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 [...]
March 23rd, 1862.—This is Eddie’s birthday, Adeline made him a cake, (no white sugar to ice it) and by great good luck I found in my doll things, which have been packed away, two toy candles which delighted his heart. Though the weather is still cold in Virginia the army seems to be on the [...]
March 16th, 1862.—The entire family wrote to Brother Amos this morning, he will surely find out he has a young daughter. As scarce as paper is Eddie had to have a whole sheet to write his letter on. He looked so in earnest that I asked what he was writing? He said, “I is sayin’, [...]
March 15th, 1862.—Sister Mag has a daughter, born this morning. Poor little girl. She will, in all probability, never see her father’s face. I do not believe the war is going to end in even ninety days. Sister Mag is very ill tonight and I have Eddie upstairs with me, that he may not disturb [...]
March 13th, 1862.—Brother Amos left this morning and our hearts ache for both of them. The women of the South have much to bear. Father takes me with him every other day to search for certain medicinal plants and roots, from which supplies for hospital use can be made. Medicines of all kinds are scarce [...]
March 8th, 1862.—I do not like Dr. Cleveland. I wonder how much longer he is going to stay? This morning while we were sitting at the breakfast table he was contending with Mother about the “sweet-briar.” It seems he has spent much time in England, perhaps he is an Englishman, but he insists that there [...]
December 25th, 1861.—Christmas night! No festive gathering tonight. We did not have a Christmas tree. Mattie and Eddie hung up their stockings but they had so many things they might better have hung up a two bushel sack. I found a number of gifts on the lightstand beside my bed, when I awoke this morning. [...]
December 20th, 1861.—I spent today at Uncle Tom’s. His daughters are just the smartest, busiest people I ever saw. Cousin Mary Bernard and her three children and cousin Frances with her five are there, while Captain Bernard and Cousin Tom are at the front and Christmas is at hand. There are but few toys to [...]
December 1st, 1861.—Father was reading what I had written about the Battle of Manassas and he said, “My baby has forgotten to write of school plans. They should be recorded by all means. In years to come you will read of it with great interest and it should have come before the account of the [...]
November 1st, 1861.—School had opened on the first of last month, but, after the trouble which came to us, mother let Miss Sadie go to visit her sister for a while. She came back on the 15th and the other girls have been going to school while I was away. This morning I began again, [...]
October 12th, 1861.—Cousin Rich was buried today. Crowds of people came and Governor Milton delivered an eulogy on his spotless record. His is the first blood shed on Florida soil in this cruel war. All his brothers were present except Cousin Johnnie, who is in Virginia. His two sisters are so distressed. When the services [...]
October 10th, 1861.—War has come home to the Bradford neighborhood! . . . Last night, October 9th, Captain Richard H. Bradford was shot in the breast and instantly killed, while leading his men in an attack on Santa Rosa Island. He was everybody’s darling. We were so proud of him, too. Father went to bear [...]
September 15th, 1861.—All the troops are not sent to Virginia, the Dixie Yeomen have been incorporated into the Fifth Florida Regiment and they have gone to Palatka to be drilled. So far the troops, which have been sent had been drilling for some time and were considered fit for service but these fresh companies have [...]
August 12th, 1861.—It is late at night but I cannot sleep so will write up the events of the day. The Howell Guards left on the mid-day train. A crowd had gathered around the depot to see them off. Mothers, wives, sisters, sweethearts and friends—all were there. Standing on the platform and looking around I [...]
June 11th, 1861.—Perhaps it would be as well, my dear Diary, to write here a short sketch of the Bradford neighborhood at this time. The war is an established fact and a shadow lies across the hearts of the Southern people. It may be that the North feels it equally with ourselves, but I cannot [...]
May 11th, 1861.—The wanderers got home last night, the direct route was so closely guarded that they had to come across country to Vicksburg, on the Mississippi and, taking a flat-boat there, come south until they reached a landing at one of the large Louisiana plantations, where they got off. Cousin Johnnie explined the situation [...]
May 9th, 1861.—We hear many rumors and the papers are filled with alarming paragraphs, just enough to keep us “on the anxious bench,” yet not enough to give much real information. We have been hearing hints of a blockade but last night the news reached us that the United States Government established on the 6th [...]
April 17th, 1861.—Yesterday we had a picnic on Lake McBride, the occasion being the presentation of a flag to the Dixie Yeomen. The ladies of the Bradford neighborhood embroidered the banner and though cousins Martha and Rebecca Bradford designed and selected the silks, we, every one, did our part in the work. Even if the [...]
March 17th, 1861.—Brother Amos has been a member of the Governor’s Guards for a long time; that is, ever since the company was organized last October and he did not tell us until tonight that the Guards volunteered two weeks ago. Sister Mag was wild with grief at first but Mother tried to comfort her [...]
March 3rd, 1861.—Father has volunteered. Mother was bitterly opposed but though Father yielded to her in many things he would not in this. I wish I was a boy; even if I am young, I could go with him if only I were not a girl. It will beak my heart if he goes. Susan [...]
January 11th, 1861. —We did not try to be early this morning, as the big event of the day did not take place until one o’clock. Capitol Square was so crowded you could see nothing but heads and the Capitol itself was full of people looking from the windows, which looked out on the east [...]
January 10th, 1861.—It is night and I am very tired but there is much to tell. The Ordinance of Secession was voted on today. Bishop Rutledge made the opening prayer and it was very impressive. He pleaded so earnestly for God’s guidance for these members, in whose hands lay the future of Florida. These men [...]