. . . Let us be up and doing – old and young – we have no time to idle; every quickly flitting moment is to be improved, every space filled up.

Words to inspire. These lines graced the third edition of The Waterford News, a newspaper written by three courageous, patriotic, and assertive young women during the years 1864 – 1865. 

Having already filled the roles of farmer, nurse, and businessperson during the early years of the Civil War, Lida and Lizzie Dutton, along with their cousin, Sarah Steer, decided on an additional way to serve their war-ravaged community of Waterford, Virginia. In May of 1864, the three added “journalist” to their list of accomplishments and published the first edition of the Waterford News.

According to the 1860 census, Waterford was a town of approximately 1,000 people in northern Loudoun County.  Though the community, made up of mostly Quakers, tried to remain neutral, it existed as a mostly pro-Union island in a sea of secessionist Confederate sentiment, voting against leaving the Union 221 to 30. Virginia as a state had seceded on April 17. 

Lida, Lizzie, and Sarah had all been encouraged to express themselves from an early age and honed their writing skills as members of the Waterford Literary Society before the war began. Once the Waterford News took shape, their writing took on new meaning, offering encouraging words for soldiers and citizens alike in the form of poetry, local news, and editorials. Notices also called women to engage in practical community affairs as well:

The Waterford News May 28, 1864

The young ladies of Waterford, Loudon (sic), Va., are hereby notified to meet the first opportunity and lend their mutual aid in filling a large mud-hole with stone, said mud-hole being located in the middle of Second Street…the men have driven around it so much that it is extending each side. Being fearful the gentlemen will get their feet muddy, the ladies will try and remedy it.

Due to the position (both political and geographic) of the town, getting the newspaper to press and eventually to its intended audience – Union troops, proved difficult and risky. Subscriptions and printing itself were handled across the state line in Maryland. The intrepid journalists donated proceeds from subscriptions to the U. S. Sanitary Commission, a private relief agency that supported sick and wounded U. S. Army soldiers during the Civil War. For those soldiers, the editors offered this in Volume one, number one:

The Waterford News May 28, 1864

At this time, when thousands of our gallant men are battling for our country’s honor, our thoughts are specially drawn to our wounded, who are enduring terrible suffering that the right may prevail.

. . . From this remote portion of Dixie’s land the prayers of many loyal men and women are ascending for the Army of the Potomac. May a speedy victory for their comrades still in the field, reward the heroes who were first to fall.

And in the summer of 1864, these words to their readers:

The Waterford News July 2, 1864

Many threats have been made about burning our houses over our devoted heads. But Waterford is still standing. And we trust it may stand long in the future to remind other generations that in its time-honored walls once dwelt as true lovers of their country as ever breathed the breath of life-long-suffering – but stood faithful to the end.

Many stories of courage emerged from the Civil War. Lida, Lizzie, and Sarah, in their efforts to encourage and cheer others with The Waterford News, documented their own courageous efforts. Certainly they would be pleased to see that their beloved town is indeed still standing, now as a National Historic Landmark, its history and stories still alive and well.

For this week’s art, dedicated to Lida, Lizzie, and Sarah, I chose a folded book that I had made in a recent workshop, then tucked tags into the pockets – inside and out – that followed the theme of The Waterford News, including a poem about Abraham Lincoln, a notice for women about the lack of shopping opportunities, and also patriotic sentiments. For embellishment, I used strips of muslin dyed with a stamp pad and also twine to hold it all together.