Wednesday 21st January 1863
Jim is up and about this morning free from pain. I made my saque today, faced it around with black doe skin. It fits very nice. Atheline is sewing on the children’s flannel skirts. She will make the skirt & I will put on the bodies. Betsey was not able to weave today so she made two blankets. Snow is going away very fast. The days seem as if Spring was with us. I hope Mr. Henry is getting on well. I would be glad to hear from him.
Thursday 22nd [January 1863]
I cut Zona three pair drawers today of sheeting, made one pair trimmed them with tatten. Jinnie at work in the yard. She has the pot in the kitchen. Aunt Tena is carding the blue mixed over enough for Mr. Henry a suit of clothes. Fannie does the cooking now. Atheline sews a little. I cut my flannel skirts this morning. She will make them & I will put the bands on. Jinnie made the sausage today. Mrs. Jamison spent the day here today. Very muddy, the ground very full of water. I heard from Mr. Henry today. He was well yesterday & they had all gone over in Yancy Co. We have killed some 30 tories & taken 16 prisoners. We have a force over a thousand men in the tory region.
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Friday 23rd [January 1863]
Mail brought no news of importance. The armies all quiet now. A good many of the milita have come home, all under 40. I wish Mr. Henry had come. I do hope he may soon be permitted to return in health. Ham Cannon came home last Tuesday quick sick & gets no better. I hope Mr. Henry may not get sick or hurt any way. I can only pray for him & that God may keep all harm away from him. This life would be a blank to me without him.
Source: Diary of Cornelia Henry in Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journal and Letters of the Henry Family. Clinard, Karen L. and Russell, Richard, eds. (Asheville, NC: Reminiscing Books, 2008).
