[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee from Wilmington, N.C.]
Tuesday 16th Sarah has received two letters from Fred–He has had chills again
but said he was better. He gave her several very descriptions of his move
ments with the enemy which I will copy–He says his company now is very
full & most of them are the pick of the country, many joined since the conscript was a
bout to take them. There is one young man who is a private said to be worth over a
million. Our officers when not on duty are sociable & treat us just as tho’
we were equals; most of the men call the Captain George, & we go to their tents & they
come to ours, sit on the ground & we all get on well. He then goes on to say that on the
25th I think of August–They, his company went to Colonel Starkes encampment
I suppose to join the Regiments–found all gone but their servants-the sick, and
the colonel–who told them to get down & get something to eat for themselves & horses
& rest, as we would probably meet the Enemy that day, & about eleven or twelve we were ordered to
horse, & were soon marched down the road & formed in line. the Yankee transports had landed
and we could hear the shells from the Gunboats shelling some of our companies who were crossing
a field, Our Artillery was placed in Battery, & some companies dismounted and placed in the lane
on each side of the road as Sharpshooters. The Colonel then rode up & ordered one of our
Officers to take 8 men from the head of the Column & go down the lane to the river & see what
the Enemy were doing.–I happened to be one of the 8–so we rode down one & a half miles
and as we got to the mouth of the Lane & looked up the rifer road we saw the Enemy advan
-cing, they discovered us at the same time we did them, & each party halted. We could
see their officers ride up on the Levy & raise their opera Glasses–So we moved up
the lane some 25 or 30 yds & soon a rifled shell whizzed over
our heads about 30 feet. Our horses squatted near the ground–Our officer ordered us
to move about not to remain in one position so we walked our horses about &
they continued to fire at us until one shell passed thro the rails of the fence and
threw the splinters over some of the horses & burst in the field near us. We were
then commanded to gallop up the Lane as they had our range, We reached
the Company safely & there awaited the advance of the Enemy. The Colonel
made our company a pretty little speech–& complemented us by saying he
relied upon us, & that we had been selected to charge them & would be led by him in person
the plan was for the Sharpshooters to begin on them, & when they had to fall back, our
Artillery was to open upon them, & at the command from the Colonel we were to
charge. The Enemy advanced shelling the Woods in every direction some of which
tore the trees around us, & sounded quite threat’ning. Our Colonel was per-
fectly cool riding up & down the road giving orders–soon we heard the rattle
of musketry & knew our advance was engaged–& in a few moments the horses
of our advance ran wildly by having broken away from where they were held–
Then a few wounded passed us & we heard a great uproar in the lane behind us
and presently our dismounted companies came by us in great confusion & the
Old Colonel furiously angry dashed up calling to Captain Mac “What
does this mean Sir?” & then to the men “You cowards fall behind the Washington
Cavalry & they will protect you.” They after passing the Artillery were ral
-lied & carried back. But the Enemy were afraid to advance into the woods &
returned back to their Gunboats, & we were rejoiced to hear it for had we made
the charge it would have been a desperate one & many of us would never have
come out alive. We were well worn out when it was over–& all returned feeling
thankful we had been spared–The Yankees I understand told some
one that they were determined to capture all of t his command, & that they would
return with a large force & surround us–Since then we have moved our
Camp to this place & my tent is just on the Bluff of “Bogue Phaliah” a beau
-tiful sheet of water that runs thro’ this county & Washington we are
now 7 or 8 miles from the rifer We had in the engagement some 3 or 4
wounded & one killed–one taken prisoner–We killed an officer of theirs
/they left one dead on the road- & we captured one also–Their Boats are
still passing about & I expect will drive us away unless infantry
are sent to our assistance–I spent the morning in Mrs Walter’s room–Liz
was engaged in her room with company & washing her head–
Judge Person returned -& has brought Elizas money
MSS 6960