crossing at another point.
later in the day the veteran Corps of Gen. Jackson reached _____ and at once proceeded
to pass over and before night the passage had been successfully effected.  General
Longstreets Corps followed and during the night joined the other Corps on
the other side--Another division is said to have crossed at ______seven miles
higher up the river.  There was no resistance made at any time & the whole
affair was accomplished int he most admirable order, & without the firing
of a Gun.  The condition of the river greatly favoured the passage of our troops,
the water being at a lower stage & easily forded.  the men were in the highest
spirits & shout after shout went up, as Regiment after Regiment reached
the Maryland shore.  It is stated that four[sic] days our troops lived almost
entirely on corn taken from the fields on the route.  A large proportion of
them were barefooted, & a goodly number only half clothed.  When the
army crossed the potomac there was a exciting race between many of the
regiments to see who should get across first, & the boys dashed into the
water with laughter & cheers.  They were in the finest spirits. when the Federals evac
uated Winchester they set fir to one entire block of buildings--This
block was in the very heart of the City & it included the Taylor Hotel, the
largest & finest public house in the Valley--The whole square was swept
by the firing of the flames & nothing but bare wells being left of the finest
improved houses in the town. The Yankee who blew up the Magazine
was blown up with it. We have just heard 12 o clock--that
another terrible battle has been fought at Centreville one of the
bloodiest of the War--4 o clock Mr Johnston has just come
in to tell us Cincinati has been taken by Kirby Smith--God
is on our side--To him be all the praise- - -

MSS 6960