1850 TO 1865 353 
troops enough here to resent any attack, don’t mind the others much. 
There is still much apprehension about food, especially fresh meats. 
I bought 4 barrels of flour last Friday week, and next day was offered 
an advance of four dollars on each barrel by the same grocer who 
sold it to me. 
We have now some 12,000 troops in the city, and plenty more 
in call. 
The city has been much deserted by those who could get away, 
especially women and children. Off from Penna. Ave. however, there is 
perfect quiet all the time, nothing to show any unusual state of things. 
Last Monday Gen. and Mrs. Churchill started for Carlisle, taking 
Lucy; the Gen. having been worn out by his Inspector Gen. duties.”” 
They were to go to Frederick by rail, and then to Hagerstown by 
carriage. We have not yet heard from them, but presume they 
reached Carlisle safely, Mr. Clarke went with them to Frederick, 
and had to walk two days to get back, the railroad closing immediately 
after. When he got to Laurel factory a man was willing to bring 
him to the edge of town (no farther) for $16.00! It cost one man 
$265.00 to get himself and four people to Philadelphia. 
The Carlisle people seem to have had a terrible scare a week ago. 
I hope they got over it. 
Affly. yours, 
S. F. Barrp. 
27 Gen. Churchill was very much opposed to leaving Washington, 
although he was then nearly 78 years old, very deaf, and far from 
strong, and, therefore, entirely unable to do any but the office work 
above alluded to. His wife, however, was in such delicate health 
that it was absolutely necessary to get her away before any possible 
attack on the city might take place. Even this, however, with 
all the arguments which his daughter and son-in-law could bring 
to bear, did not settle the matter until his commander-in-chief and 
old comrade, General Scott, talked to him, begging and almost 
ordering him to go and urging the unanswerable argument that all 
persons whose age and infirmities would render them necessarily 
non-combatants, would render their country service by not remaining 
in the city which might at any time be in a state of siege. (Note 
by Miss Lucy Baird.) 
23 
