When Union troops entered Falmouth and marched along the King’s Highway (today’s River Road) a shot was fired. Not knowing if it was from the house or from the grounds, the soldiers damaged the lock and broke down the door. Finding an empty house, they searched each room. Eliza Gwinn, an enslaved woman, who was living on the grounds in the back, rushed into the house and found that soldiers were in Mrs. Conway’s bedroom which had a painting of Moncure hanging on the wall.  Recognizing the abolitionist’s portrait, a soldier had the others stop destroying the house.  Eliza said the soldier was correct and it truly was a picture of Moncure.  So a picture of Moncure Conway helped save the house from destruction.