Annotation
[1] ALS, RPB. Watson was appointed superintendent of the asylum by Governor Peirpoint after Union forces occupied Williamsburg. He telegraphed Lincoln on August 20 that ``Williamsburg is being evacuated by the Union forces. Under these circumstances the safety of my life requires that I shall leave in a very few hours. When I leave all the officers and servants will leave so that the unfortunate inmates will be left locked up without any one to minister unto them. I have made known this condition of things to Genl Dix and Genl McClellan and they have done nothing! I now communicate it to you which is the last effort I can make.'' (DLC-RTL). McClellan's telegram of the same day explained: ``Williamsburg is not evacuated by our forces but will be held . . . for several days. When applied to furnish medical attendance & servants to enable the present employees to run away I took the ground that the superintendent must make these arrangements himself. I recommended that they be required to provide employees who can & will remain. There is time enough to do this.''