1862 September 6, Chapel Hill, N.C.

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

Saturday 6th  A bright beautiful day--Eliza left me directly after breakfast
for Pittsboro to pay Ann Trice the long promised visit--Henry Landon Junior
escorted her. since she left & Sarah has thro' a letter learned the death of
Mrs Fred Davis Miss Farmer that was -& as she is Anne's uncles wife
I expect the family will be any thing but lively--If Lize had heard
it before she left I am certain she would have given up the visit,
So I am glad she did not & I am missing her already--Tho' she can
-not have reached them yet--No letter from Tom yet--or any news
about him--Still I hope, & hope on, that he is safe--God grant
I may not be disappointed.  The papers are filled with our vic
-tories--We have lost immensely-altho' we have undoubtedly routed
the enemy.  The loss of Ewell alone is a very heavy one, for he was not
only one of the bravest and best fighting Generals in our Army, but
he was one of the most modest.  We could hear of what he did, & he was always
at work, but we never heard of anything of this from himself.  He was Jackson's right
-hand man & probable his equal in many respects & in some his superior.--
He is now wounded, which will deprive his country of his services during the War,
Among the Yankee Generals reported killed or mortally wounded are Pope
Sickles or Sigel.  The two latter names being mixed up--Also Banks-Pope
and Sickles-Do not deserve to die a soldier's death on the battlefield.  They
only deserve a felons' doom.  From Manassas Junction to Gordon's Ville
61 miles, all that distance is without Telegraph or Railroad communica
-tion, the wires having been torn down & the bridges ruined by the retreat
-ing enemy.  All rumours go to show that our Victory on Saturday was
full & complete.  The news from the West is good. Kirby Smith whipped
Nelson pretty badly--Bragg is on the move & he will keep moving--
General Clingman calls for one 5th of the able bodied Male Slaves in
the district to complete the work necessary for the defence of Cape Fear.  Mr
Fulton says at almost any sacrifice this call should be promptly complied with
as he feels certain the enemy will make a series of determined & formidable at-
-tacks upon our Coast just as soon as the active campaign in the field closes,
The Cape Fear River being the Key to this whole section of North Carolina
General Beauregard has recovered, and is now assigned to the department of
Georgia & South Carolina--the Wilmington Journal wishes he would come
over that way sometimes, or make General Whiting Major General as he
deserves to be & put him in charge of the department of North Carolina---
General Bragg crossed the Tennessee river with his Army on the 25th of August,
the fight on Saturday on the Warrenton turnpike & gradually became
general.  Our troops fought with obstinacy Y animation.  The division
under General Kemper captured 3 batteries some thirty pieces--Numerous
stands of colours, arms, & thousands of prisoners.  The Yankees are
flying toward Washington pursued by our Army.

MSS 6960