January 24th (1856).—Uncle Bailey is here. He came last night and brought Aunt Eliza and Eddie. He is going to leave them with us for a good long while. The people of Jefferson have had some trouble with the Abolitionists. Why can’t they stay at the North and let our people alone? Uncle Bailey was once a general in the army and afterward he was Captain of Regulators in Jefferson County. I love to listen while he tells of the stirring scenes in which he has taken part. Last night, when he was telling how ugly these men from the North had talked to the negroes in Jefferson, brother Junius said, “General, did you know what to do with them?” Uncle Bailey’s blue eyes looked like they had sparks in them but all he said was, “I did.” I shall not ask what it was.
Susan Bradford was 9 years old when this 1856 entry was made.
Diary entries from before 1860 are included when the content is relevant to the issues that led to or framed the American Civil War. — MpG 5/22/2020