1862 September 21 Chapel Hill, N.C.

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

Sunday--21st  Very dark & cloudy the rain not over--Mr Wingfield is
sick--If we have church Mr Hubbard will officiate--No letters or
papers for me, but Mrs Guthrie has received the Examiner-Which
confirms the report of the taken[sic] of Harpers Ferry & the fighting
in Maryland--At Harpers ferry there was an unconditional surrender
of the garrison. 10,000 men with all the arms--50 pieces of Artillery--Ammuniton
100 wagons--Quarter master & Commissary stores- & many cars some
of which were loaded. 600 negroes. This important conquest was effected
without a loss on our side.  It is reported the cavalry on thousand in
number escaped by Shepherdstown.  At Winchester September 16th a fight
took place at Middleton on Sunday (Maryland) between a very hea
vy force of the Enemy & D.H. Hill's Division.  The loss was great on each
side.  Gen Hill however held his position until the advance of Longstreet
arrived when the enemy fell back.  Gen Garnet was killed.
"Harpers Ferry" was taken by the divisions of Jackson & AP Hill. The
quantity of amunition captured by us at Harper's ferry is immense amount-
-ing to several hundred wagon loads--Sharpsburg which according to the
dispatch was the scene of the battle in Maryland is situated on the road leading
from Boonsboro to Shepherdstown & is six miles South of the former place &
about 10 miles North West of Harper's Ferry. What is the "Writ of habeas
Corpus? It is simply a Writ by which a Citizen who is arrested & imprisoned
by the hand of power may learn what offence is charged against him,
and may be discharged if unjustly detained by a Court of Justice.  It
is the embodiment, nay life of civil liberty--Wrote Mary Constance
& sent her a little Catechism--Also wrote Willie Ruffin Hill---

MSS 6960