[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler as transcribed by her granddaughter Anne Madison Wright Baylor in 1972]
Tuesday July 8 1862
Another useless miserable day- I can’t feel satisfied
not to hear from you–All my patience has
forsaken me-I have none left-
I spent the day sewing, nursing & reading. Have
just begun the life of Washington– You remember
that you gave it to me the summer before we
were married & I read it then, but thinking a
great deal of Washington lately, & wondering who
would turn out his equal in this war. I
feel like reading it over again to refresh my
memory–certainly thus far in our war, no one as
great or good as he was have presented themselves.
-I also have read an account of the battles
of the 27th & 28th from a Dispatch of the 30th-It was
truly heroic for our men to storm their
batteries in such a brave manner–Poor fellows
my heart aches for the loved ones of those who
fell–But they died fighting in a good cause –
Peace be with them–Just before nine o’clock a
buggy drove up containing Dr. Williams & Mr. A.- they
were on their way to our army & were taken up by
the enemy at Waterloo, thoroughly searched & many
articles they had for our soldiers taken from them–
They also had about 150 letters but Mr. A. hid them
in a barn after they passed the first pickets
fearing they might be in their midst & so it
for soon after they were taken prisoners–
proved ^ They were threatened with being hung if
any letters were discovered. But so they were not found
out, they were let off after traveling around
with them all day & were told to
go home they could not pass through their lines.
They started homeward, glad to escape on such terms
MSS 15406