Henry William Ravenel, 1814-1887: Private Journal 1861-1862: Page 6

Nov. 1861 Pooshee

F.22 Yesterday we rode over to Woodboo to see Mrs Heyward. He was to have started on her return to Charleston by the accommodation train at 3 PM. I met James Gaillard yesterday afternoon returning from town with the negroes from this part of the country who have been working on the entrenchments & rifle pits in St. Andrews about Whappoo cut.
5 P.M. This morning Rene & I rode to Ophir to pay a visit to old Mrs. Porcher. Octavius Porcher was there, having reached Ophir a day or two before, from Abbeville. 
I wrote a letter last night to Prof F S Holmes who is on the committee appointed by City Council to prepare receptions for the soldiers on their arrival in Charleston. Several up here wish to send supplies down to him, & I wrote to inquire how & when they should be sent. The papers of today have nothing specially important. There is expectation of a great battle about Columbus Ky (on the Mississippi) and much excitement prevails in Memphis as to the issue.

S. 23 I have written today to John B. Gibbes of Aiken about John who is hired to him, to keep him until I return to Aiken. I have also written Thomas Ravenel now with his company in