October 20, 1862
My birthday! Journal—I will not tell you how old I am! Tho past the age when “man suspects himself a fool,” I have not yet arrived at that when he “knows it & resolves reform.” So know me as a sedate lady, who has survived some of the follies, none of the enjoyments, of youth. Many happy birthdays have I had, some of them happier or more quiet than this has been. Patrick is so kind so tender in his sympathies, has so much the manners & feelings of a bridegroom & expresses it with such genuine interest and affection that I would be insensible indeed did I want anything else to make me happy. I am happier than most of my fellow creatures & could I infuse a stronger element of Faith in my daily life, my hourly thoughts, I should be blest indeed. “Increase our Faith!”
Yesterday (Sunday) we sent to Halifax for Capt Haxall, the gentleman recommended for the Lieut Colonelcy when Patrick was recommended for Col & who is now engaged drilling the NC Cavalry at the Camp of Instruction at Garysburg. He came down & spent the day & night here, a pleasant, gentlemanly, young man whose heart & soul seems to be with the Cavalry. He told us of the death of several of our young Richmond acquaintances, amongst others of Clarence Warwick, a fine lad whom we met a few years since with his sisters in the mountains of Va. Poor fellow—a bright career cut short by these wicked enemies of ours! “How long? O! Lord! how long?”
Brother came in & brought the rumour through Senator Davis—of Mr E’s and Capt H’s appointment, but it made no impression on either, for neither of them believe it.
This afternoon gathered our winter Apples—not much of a labour, however, for the wet weather has played sad havock amongst them. They have rotted by the barrel full. What we have left I hope will keep. Father went to Raleigh leaving Mama with us. Capt Haxall said so many polite things about the supplies we sent up to him last week that I was quite inflated. “Woman’s hand,” “uncommon care,” etc., etc. Mrs Edmondston, you will need “a taking down” soon. Brother as usual most despondant. Patrick will not admit our Victory in Kentucky, altho the papers go far to confirm it. Well, time will show & that “right speedily,” I hope. Busy knitting Father’s undershirts. Handmaidens making comfortables for sister F.
Source: Edmondston, Catherine Ann Devereux, 1823-1875, Journal of a Secesh Lady: The Diary of Catherine Ann Devereux Edmondston 1860-1866. Crabtree, Beth G and Patton, James W., (Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1979). http://nc-historical-publications.stores.yahoo.net/478.html
tab� n:�,� p9 Mr Dunlop writes that Longstreet’s division is ordered South & is to be posted below Petersburg, between that point & Suffolk. The enemy are strengthening themselves greatly there & everything points to an advance into the country. Would that the Government would fortify Roanoke River below Hamilton; otherwise a successful dash may be made up the River to Weldon. The R R bridge there once destroyed, Richmond would be in great danger. Our fertile valley, too, has fed the Army there all the summer & if they resign it with the growing crops to the enemy they will, when too late, feel what a blow has been struck them. I say this, I think, without reference to our private losses which will be great in such an event.
Source: Edmondston, Catherine Ann Devereux, 1823-1875, Journal of a Secesh Lady: The Diary of Catherine Ann Devereux Edmondston 1860-1866. Crabtree, Beth G and Patton, James W., (Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1979). http://nc-historical-publications.stores.yahoo.net/478.html
