Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

Post image for Diary of a Southern Refugee, Judith White McGuire.

Diary of a Southern Refugee, Judith White McGuire.

April 29, 2013

Diary of a Southern Refugee During the War by Judith White McGuire

Wednesday Night, April 29.—On Saturday Mr. —— and myself went up to Cedar Hill, and he attempted to go to Fredericksburg; when he reached Hamilton’s Crossings he found it impossible to go on—conveyances were so scarce and the roads so terrible. He had the pleasure to dine, by invitation, at General Jackson’s head-quarters. That night he spent with his old friend, Mr. M. Garnett. Once having every luxury which could be desired, he now lives in his desolated house, surrounded by down-trodden fields, without fences, trees, or vegetation of any sort. His servants, except a few faithful ones, have deserted him; his horses and stock of all kinds have been swept away; his sons in the army; and he is cheerful and buoyed with hope, not for himself, but for the cause: good old patriot as he is, forgetting his own privations in zeal for his country. On Sunday Mr. —— heard an admirable sermon at head-quarters (General Jackson’s) from the Rev. Mr. Lacy, a Presbyterian chaplain, and returned home on Monday, having found it impossible to fulfil the object of his trip, that of preaching to the soldiers in Fredericksburg.

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