Judith White McGuire, Diary of a southern refugee during the war, by a lady of Virginia

May 24th, 1862.

We were aroused this morning at an early hour, by the servants rushing in, exclaiming: “The house is surrounded by Yankees, and they are coming into the house.” I rushed to the window, and there they were. An officer in the front porch, and a squad of cut-throat-looking fellows on the steps; while a number, with their red streamers and lances, were dashing hither and thither; some at the stable, some at the kitchen, others around the servants' quarters and at the barn, while the lane was filled with them. Dr. T. had spent the night with little L., who is ill with scarlet fever. I knocked at his door, and asked him to go down and see what the people wanted. We dressed as rapidly as possible. C. and M. had been up all night with L., and were soon ready to go down. They quickly returned, to say that the officer was Colonel Rush, of Philadelphia, and demanded that my little son Edward should be sent down immediately. It was in vain that they told him that E. was a mere child-he had evidently heard that he was a young man, and demanded his presence. The child was aroused from his sleep, and hastily dressed himself, but not quickly enough for our impatient Colonel, who walked to the staircase and began to ascend, when C. called to him, “Colonel R., do you mean to go to a lady's chamber before she is dressed? The boy is in his mother's room.” Somewhat abashed, he stepped back. I soon descended, accompanied by E. N. and W. S. There on the mat before me stood a live Yankee colonel, with an aid on either side. I approached; he pointed to W. S., saying, “Is that Edward N?” “No,” said I; “that is my grandson; this is E. N.” He said, “I want the boys to go with [137] me.” Looking him full in the eye, I said, “Sir, will you take these children prisoners?” His eye fell, and with many grimaces he replied, “Oh, no; I only want to ask the boys a few questions.” He then took them across the lawn, I all the time watching them; asked them many questions, but finding that he could get nothing out of them, he sent them back, calling them “little rebels,” etc. The Colonel had seen defiant looks enough while in the house, and did not return. He asked M. to let him give her a remedy for scarlet fever, which Mrs. Colonel Huger had given him. “Mrs. General Huger you mean?” replied M. “Thankyou, I have perfect confidence in Dr. T.” In the mean time his commissary went to the meat-house, demanded the key, and looking in, said, “I want three hundred pounds of this bacon, and shall send for it this evening.” Another man went to the stable, took Dr. T's horse, saddle, and bridle, and went off with them. The Colonel was immediately informed of it, seemed shocked, and said, “Impossible;” but on ordering it to be brought back, it was soon returned. Presently the Quartermaster rode up to the door, calling out, “Mrs. N., three horses were in your stable last night, and they are not there now; the Colonel wishes their absence accounted for.” “Perhaps, sir,” replied M., “they have been stolen, as the other was; but as you get your information from the servants, I refer you to them.” He rode off, and the whole party returned to their camp.