14 Dec.        Mr Grimball paid us a visit having a furlough from his company, he had a bad cold, and during his stay it was very cold he returned to Charleston and Military life. I think rather pleased with the fact that he, too, is doing what he can to help.—        Things get on here [...]

28 [November]        The weather cold thankful we are where we can get wood the price here is $2.50 for a cord. There is great difficulty in getting change, fortunately this morning I got a $20 bill changed, by purchasing $4 worth of Meal.—        Two poor women recently came here to beg. I was not able [...]

27 November        Mr Grimball returned from Camden with the box of silver which we now have up here and has gone to Charleston where he intends offering his services for Military duty in the Reserves, Captain Lesegne. He is under 65 & the Governor and Council have called out all men under 65 and of [...]

November 5th        Papa went off this morning with his man and his maid and I hope he will get down comfortably and be able to stay on his plantation. He went off feeling very sad and with heavy forebodings, but the times cause that.—The poor old gentleman we shall miss him very much, all his [...]

24th October        Papa has determined to go to his Plantation early in November, and I am quite reconciled to his going because he always moves at this season, and because it is now difficult to get what he likes to eat, if he cannot remain on his place he will return to us. We will [...]

10th October        We went to Church on Communion Sunday and saw Miss Clemy Legg in deep black what a pity the poor thing was not married to Mr Palmer.—        Papa talks of going down to his Plantation to settle his affairs. If he has to move his negroes he will send them to Georgia to [...]

30th September        There has not been a rising in Maryland as was expected and as far as rumor gives us information we have not gone on so gloriously as was expected, but only by hard-fought battles kept our ground against our treacherous foe.        Miss Juliet Elliott invited Elizabeth to pass a day with her and [...]

19 [September]        Yesterday was set apart by the Government as a day of Thanksgiving for our Victories. We went to the Methodist Church and heard a fair sermon by Mr Stacy and a very fine prayer from Whiteford Smith there was a collection taken up for the wounded soldiers I put in $4.—        Gov Wilkins [...]

17 [September]        Martin came up and paid a short visit to his Mother looks as usual. Berkley writes to me the company has been so much reduced by detatchments that they have quite hard duty. A few evenings before he wrote, 3 negroes Henry Lowndes servant Lucas’s servant and one of the teamsters had gone [...]

September 7th        News was brought yesterday that we had again gained a great Victory, at the old battle ground Manassas, and among those slain were Dr Smith’s only son, and several other young men graduates of this College, excellent moral characters. What a loss to their families, and how these parents are bowed with trouble. [...]

September 5        There are great successes to our arms in Virginia and I fear great losses. Mrs Irwin our landlady came in after tea to tell us of it a very kind hospitable woman quite a register of family events in the society which surrounds her, but although she narrates well and accurately and takes [...]

September 2        Elizabeth devotes all her mornings to teaching Lotty & Harry and in so doing tires herself very much and in the case of Harry is conferring a benefit most thankfully received. I know no one so cultivated and elegant in her manners as Elizabeth, or accomplished, she has a disciplined, and highly improved [...]

23 August        On Tuesday 19 August after Tea, John came to us, having a furlough, to get his clothes. He traveled a long way, and it was a great comfort to see him, but he only remained with us 2 days, he has gone through many perils, and is unhurt, but he returns to the [...]

19 August        We have received a long letter from John giving an account of the 3 engagements in which he was in the Arkansas they were most brilliant and the vessel did wonderfully for the Machinery evidently was not of sufficient force to make the vessel effective. The Majestic way in which she moved was [...]

5 August        Mrs. Stevens wrote me a note yesterday morning to say that she had permission from her husband to join him at Vicksburg and she would be glad to take letters or a parcel for John so we all wrote letters made them in a packet and gave them to her for she came [...]

30th [July]        This morning a letter was received from Baltamore to Mrs. Butler announcing her daughter’s death on the 30th of June at New Port very suddenly. Mrs. Butler was then in Richmond. I am glad she went on for she will be better satisfied. We suppose she was at her own house at Norwood [...]

23 July        We have heard from John, he has been through a severe fight in the Arkansas and was unhurt.        There is a Mrs Stevens up here who is the wife of the 1 Lieutenant on board the Arkansas & we have seen her. She sent me word she had just lost her Mother and [...]

June 25        Mr Grimball still in Town but expected to day, he sent me a letter from Mary Wilcocks about Mrs McAllister, Mrs Butler’s daughter. Her health is in such a critical state that it was thought proper to inform her Mother. She was dreadfully distressed, and at once said she would be glad to [...]

16th [May] Spartanburg St John’s College left wing.        Mr Grimball moved us up here last week we hired a car for $75 and brought some furniture and all our clothes and some bedding and have established ourselves here, we hope only for the summer but it may be longer.        The Journey was performed comfortably and [...]

May 12        We are now in a great state of excitement, all the low country getting into the upper country. Flying from our Ruthless foes, we expect an attack and people are leaving their houses and families[,] servants and furniture, crowding up to the Rail Road. The upper districts are crowded with this unusual population [...]

1 April        Mr G. has been wonderfully relieved by the placing the negroes with Mr Porcher and is now in the country selling his rice. The Dr has left Nat and I hope they will soon be well enough to go to the country. I feel dull and anxious.        There was a stampede 66[?] negroes [...]

25 March        John wrote to his father & to me offering the use of his Confederate Bonds and 9 hundred dollars of his pay which is very kind.—I hope Mr Grimball may not be obliged to use it. Berkley made a visit to Pickings & Anderson and found it impossible to procure a suitable place. [...]

8th [March]        Mr Grimball & W came down yesterday with the people remaining, they are lodged in the Jail or work house.        My poor husband finds himself terribly tired by his situation & I really think without God’s mercy he would sink entirely under it.        Mr James Rose the President of the Rail Road Bank [...]

6th March        We are now in the midst of a great calamity 84 of Mr Grimball’s negroes went off all together to Edisto we think of course they are the best. Mr Grimball is quite unstrung by it. Fortunately Berkley can come to him and William is still out of Military position and they both [...]