(Sgd.) HENRY R. DWIGHT,
Secretary.
EXTRACTS FROM JOURNAL, KEPT BY MISS SUSAN R. JERVEY, AT NORTHAMPTON PLANTATION.[1]
Thursday night February 16th. Such awful news came to us that just as the table was laid and everything ready for us to enjoy our supper Father[2] decided not to wait, but ordered the horses to be harnessed to the carriage, and we started on our fearful journey from Cedar Grove,[3] not even taking time to carry anything with us; our terror on the road imagining we heard the Yankees’ guns across the swamp. We reached Northampton about 10:00 o’clock. After a quiet night, we found many of the terrifying rumors false. Mother spent the next day at Cedar Grove, packing up and moving our more valuable goods here.
Saturday February 18th. Nothing certain about Columbia. Father and Rene[4] who had gone to hunt up James’s[5] company at Santee, returned this morning not having found the Marion Artillery. The dear old city (is) to be given up tonight at 12:00 o’clock; our army is falling back.
Sunday February 19th. The most un-Sunday feeling Sunday I have ever past. Father and Rene started for St. Stephens Depot in hopes of finding James hearing his battalion was to pass there some time to-day, but had hardly had time to get off the plantation, when they returned bringing James and Sinkler[6] with them.
These boys started from Huger’s Bridge to walk home; got lost and spent the whole of last night in the woods. They must have wandered over thirty miles.
Tuesday morning, 2 A.M. February——. Too busy with my books to write last night. James and Henry Sinkler started after dinner for their company. Startled a little while ago to hear some noise under my window; my head being full of negroes and Yankees roused up Mother with the cry, “the enemy is upon us”! Just as we stood listening, a man’s head appeared at the door. It was an age of terror, altho’ hardly a second before we recognized James. Henry Sinkler and himself could not find their company, so came back seeing a light in my window. James had tried to attract my attention when, remembering a defective shutter, he got in.
A Lieut. LaBorde[7] from Columbia, young, handsome and pleasant spoken dined here yesterday, trying to get a horn. Charles[8] turned over his riding horn to him. One squad of Southern deserters and five Georgians passed through this morning looking for their command.
February 21st. Our news now is all rumor; no papers; no letters. All we know is picked up from soldiers passing through. They are all marching for St. Stephens, where the army is concentrating to cross the bridge.