Item Description: Diary entry dated 30 January 1864, written by Sarah Lois Wadley about her brother, William Wadley, joining the Confederate cavalry, but subsequently performing mostly quartermaster work. This entry also describes Sarah’s worries regarding the difficulties of sending mail during the Civil War.
Item Citation: Diary entry dated 30 January 1864, in the SARAH LOIS WADLEY PAPERS #1258, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Item Transcription:
January 30th/64 – Saturday night – Willie left Thursday the 28th as he intended for the camp but not to stay; he was all ready equipped as a cavalry man. Father had soldiered an old canteen and tin cup for him, his clothes were finished and ready to put on and Mother was making a wallet for [?]; when Capt. Oliver the quartermaster came up to the door; he wanted to get Father and the railroad negroes and teams to employ in gathering corn for the government. Father told him that he could not have them unless Willie was in charge of them, and Capt. Oliver then made arrangements to declare Willie to superintend. The gathering of some corn at Millhaven, Willie thinks will occupy him about a month during which time he will be comfortably lodged and very well fed, and above all will be doing something useful and honourable, he went to Millhaven yesterday morning, came back today, has made arrangements to commence work on Monday. Mrs. Bondurant left today, has procured a room at Mr. Oliver’s old place, now occupied by a Capt. Marble, a refugee, it is near the camp and therefore more convenient than this.Mr. Haddick, the courier who went home returned yesterday. The weather has continued fair and warm till today, it commenced to rain this morning and still rains. I have been writing letters to Aunt Mary and Grandma today and telling them about our journey has made me think of it more than usual; how strange it seems for us to be sitting quietly in this old place after so many and such various plans for moving. I also wrote to Miss Gussie Harrison again to try and find out where the Ridgills are, it seems a very slight ground to hope to find them out, but even the slight hope cheers me. I think the man by whom John Davis sent my other letter fell into the hands of the Yankees; I am very much afraid none of these letters will reach the destination. I am obliged to take the chance of sending them by a chance traveller, and do not know even when I shall have this opportunity.
