1863 January 7 [Clarke County, Va.]

[from the diary of Matthella Page Harrison as transcribed at a later date]

Wednesday, January 7th - Intensely cold and bright.  Went to prayer meeting at Linden.  Carried sister Mary home, then went to Longwood.  While there Cousins Mary and Evelyn came in from Winchester.  Cousin William had been sent off to Martinsburg.  Cousin Mary saw him a short time in the Provost office.  She had been out in a hard rain and felt so uncomfortable she did not stay long, thinking he might get permission to come and spend the night with her.  In the evening she was walking down there and met Cousin William and he told her he was to be sent off to Martinsburg.  The waggons had already started.  They had not given him time to get his clothes which were just across the street.  They said he was to be sent to Richmond from Martinsburg, there to be exchange.  The Monitor has been sunk, one of their boasted iron clads.  A few days ago Imboden came down to Romney and took their waggon train and a good many stores and they have sent most of the cavalry up there.  They have five fences built across our road.

MSS 9759