Jim Welch passed through Asheville last night. He has a finger shot off. #cw150

Sunday 6^th [July 1862]

I had headache all night. Breakfast late this morning. Mrs. Common & her son Jimmie came yesterday evening, just as I was starting. We took Pinck & Zona to the burying. There is preaching at the Academy today. Mr. Herny & Zona have gone, also Willie. Mrs. Common & I are here. I am writing in the front piazza on the round table. We are going to have beans & irish potatoes for dinner & chicken. Cherries are good, ripe now. They will soon return from church & I have nothing more to write. Willie’s bowels are loose & he is very cross.  The others are well.  Ham & Mary Rollins came home with Mr. Henry for dinner. They staid till late in the evening.

Monday 7^th [July 1862]

I cut out some of the negroes’ pants today & finished Uncle Sam one pair. Very warm today. Mr. Henry went toAshevillethis morning, took Pinck & Jimmie Common. He got two bunches of thread No. 12. Gave $3.00 a bunch. No news from Richmond. They had a terrible battle last Tuesday.

Tuesday 8^th [July 1862]

Mrs. George Jones spent the day here, also Mrs. Tom Cook. I made George’s pants & sewed some on Charlie’s Very warm today. We heard today that David Moon was killed in a later engagement. Jim Welch passed through Asheville last night. He has a finger shot off.

Wednesday 9^th [July 1862]

Mrs. Cook & tom Cook staid all night & till 11 o’clock. The bees swarmed today, a large swarm. Mr. Cook hived them. Mrs. Cook helped me sew some. I finished Charlie’s. Made Hanes’ & Pea’s. Atheline helped some after dinner. I finished Lonzo’s after supper as Harrie Deaver came late in the evening. Mr. Henry went to Asheville this evening, will wait for the mail. He will be late getting back.

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).

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He came home two weeks ago tomorrow, buoyant in hope & now he lays beneath the clod #cw150

Thursday 3^rd

Finished Willie one skirt before dinner & picked some cherries after dinner, after reading the papers Mr. Henry brought from Asheville. I got a letter from Lena. They are all well. Old Mrs. Hancock is dead. Mr. Henry gathered a good many cherries this evening. The first paper of the South Carolinian came to day.

Friday July 4^th 1862

Mail brought nothing but war news. The papers are filled. The Confederates have the best of it so far. The yanks are retreating. I finished Willie’s other skirt today. The bees swarmed yesterday just before dinner. Parker hived them, a large swarm & the only one so far. Old Mr. Boyd stays here tonight. He says George Jones is dead. I am so very sorry for his poor destitute family. God help them I pray.

Saturday 5^th [July 1862]

Mr. Henry went to Ashevillethis morning. The battle still raging. The 1^st July loss great on both sides. Mr. Henry came home for dinner & old Mr. Boyd also. Mr. Henry & I went to the burial. A great many people. He was buried with Military honors. They fired about one dozens times twice. I was sundown before they buried him & dark before we got home as then we had moonlight. I do really sympathise with his poor wife. Oh! may she never need a friend. Jones was very kind to his wife & a fond father. He came home two weeks ago tomorrow, buoyant in hope & now he lays beneath the clod.

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).

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