Sunday night [July 3, 1864]
Soon after four o-clock this morning I was roused by the sound of bands, & I thought at first I would get up; but I felt that I must see the last of our soldiers as they left us for their grand invasion. I threw on my skirts, a shawl, & without stopping to wash my face, Lal & I ran down to Main St. We stayed two hours, saw Johnnie Mason & Dr. Dixon, told them to come to breakfast;
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Located approximately seventy-five miles west Washington D.C. at the northern end of the Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Winchester offers rich history and well-preserved historic sites. Though Civil War or music history probably first comes to mind from Winchester’s past, George Washington actually spent time here in the Colonial Era and took his first political steps representing this area.
The small log building that Washington used as an office during his time here has been preserved by the Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society and is open for touring April through October. Let’s stop here and take a look…
October 23, 1862
…You could scarcely believe the number of wounded that have passed through & remained in Winchester since the Sharpsburg battle. Many, Many sick are dying here, I fear to say how many were buried today. The ladies are active in doing what they can…. My darling Bev is in town & has a miserable cold, but is not laid up. His location is not yet decided on. He will report to the proper person the day after tomorrow I expect, & then I shall know where he will be, & what he will have to do, dear Boy! The last of my younger children, & my heart is unspeakably anxious about him. Pray for him, my precious Child & for your old Cousin too, pray that I may be benefitted by sorrow, & more ready for my Heavenly Home. Continue reading
August 9, 1862
We went to Anna Brown’s funeral this morning, a most sad and touching service. We begin to feel anxious and a little depressed. We hear nothing from Jackson, he is lost again. It is true that always means that some great move is on hand. The most malignant spirit pervades the Lincoln government. If their plans could be carried out, they would be quite willing to exterminate us. The paper this evening says the rejoicing of yesterday were premature. McClellan has retired again from Malvern Hill. It was merely a reconnaissance, they say. Continue reading
Here’s a guest post I wrote for Emerging Civil War. It explores the location and situation surrounding the first photograph during the Civil War years.
“There were only two photos of General “Stonewall” Jackson taken during the war. One photograph was made during April 1863, shortly before his final battle at Chancellorsville and shows the general in profile, looking quiet and stern. The first wartime photograph was taken during the late autumn of 1862 in Winchester, Virginia; it was the favorite of Mrs. Jackson and was called “the official photograph” by military staff officers. The Winchester photograph was produced under unique circumstances, some of which are evident in the image. The town where it was taken, the young woman who asked for it, and a crooked button reveal much of the “Stonewall” story in a single photograph.” READ THE COMPLETE ARTCLE
Your Historian,
Miss Sarah
Here are the promised photos of “The McGuire Home, Winchester, Virginia” at the Moorpark Civil War Re-enactment 2014. For re-enactment military photos from this event, click here.
We had a great time at this event. Our camping location was superb and we were able to share history, answer questions, and interact with a lot of spectators and students. Thank you to the Moorpark Rotary Club for hosting another wonderful weekend.
There were new display items featured at our “home.” We had a box of supplies and Christmas gifts which we were preparing to “send” to our McGuire family members with the army. I think people enjoyed seeing the simple, practical, hand-made gifts, and it was a nice teaching tool when talking about the historical family members and what they did during the war. (If you want historical information about the McGuire Family, please use this link.)
I took 75 Christmas cards to the event and invited re-enactors to sign them for US troops stationed oversees. The project was a great success! And many thanks to the chaplains, officers, and other re-enactors for their help and support.
Enjoy the photos! (You can click on one photo and view all of them as a gallery).
An exciting news update on my research of the McGuire family! Earlier this week I found a portrait of Captain Hugh H. McGuire who was in the 11th Virginia Cavalry. Maybe I’ll write a special post about Captain McGuire at a later time.
Your Historian,
Miss Sarah
P.S. Which is your favorite photo? Do you have questions about the weekend, our living history scenario, or the new display items? Share your thoughts in a comment.
And don’t forget…tomorrow (Friday) is Part 2 in Shakespeare’s Historical Fiction.
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