March 6th, 1863.—It is hard to even think, because I want to see Grandpa so bad. We were going to him in the summer and now I will never see him again. Father says I will see him in that beautiful Heaven, which he loved to talk of but it seems so far away. Grandma [...]
January 8th, 1863.—Cousin Sam Donelson came last night. I have not seen him since the summer of 1859 and I would never have known him. Instead of a slender, pale boy, he is a splendid looking man. He is on Uncle Daniel’s staff, with the rank of Lieutenant. Aunt Margaret left her home at the [...]
January 3rd, 1863.—My dear, dear Grandpa is dead. I loved him so well and now I will never see him again. Mother was all ready to start to North Carolina today but a telegram came telling the sad news. Mary Eliza died in the night and she will be buried here tomorrow. There is trouble [...]
December 27th, 1862.—Mother has a letter in the mail, which has just come telling of dear Grandpa’s illness. He went out on the ice to direct the man who was using the ice plow and took a violent cold. We feel very anxious. Mary Eliza is no better. The papers say the armies have gone [...]
December 25th, 1862.—We reached home on the 24th but it is not like Christmas. No frolicking for anybody as Cousin Martha died yesterday morning and will be buried here tomorrow. Everybody loved her and grieves that she has gone. Aunt Sue is in trouble, for little Mary Eliza is sick unto death and Father and [...]
December 20th, 1862.—Last night we sat up all night, getting Harry ready to get off this morning, early, for Virginia. His sister and nieces were packing clothes, putting up provisions for him to take back to camp with him and I was finishing the last pair of socks I had on hand, that makes six [...]
December 15th, 1862.—We have news of a great battle in Virginia, Fredericksburg, a terrible battle in which our side won the victory and the enemy suffered severe losses. How I wish the war would end; it throws a cloud over everything. All the gentlemen visiting here have been wounded but all are getting well; they [...]
December 6th, 1862.—We have been here three days; there are nine girls in the party and twelve gentlemen, young ones I mean; then there are two married couples with little children and our host and hostess, who are just lovely to us all. We have music and dancing at night, go riding whenever we feel [...]
December 4th, 1862.—Now, that the bullet has been extracted, Brother Amos is improving rapidly and he tells us many interesting things as he lies there so helpless. Last night his thoughts turned to the battle of Seven Pines; it seems that he, with a party of his company, was detailed to help to bury the [...]
December 1st, 1862.—It seems strange to think of fun and gaiety again, when we have been through so much of grief and horror. So much nursing, too, watching through sleepless nights, trying to soothe through the days of wild delirium, making one cooling poultice after another and wondering all the while if anything would ever [...]
July 5th, 1862.—Brother Junius spent the day with us yesterday. He gave us such an entertaining account of the winter on the St. Johns. He likes army life better than he expected. He says he never was fond of hunting and when he has to really go “Man-hunting” he will not like it at all. [...]
July 3rd, 1862.—We went yesterday to see the soldiers in camp. Brother Junius is as brown as a berry. I did not know blondes ever burned brown. I thought they only turned red. His uniform is extremely becoming. He did not get it until after he reached Palatka, so we had not seen him in [...]
July 1st, 1862.—Mother would like to omit the 4th of July festivities, but Father says the black folks must not be defrauded of their rights, so the preparations for the barbecue go on as usual. I cannot see that the war has made them a bit different unless it has made them more particular to [...]
June 27th, 1862.—Brother Amos has been to Enfield to see Sister Mag and the children, though he could only stay twenty-four hours. He thinks his daughter is the prettiest baby he ever saw and Eddie wants to go back to camp with him. Sister Mag says the wounded men are passing through Enfield every day. [...]
June 20th, 1862.—The tannery, under Mr. James, is a complete success. Father sent to Gadsden County for a shoemaker, and three of the black boys are working under him, learning the trade; he has three sons and they are motherless. John, the eldest, is fourteen years old, but is very small for his age; David [...]
June 12th, 1862.—We have good news from the army of Northern Virginia; General Robert Lee has been appointed Commander in Chief. President Davis says there is not a more able officer in the Confederacy. I finished my hundredth pair of socks today, usually I knit at night. We do not need a light to knit, [...]
June 11th, 1862.—A letter from Sister Mag; the trip was a safe one and much pleasanter than she had anticipated; Grandpa and Grandma well and glad to see them; Eddie loved Grandpa right away and wants to follow him everywhere he goes. Now for the best part; Brother Amos is safe and sound. I had [...]
June 2nd, 1862.—The wires are in working order and they bring us news of two big battles near Richmond, Seven Pines on the 31st of May and Fair Oaks on June 1st. The list of “killed, wounded and missing” will come later. Mother is not well today, we are afraid she has some fever. Susan [...]
May 27th, 1862.—They have gone. It is bad enough to give up the sisters but it is even worse to let the children go. Mother says I love them too well. But she loves them as well as I do if the truth was known. The girls have promised to write us every day, that [...]
May 16th, 1862.—There is light skirmishing around Richmond, so say last night’s papers; somebody is killed in these skirmishes—God help the South. A letter from Grandpa insists that Sister Mag and Sister Mart stop with him at Enfield; trains to and from Richmond pass his home every day and night and daily news from the [...]
May 10th, 1862.—There are rumors that McClellan has been removed from Richmond and McDowell appointed instead. With this new commander we may expect more fighting. “A new broom sweeps clean,” they say. Sister Mag has made up her mind to go to the front where she can be at hand if Brother Amos should be [...]
A Trip into the Country. MAY 9. After nearly two months of scrubbing and cleaning, with new caps and pants, the 25th regiment stands in column of platoons on Polloek street, as tony a looking regiment as there is in the service. The colonel and staff with the band take the head of the column, [...]
May 5th, 1862.—We are continually hearing rumors of a fierce battle at Williamsburg but we do not know on what these rumors are based; we have no telegraphic communication and for weeks the mails have been so irregular as to amount to no news at all. No letters; no passing; just no news at all [...]
May 1st, 1862.—Father has engaged a book-keeper to come next week. He says it keeps me too close. This man is an Englishman with a wife, a small son and a brother-in-law; a strong, healthy man, who looks as if he ought to be in the army but he says being an Englishman he is [...]
April 5th, 1862.—Sewing societies were organized long ago and every neighborhood has one. Ours meets first at one house and then at another, and all of us sew steadily all day long. Mother cuts many of the garments and Mrs. Manning helps her, that is, when they meet with us. Peter and Mac make packing [...]