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Preferred Citation

Diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, Accession # 6960, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

This holding was deposited by Elliewood Page Keith of Charlottesville, Virginia, on January 22, 1963.

Biographical/Historical Information

Mrs. Hill was the mother of sons Frederick J., Thomas S. and Joe, all of whom served in the Confederate Army, and a daughter, Eliza, who was married during the war to Capt. James M. Mason. Fred served with the Starke Cavalry, Co. D of the 28th Regiment Mississippi Voluneers and Tom with the Burt Rifles, Co. K of the 18th Mississippi Volunteers. William, another son, died in 1860, leaving as his widow, Eliabeth (Liz), a daughter of John Branch, a Governor of North Carolina, Mrs. Hill was the widow of William Hill, who died before the Civil War.

Scope and Content Information

1860: Two entries in September--19th and 30th--describe receiving money for mourning clothes and the sadness and distress of her daughter-in-law Liz. (William Hill had just died). There are eight undated entries in which Mrs. Hill tells of leaving Stratford [ ? ] to go to New York with Eliza and Mrs. [ ] Springs, where they board at the Bond Street House while purchasing mourning dresses and bonnets. She also describes going to Greenwood to purchase a monument for William. They are joined by Liz and Tom and leave New York for home, stopping off at Enfield, N.C., to visit Governor Branch. Mrs. Hill remains there a week with Liz.

1862: Mar 5, Mrs. Hill describes leaving Wilmington for Chapel Hill with Eliza Hill and Lieutenant Mason (James M.) , where they board at a hotel while trying to get "more comfortable" rooms. She mentions the difficulties in obtaining other rooms because of large influx of families from Wilmington and comments on Mar 10 that "tho' there are many things unpleasant about a hotel in a village, still in these distressing wartimes we must learn to accommodate ourselves to circumstances." Most of the March entries generally deal with the arrival of other evacuees, church activites and accommodation to day-to-day life in wartime. Specifically, on Mar 11 she relates that she and Eliza have decided to stay in the hotel and that Eliza has two or three students to see her each night. On Mar 12, she mentions that Governor Swain (David Lowry) and his wife have called. On Mar 15, she says the taking of Newberne, N.C. has been confirmed--"how distressing it is to hear what inroads the Yankees are making into our state." Mar 22 brings the arrival of Tom, whom she had not heard from in five weeks and thought sick or dead. He has indeed been ill with typhoid fever and jaundice and has not even a change of clothes. Mar 27 finds Tom recovering slowly and Lieut. Mason arriving to be with Eliza. Mar 26, she writes that it soon will be reported that Eliza is engaged. Mar 29, Lieut. Mason leaves.

April, 1862: April entries continue with daily life in the hotel, the arrival of new boarders, descriptions of church and social activities and concerns for the loved ones serving in the war. Apr 3, Tom calls on Dr. Mallett and is told to get an extension to his furlough that "he is not in a state to return to camp." Apr 6, she mentions going to the Episcopal church and finding every seat taken up with refugees. Apr 7, Liz is at the hotel but will change rooms today; Joe writes from his home in Georgia that he has returned from his regiment to attend to a variety of things at home. Few gentlemen callers for Eliza now that they think she is engaged. Apr 14, she writes--"We have had good news from Corinth--Buel killed (Gen. Don Carlos) and Beauregard (Gen. Pierre Gustave) has taken (report says) 30,000 prisoners. But then on the back of this news we learn that Pulaski [ ] has surrendered." Apr 15 Tom's furlough is extended. Apr 16 Mrs. Hill comes down with cholera and is sick for two days. Apr 16 Jessie [ ] and her family arrive from Durham and report that Wilmington is totally deserted by inhabitants except for soldiers.. beef selling at 50 cents a pound, butter at 75 cents and people fighting over it. Apr 22, plans are in the works for concert for the "gunboat fund."

May, 1862: May entries are taken with church activities, sewing and visiting among the refugees in Chapel Hill. She writes of friends in the hotel and their losses,walking about Chapel Hill and how weather affects her moods. May 5, the students begin leaving; May 6, Tom mentions his upcoming departure. May 7, the "conscript law" is taking all students away from Chapel Hill. May 10, hears from Joe that he is to be sent with his regiment to St. John's Island--writes that she has a horror of islands as war experiences have been bad there. May 14, Tom leaves for the Peninsula and she grieves his leaving. May 20 hears from Joe that his regiment is stationed at Logansville, S. C., a beautiful summer retreat for residents of Charleston. Tom also writes from Enfield that he is remaining there a few days. May 22, hears that Fred has gone into "his country's service" and she is weighed down with sorrow... "I have wept until my tears refuse to flow. The enemy is at our very doors and each man must do his duty." May 25, hears from Tom in Richmond and will go on picket duty (Noah--his manservant is with him). May 26, learns of fighting in Richmond and fears for Tom. May 30, Eliza hears from Mr. Mason that he has been very sick and too ill to join his regiment May 31, Mrs. Hill learns Fred has joined a Cavalry company in Starke's (Peter B.) regiment from Washington County in Mississippi--"a large proportion of the company are wealthy gentlemen from that county."

June, 1862 Entries this month deal primarily with war news. June 2, Mrs. Hill learns Union Army has not taken Richmond. June 7, receives letter from Tom writing about experiences around Richmond saying that he wasn't engaged in fighting. June 8, Mrs. Hill learns of fighting around Charleston. June 13, she hears from Tom that his regiment under Capt. [ ] Sessions was involved in much skirmishing only 1/2 mile from enemy- - everyone at hotel is much cheered by Stonewall Jackson's victory over Banks (Gen. Nathaniel P.) and also Shields (Gen. James). June 15, learns of Stuart's (Gen. J.E.B.) vistory on the Chickahominy-- receives a letter from Tom with vivid description of Confederates now occupying a beautiful home recently deserted by Yankees and pitiful condition in which it was left. June 21, hears from Tom of his promotion and the duties and privileges it entails. June 22, learns that Burnside (Gen. Ambrose E.) has sent from Norfolk and Suffolk 6000 troops to take Weldon and that Yankees have been shelling the 18th Mississippi regiment. June 25, writes that Joe's regiment now is on St. James' Island right in "face of the enemy" with which they were engaged in heavy fighting. June 26, a letter from Joe says he has been in no engagement so far but that his horse is untrained. June 27, the entry gives Richmond Times-Dispatch details about battle around Richmond which proved victorious for Confederates although she is worried about Tom's fate and learns of the deaths of two of his acquaintances.

July, 1862: July 4, learns that friends Willie Wooster and Duncan Moore have been killed and that William DeRossett is missing, bringing more unhappiness to the DeRossett family "who have lost five of their ten or twelve children in the last few months." July 8, describes suffering of a young wife with two children upon learning of husband's death and mentions that Dr. [ ] Mallett plans to go to Richmond to bring back 80 wounded to be nursed in Chapel Hill--still no word from Tom. July 9, is worried about Tom's silence. July 11, afraid Tom may be sick and unable to write. July 15, Mrs. Hill finally receives letter from Tom saying he had not been in the battle of Richmond but as an "Ordnance Sergeant" had to be with his wagon...writes details of fighting. Eliza also hears from Mr. Mason, who still is in Goochland where his health is improving. July 18, a letter from Joe details circumstances surrounding his departure from the service, saying that he now has a substitute for whom he paid $600. He has been ill and found soldiering "too arduous" and mentioned "ignorance and complaining in high places." He has returned home to his family. July 25 ,she learns Mr. Mason has been attached to General Winder's brigade (John Henry). July 31, Eliza is ill with toothache and has "very swollen face."

August, 1862: August entries deal largely with day-to-day life in Chapel Hill with Mrs. Hill's preocupations including sewing, knitting, chatting in the parlor and occasionally shopping (although the stores are mostly empty). Aug 12, Tom writes he has returned to his campground near Richmond after a 12 to 15 mile march to Malvern Hill to meet the enemy, only to find it had fallen back. Aug 13, she learns that the Governor of Georgia has ordered every fifth able-bodied Negro be sent to Savannah to work on entrenchments. There is no news from Mr. Mason though she knows he was at Gordonsville with General Winder (John Henry), who was killed at Cedar Mountain. Aug 20, all women in the hotel go out to have shoes made at a cost of $6 a pair. Aug 21, Liz is making a shaker bonnet to wear when "walking out." Eliza is making a pair of gaiters Aug 28, Mr. Mason has arrived--thinner and older but as pleasant as ever--he describes how he was sent to Winchester with four others--all of whom dressed in Yankee clothes to attempt to obtain special information, which they got under dangerous circumstances.

September, 1862: Sep 4, learns of victory at Manassas but fears "my precious child may be lying on the battlefield in death's cold grasp." Sep 6, Eliza leaves for Pittsboro, N.C. with an escort to pay a visit to a friend. She bemoans the loss of Ewell (Gen. Richard Stoddart), who was "Jackson's right hand man" and tells other war news, including the urgency to complete works in defence of Cape Fear--a key to the whole section of the North Carolina coast. Sep 9, gives praise to the Lord for victory at Manassas and quotes the Northern papers as saying : "During the battle a commanding figure, supposed to have been Jackson, was seen in the front and thickest of the fight, mounted on a splendid charger, and moving his sword aloft, urging on his troops."Sep 11, Eliza receives letter from Mason, but it is forwarded to Pittsboro, so Mrs. Hill learns nothing of Tom. Confederate troops have crossed the Potomac and now are in Maryland..she details her knowledge of the crossing, and describes destruction of Winchester by the Yankees upon their evacuation. Sep. 13, concerns mount because of no word from Tom--is forwarding letters from Mason to Eliza. Sep 15, a letter arrives from Tom, written from Leesburg Sep 5. Sep 16, Sarah receives two letters from Fred which vividly detail his cavalry engagement with the enemy. He is at "Begone Phalich" on a river that runs through "this county and Washington county." Sep 17, yellow fever is rampant in Wilmington and "everyone is leaving town" writes of fair being organized by young girls in Chapel Hill to raise money for soldiers. Sep 21, Harper's Ferry has been taken and writes of what she hears of the surrender. Sep 21, more reports on Harper's Ferry and Antietam. Sep 23, learns Tom is in General McLaws'(Lafayette) Division (Lafayette). Sep 24, yellow fever still spreading in Wilmington. Sep 26, Fred writes he is in Bolivar County, no engagement yet, but cavalry up to 160 under Col. Starke. Sep 28, fever raging in Wilmington and have sent to Charleston and Richmond for nurses and physicians; quotes the Bible as saying that before the end of the world, we will have "war, pestilence and famine" and the first two are upon us and the other fast approaching.

October, 1862: Oct 1, attended her first Baptist service which she appreciated but thought a little fervent. Oct 2, no news from Tom..reports of deaths of friends in Wilmington, has heard Tom was not injured in last battle..thinks Lincoln's last proclamation will "raise the South anew."Oct 4, receives letter from Tom..his regiment resting after several hard fought battles about two miles from Martinsburg..he has been as far as Frederick, Md..he writes "my brigade had the honor of helping take Harper's Ferry." Oct 5, "quite a panic" in Chapel Hill because of a Negro man dying of yellow fever. Oct 8, letter from Tom dated Sep 28..he is four miles from Winchester "where country has been wasted by Yankees." Oct 12, tells of a "gang of Negroes" having taken Richard Bradley's boat the "Hiawatha" when it was loaded with "darkies" and taking it to the Yankee blockading fleet...hears three or four hundred sick with yellow fever in Wilmington with forty to sixty new cases a day. Oct. 14, learns Fred was not in battle near Corinth (Miss.) but still is in Washington County and expects to remain there to guard the river from gunboats. Oct. 18, busy packing Eliza's trunk for her trip to Enfield with Liz. Oct. 19, Eliza hears that Mr. Mason is sick.Oct. 20, Mr. (Lieut.) Mason arrives unexpectedly--he is ordered to Columbus, Ga., but will escort Liz and Eliza to Enfield. Oct. 21, hears that Tom is still near Winchester and wants his servant Noah sent to him. Tom reports for several days he has lived on "parched corn and raw corn" but now is an ordnance sergeant so can ride his horse. She writes that fever is spreading and "how angry God must be with us to send so dreadful a scourge upon us." Oct. 24, learns Liz and Eliza have arrived safely at Enfield.

November, 1862: Nov 1, letter from Tom says he still is near Winchester and needs a blanket badly. Nov 2, writes that Noah will return to Tom but thinks he "eventually will go over to the Yankees." Nov. 5, Eliza wants to return to Chapel Hill but can't get an escort. Nov 6, a company passes through on way to Chatham County looking for deserters. Nov 8, hears Fred has been ordered to join Gen. Wirt Adam's cavalry. Nov 11, Tom writes he now is in Culpeper, Va., after three days of hard riding. Liz and Eliza encountering difficulties getting home. She describes an incident at Wrightsville Sound where 24 Yankees and several boats were captured. Nov 19, Eliza returns while Liz remains at Enfield. Nov 17, Joe's house has burned and new one is not complete. Nov 30, Tom writes from Fredericksburg.

December, 1862: Dec 1, scarlet fever has hit the area. Dec 2, she is taking up carpet for cleaning as doesn't expect to remain there many more months. Dec. 7, Mrs. [ ] Campbell has left for Wilmington to sell or bring away "my things before the Yankees attack the place." She writes that it makes her sad to say goodbye to her native place and to give up old associations and "to know the remainder of my days I must live about." Dec. 10, bemoans the fact that Eliza's bonnet and wedding dress have either been lost or stolen in shipment from Raleigh. Eliza has had a good cry as money will not compensate for the loss. Dec 13, Eliza has received other dresses from Raleigh but is not satisfied and is having them altered, fears Mrs. Campbell will remain so long in Wilmington she may not be able to get back. Daily attack expected. Goldsboro is being fortified. She writes "everybody feels sad in this house today" as all have near relatives in places where there is fighting. Dec.15, entrenchments being thrown up around Wilmington. Dec 16, hears from Mrs. Cambell that all her things will be sold at auction on Thursday. Dec. 17, learns great battle is going on in Fredericksburg as Yankees have attacked. Dec 18, can't hear anything by telegram as Yankees have cut wires below Goldsboro. Mrs.Duncan Moore has arrived from Charlotte with Eliza's second box containing a "plain white bonnet in rich velvet and handsome as a travelling bonnet." Eliza is having her wedding dress made in Chapel Hill. Dec. 19, learns battle of Fredericksburg has been fought and won by the South; Yankees reported demoralized and engaging in wanton destruction of property, stealth of clothing, the burning and breaking up of furniture and carrying off of Negroes. Dec 20, a report of small pox turns out to be chicken pox. Dec 23, hears Tom is safe. Dec 24, learns Mrs. Campbell has shipped her a trunk and a clothes basket of her (Mrs. Hill's) possessions but is nervous because they have not arrived. Mason (now Capt.) urges an earlier date than Jan 13 for his wedding to Eliza. Dec 24, Eliza boiling candy for Christmas. Dec 25, large congregation at church and there is a nice Christmas dinner, with the young people getting up a cotillion. Dec 27, Mrs. Campbell arrives and tells of disposing of Mrs. Hill's Wilmington furniture. Trunk and basket still not arrived. Dec 31, still no news from Wilmington so thinks all may be quiet there.

January 1 through July 23, 1863 (end of diary): Jan 5, busy with wedding preparations. Jan 6, hears Gov. Branch is very ill with pneumonia and typhoid. (he died Jan 4). Jan 7, Capt. Mason detained in Huntsville, Ala. Jan 8, they receive a dispatch from Capt. Mason saying he will be in Chapel Hill on Jan 13. Jan 9, snow. Jan 11, Capt. Mason arrives. Jan 12, wedding day for Eliza and Capt. Mason at the Episcopal church, after which they left Durham to "take the cars" for Columbus, Ga. Everything went well and they both "looked handsome." Small wedding only for family but church full anyway. Jan 14, letter from Tom says that after war he wants a neat little cottage built on his place for his mother to live in. Jan 15, hears Yankees expected every minute in Wilmington and people leaving "as fast as they can." Jan 20, she is thinking of leaving the hotel and moving to a room. Jan 22, has found a new boarding house which she likes very much. Jan 25, Eliza writes that she is well.

February, 1863: Feb 3, mentions letter Eliza has received from Capt. Mason's mother welcoming her into the family. (copy of letter is in the collection.) Feb 4, writes of news from Charleston that two Confederate gunboats have broken up the blockading fleet. Feb 8, learns her house in Wilmington and the one next door have been seized for use as a hospital. Feb 11, plans to go to Columbus, Ga., with Capt. Guthrie as an escort to visit Eliza. Feb 15, learns in letter from Capt. Mason that Eliza is terribly homesick and urges Mrs. Hill to come and offers a gentleman in his ordnance as an escort. Feb 17, rain delaying her departure. Feb. 19, leaves Chapel Hill for Columbus through Charlotte and on through Durham with cars crowded, but less so on to Columbus; gives complete details of trip including incident of young man (possibly only 14 years old) in "the cars" who had been in three battles and shot once but had many disiplinary difficulties; tells of hardships of the trip and of problems in finally being reunited with Eliza and Capt. Mason in Winton, a village about two miles from Columbus, where they are boarding.

March, 1863: Mar 2, tours Columbus with Eliza's landlady. Mar 7, completing her visit, she describes journeying from Winton and joining Capt. Mason and Eliza on the boat "Jackson" where on Mar 8, they arrive at Howard's Landing after a trip of thirteen hours [presumably down the Chatahoochee River near Ft. Gaines, Ga.]. She goes on to [Belfont] by carriage (where she is staying with Mary [ ] near Joe and Ellen's new house which they are building nearby). Mar 13, Capt. Mason and Eliza leave for return to Columbus. (The rest of March is mainly concerned with domestic affairs, the weather and details of planting flowers and crops.)

April, 1863: Early April days in the diary are concerned with life around Belfont, family matters, day to day activities (including visits from Joe's children), and mentions of progress on Joe's house. Apr 8, she reports there is news of fighting in Charleston. Apr 19, she writes she is "wretched" about Fred because the papers mention that Van Dorn (Gen. Earl) is surrounded and nearly all his cavalry is being "cut up." (Fred is in that brigade). Apr 22, Joe has letter from Fred saying he is not satisfied with his regiment but won't accept Joe's offer to take his place because he would be putting him in "harm's way." Apr 30, writes of Sarah receiving a letter telling of Fred's participation in battle and "his horse shot out from under him."

May 1863: May 7, hears that Yankees have crossed the Potomac and there has been a great fight. "We whupped them," she writes, "but A.P. Hill was wounded and Stonewall Jackson lost his arm." May 8, busy cutting out clothes for the Negroes and hears from Mrs. Spring in New York that her Negro servant was taken prisoner by Gen. McClellan (George Brinton) and then set free "so she has lost a fine servant." May 10, learns Tom's regiment is being made to cook its own rations. May 13, she is trying to make jelly out of Maypaws. May 15, learns Stonewall Jackson is dead. May 17, hears from Eliza who has moved to new quarters and is pleased. May 21, a letter from Tom which she hand copies describes in detail his participation in the battle of Chancellorsville. May 26, hears Yankees have advanced on Vicksburg and knows Tom, Liz and Fred will lose all their possessions in Mississippi. May 29, Liz and Eliza have arrived to visit.

June 1863: June 1, Eliza leaves to return to Columbus and Liz and Mrs. Hill go to spend a week at Glen Ellen. June 7, the two leave Glen Ellen and return to Belfont. June 11, finds out through mail that her house in Wilmington has been sold for $6,500. She says "it makes me sad to think I will never enter it again--a house given to me by my father." June 14, Capt. Mason and Eliza visiting. June 22, Eliza and Capt. Mason depart from Ft. Gaines to his new assignment at Ft. [Caswell].June 23, Fred is home and hopes to get a substitute. She hears from Tom who now is within two miles of Culpeper. June 25, Joe belongs to the militia and expects to be called out.

July 1863: The entries for July are brief and deal with family matters. It ends July 23.

Pages 122-124 list accounts--Pages 125-126--dates of Civil War battles, and the last pages some family genealogy.