Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

The Helen M. Anderson Papers include an initial plea to Gen. McClellan for protection of her house and property during the town's occupation. Subsequently, she received a safeguard from the town's provost marshal.

Nonetheless, Mrs. Anderson writes Maj. Gen. John A. Dix on September 13 to say, 'My house was broken open this morning by an armed band of soldiers, and a large quantity of very valuable old wine, which has been in my family for many years, taken away.' She urges him to act swiftly to prevent its immediate consumption.

Later notes show that Union officials promised to return the wine, but insisted it must be kept at the Insane Asylum for 'safe keeping.' Frequently requested by various officers for unspecified purposes, the bottles gradually disappeared. Similar instances were reported of the military, which 'seized upon bottle after bottle, snapped off the necks, and drank the nectar to the health of the justly irate owner.'

My House was broken open this
morning by an armed band of soldiers, and a large
quantity of my valuable old wine, which has been
in my family for many years, taken away. This is
a heavy loss to me, and one that is irrepparable,
and I appeal to you to exercise your authority
and have it restored to me. Your immediate
action is requested, otherwise it will be too late.

have telegraph your order. Your soldiers were
led in person by Lieut. Simpson, nephew to Col. Camp bell, who is Provost Marshal in Williamsburg
now. The excuse made was that they were requir-
ed for Confederate Soldiers, but I can assure you
that such is not the case.