3 August 1864: “I pray fervently for divine help.”

Item Description: Diary entry dated 3 August 1864 from Sarah Lois Wadley. She writes of her brother’s illness and news that she has heard about the War.

18640803_01

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Item Citation: From volume 4 (folder 5) in the Sarah Lois Wadley Papers, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Item Transcription:

Wednesday, Aug. 3rd.

My worst fears for Willie’s health were realized yesterday, my poor brother is sick at Columbia, and wrote up for Father to send the ambulance and a mattress for him, he has chills and fever. He wrote that he was quite sick, but the fact that it was written by another person, for him, makes us very anxious, we cannot expect him till tomorrow at the soonest, sent immediately yesterday evening. Father would have gone but thought it better for Willie to have all the room. George had a fever all day yesterday and last night, we were alarmed by an eruption which appeared on his body, sent for Dr. White early this morning, who said the fever was caused by a severe cold and the eruption was nettle rash, we have only to be careful that the rash does not strike in. A negro child near here broke out with it last week, it’s Mother perceiving it, washed it in cold water and in ten minutes the child was a corpse!

Mrs. Stone and Kate arrived yesterday morning, Mrs. Stone had been to her place and to Millikens bend, was rejoiced to get out safe, found the old negroes she left on her place faithful, and that they had taken care of her silver, she brought out a few pieces, gave the rest to a yankeeized southern lady at the bend. Mrs. Stone got a few goods, could not get either tea or coffee, says greenbacks are rapidly depreciating. She brought out a quantity of new songs, books and magazines, the fashions are perfect curiosities to us, so much changed. Mrs. Stone also brought a large packet of papers, containing much interesting news, an account of the fight between the Alabama and the Kearsage, one by Winslow, one by Semmes, both of which agree tolerably, also a full account of one raid into Maryland which was entirely successful and frightened the Yankees to death, this is glad news but oh we have so much cause for solicitude, in one of the papers there is a long article from the Georgia Constitutionalist which gives a fair and frank statement of our situation both in Virginia and Georgia, this situation is very critical, it fills me with anxiety, but I trust that the skilfullness of our Generals and the bravery of our troops will yet save our Capitol. Father says if Richmond is saved it will be the wonder of the world, it will be our pride, our joy. I pray fervently for divine help. In God is our trust and I believe we shall yet joyfully praise him. Oh how I love and venerate and trust our wise and heroic Lee.

 

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