Diary of Betty Herndon Maury - May 17, 1862

Saturday 17th [May 1862]

Saw an old Richmond paper this morning giving an account of the battle near Williamsburg. Part of Gen’ Early’s Brigade made a charge which is said to be the most gallant known in history. Eleven hundred men made the charge, and nearly five hundred were left on the field.

I thank God that my brother is spared. There was a list of the killed and wounded in the 24th Va. regiment, signed by Richard L. Maury, Major commanding. The officers above him were killed or wounded and he was in command of the Regiment and led a part of that gallant charge.

The Yankees are working Mr. Scott’s Foundry. The town is full of them full to overflowing. Their flags are every where and over every thing. Over the foundry and over the bank, over the bridges and over the stores. Stretched in lines across the streets and tacked onto the trees. Stuck in the soldiers guns and tied on to the horns of their oxen!

General Arthur, Ellen Herndon’s husband, was in town yesterday. I met him on the street but did not speak to him. I could not shake hands with a man who came as an invader to desolate our homes and kill our brothers and husbands.

Besides the soldiers there are many Yankee citizens and Dutchmen in town.