April 1st, 1865.—More distressing news of our dear boys at the front. In Virginia and in the army now slowly falling back before Sherman, starvation is staring them in the face. Johnston’s men are fighting almost inch by inch; every foot of the way is contested. In Virginia, “Lee’s Invincibles,” are falling from the ranks, [...]
March 18th, 1865.—Do not think we have been neglecting either the knitting, the spinning and weaving or the sewing, while this excitement is going on. Lulu takes my work for me when I go away and she is more capable than I, where the sewing is concerned, though she is not so good at the [...]
March 15th, 1865.—I am afraid we have the swell-head because we repulsed the enemy and made him take to his gun-boats. It seems to have put new life and hope in us all. The news from the armies is a mixture of good and bad; more funds are needed for the hospitals and Leon County [...]
March 10th, 1865.—Not one of the cadets was hurt. Not many went, because none were permitted to go without a written permit from their parents and those who went are so proud and those who did not go are so chagrined. It is funny to hear them talk it over. Charley says, “we stayed right [...]
March 7th, 1865.—Today Captain Simmons was buried in the Tallahassee Cemetery. His poor wife came from her home and fainted at the grave. How horrible war is! I had an invitation to go on a picnic to Natural Bridge today. How awful! I do not understand such curiosity. General Miller says dead negroes were actually [...]
March 6th, 1865.—The battle is on and since daylight we have been listening to the booming of cannon. Natural Bridge, where the two armies met, is only eighteen miles (as the crow flies) from Tallahassee and these big guns can be heard plainly. This is our first experience in warfare at first hand and I [...]
March 5th, 1865.—It seems we are not to be captured by McCook after all. Over the signal stations between the Light House and Tallahassee a message came this morning. Gunboats are around the light house and colored troops are landing and are now on the way to Tallahassee via Newport. Such excitement I never saw; [...]
March 4th, 1865.—We went yesterday and it was just too funny. Jordan came to the door at eight o’clock and sent Robert in, to tell us he was ready to take us to town. We were sitting at breakfast table but made haste to go and when we reached the carriage, Sister Mart declared she [...]
March 2nd, 1865.—This is a sad day for all of us, dear Mother feels it most of all. When she was a child she had her little pony, “Winnie Wiggin”, to ride to school, and after that she always had a horse which was all her own. Grandpa loved fine horses and mother did, too. [...]
March 1st, 1865.—We have a new lot of sick and wounded soldiers in this morning; two of them, wounded and sent here because they will probably never be fit for duty again, were completely worn out when they came. Father gave them a hot toddy and mother sent them some soup and such things as [...]
February 17th, 1865.–There is little but bad news now. Sherman is a very Devil. If this goes on much longer Georgia will be desolate indeed, for his favorite weapon is the torch. Every State Capitol in the South, except Tallahassee, has been captured and we cannot expect to escape much longer. The Yankees come nearer [...]
February 22nd, 1865.—Washington’s birthday I used to read of the War of the Revolution and wondered if it could be true; it seemed so unbelievable. I admire General Washington very much but I never once imagined war could ever be so real to me. I wonder when it will end? Some wars last so long [...]
December 26th, 1864.—Christmas was truly delightful. The joy of the children, at sight of the beautiful tree and toys fully compensated us for the time spent in their manufacture. Such exclamations of delight; such squeals of joy; as they received the gifts and realized that the blockade had not kept old Santa out. I never [...]
December 16th, 1864.—We have had company today, ladies from town to spend the day. I have listened to many a bit of gossip and heard some laughable incidents related. Life is a complex problem; it is like a kaleidoscope in its changing scenes. On one side all is gay and bright and on the other, [...]
December 9th, 1864.—The poor, sick prisoner is sick and in prison no longer. He died this morning, died happy, too, for Mr. Craig, who sat up with him last night, says he could not see any harm in telling him the papers had come and now he was going home. He was so happy and [...]
November 24th, 1864.—Three times a week Mother fixes up a basket to send in to the Tallahassee hospital, fresh butter and butter milk; fresh vegetables from the garden; any kind of fruit we happen to have and always two large loaves of delicious home-made bread. This last is a luxury as flour is hard to [...]
November 3rd, 1864.—We have grown so expert in sewing and knitting and materials are getting so scarce that we have gone into a new business. The Bradford neighborhood has inaugurated a Toy Shop. At Uncle Tom’s there are ten children, four of Cousin Mary’s and six of Cousin Tom’s; at Cousin William’s there are two; [...]
October 27, 1864.—I certainly do love to go to Uncle Tom’s; I have always loved him and his daughters but the principal attraction just now is the crowd of children who are living with him “until this cruel war is over.” Captain Bernard and Cousin Torn, both brought their families to Uncle Tom, when they [...]
August 11th, 1864.—Communication is established once more and Oh, the horrible, horrible news that has come to us! Capers’ Battalion reached Petersburg just in time for that terrible explosion and a part of his command were blown to atoms. Frank Baker is killed and so is my little new cousin. Mr. Kellar will never sing [...]
August 8th, 1864.—This is a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer. Our armies in Virginia and in the West have suffered reverses of late and we have many such days. All who can, go to church; all the churches hold services. We take our knitting with us. Some stay all day, for they are fasting, [...]
June 4th, 1864.—Uncle Richard has just returned from Tallahassee. This morning the telegraph wires were working for the first time in four days. It brings us dreadful news, on the 2nd inst. a battle was fought at Cold Harbor, some of our Florida boys were wounded and two were killed. Colonel Henry D. Capers was [...]
June 2nd, 1864.—There are many aching hearts in our land these bright, beautiful summer days. If it was not for the little children, who do not realize the danger we are facing, I do not believe we could stand it. Bless their dear young hearts, which are so light that they overflow with merriment no [...]
April 9th, 1864.—Today I have on railroad stockings and slippers. Guess what these slippers are made of? Whenever I go to uncle Richard’s I see an old black uncle, hard at work plaiting shucks and weaving the plaits together into door mats. It seemed to me a lighter braid might be sewed into something resembling [...]
April 8th, 1864.—I am at home again and father and mother say they have missed me. The hospital patients are better and High Private Watson is begging to go back to his uncle. Father has written to him and described the child’s condition, asking if he might send him to his relatives in Macon? No [...]
April 7th, 1864.—Today I have no shoes to put on. All my life I have never wanted to go bare-footed, as most Southern children do. The very touch of my naked foot to the bare ground made me shiver. Lulu my Mammy, scolds me about this—even yet she claims the privilege of taking me to [...]