The rebels are reported to be approaching Parkersburg by way of the Stanton pike, mostly mounted men, said to be 5000 strong, some say 15,000. Six men & boys with twelve horses came here from Virginia, seeking pasture out of reach of the rebels. Turned the horses into the pasture over the hill. We gave them dinner.
A dispatch from William says Rufus is safe.
Peggy's Comments:
Rufus was indeed safe. In the confusion of the battle at Fitz Hugh's Crossing, the envelope addressed to Mary Gates to be delivered only if Rufus had been killed, was inadvertently picked up and mailed. After the battle, when Rufus tried to retrieve the envelope from Dr. Preston, Dr. Preston could not find it. Rufus thought that Dr. Preston had lost it and was quite annoyed. Rufus immediately wrote to Mary, to his sister Lucy, and to others in the family. But he was again on the march toward Chancellorsville and had little opportunity to try to communicate. Meanwhile, assuming that the mistakenly mailed envelope was meant for Rufus' sister Lucy, Dr. Preston wrote to Lucy telling her that Rufus was alive and well.
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