19 August        Things go on very successfully. The Southern forces have beaten the Union Army in the West. William was made one of the prize commissioners and went to North Carolina to see after a prize. He placed seals on it and took possession and returned home,—rather a fatiguing journey to Beaufort on the Coast. [...]

10 August        We heard from Lewis, a full account of his fatigue & the Victory. Henry Middleton, a private in Hampton’s Legion was Mortally wounded during the fight, since dead, a great lose to his family. He managed all the Large Planting interest brought home and interrod at the Magnolia.        The Town since the Battle [...]

28 [July]         The accounts from the battle continue to come in, and the Southerners seem to have behaved with the greatest courage and their Officers most successfully.— There were services in the Church to day to return thanks for the Victory. — We understand The Palmetoe Guard, Lewis’s Company, repulsed a regiment and acted in [...]

July 26th        Papa left us for Buncombe on the 24, he went off in a furious annoyance at not being called for before half past eight so he quarreled with the hack man, I am glad he has gone, for his rigid ways became disagreeable. We did as well as we could for him, & [...]

July 11        Mr Grimball and Papa went into the Country to day , it has been very warm. Lewis writes from Fairfax C. H. on the eve of battle for an over coat for a grey flannel Jacket for woolen socks and crackers & cheese, and says it is quite cold where he is at [...]

February 20th 1866.        I read over my journal this morning and determined to finish it by making a note of the events of the Summer just passed. In April Arthur came home from the Army in North Carolina being sent to a hospital in Raleigh, and there being no room for him in the over [...]

[January] 30th        Lewis returned and had a very nice time was handsomely entertained and enjoyed the change, the negroes seemed to like it too. Mr John Townsand was very much interested in the Fort—        Things seem to progress, the Southern States are going out one after another and the border states undetermined.—        We dined with [...]

[January] 12th        Lewis returned from Town with an uncomfortable account of the Forts, Sumpter is still in charge of Major Anderson and a vessel the Star of the West with men & supplies on board for the Fort, was fired into and prevented from communicating. Major Anderson declared the Port blocaded, and that he would [...]

[January] 7th        Elizabeth arrived from the North with her Aunt, who went on to Butlers Island, where she is to stay for some time, a month at least. E. looks very well in health and in spirits, and gives a pleasant account of her visit. John has been appointed Lieutenant in the State Service, and [...]

1 January 1861        The year began with clouds & rain. I went out with Josey to Drive as Lucius was sent to the Depot expecting Mr Hayward & visited Mrs Wayne, Papa & Mrs Manigault, Papa out, Mrs Wayne preparing for a grand party, which must have disapointed her, as it rained all the evening, [...]

16 January 1865        We passed a sad Xmas, last year my dear William spent 10 days with us, & I felt all the time that those hours were before me, his affectionate greeting of us, the loving kind tones of his voice, his fine manly form, & expressive face, were ever in my mind, & [...]

1 October        2 Months have passed since my dear William’s death, and I feel that it was but yesterday.—

Sep 3        Received letters from Lewis near Atlanta in the trenches. He was overwhelmed with distress at the death of his brother & says he has been confirmed & joined the Church. Bishop Ley is with the Army, Lewis has for some time been seriously impressed & then wavered before he joined the Church. This [...]

Sep 2d        My mind is constantly dwelling on William’s life, his earnest, serious manner when a very little child, we were all riding together & the other boys made so much noise that W. knelt down and said his prayers, which surprised them so much they became quiet.—One day he said to me “Ma don’t [...]

27 August        It is just a month since my dear William was taken from us & each day seems but to add to the sense of the berevement. God’s will be done, and may he sanctify to us this dispensation. It will certainly wean our hearts from the world, for by him, & through him [...]

July 30        Mr Grimball received a letter from William written from the 3d N.C. Hospital, Charlotte Street, Charleston, telling him he was there ill, & at the end of the letter said there was such a buzzing in his head from Quinine he could hardly write, he had received the stockings sent down, & had [...]

22 [May]        The Battles in Virginia are so far successful for us and Johnston in Georgia appears to be acting on the defence with skill, at least we hope so. He has given up some places, the Yankees file their papers with his, and we hope this Summer through the blessing of God, to arrive [...]

May 15        Mr Grimball sent Adam to Columbia to bring the box to us. We have now opened it and find 2 pieces of beautiful long cloth, 18 yds white cambric, 2 doz spools of white cotton, 1 do black, 6 papers pins, a large supply of needles put up in a glass bottle, 1 [...]

April 25th        Mr Grimball went down after his business and took a severe cold, returned & was ill, Dr Kenedy attending, he recovered very slowly. Berkley came up on sick furlough, boils on his leg, was with us 15 days, the Dr ordered generous diet, we did our best & he returned & is now [...]

6th March 1865        I have no heart to write a journal now. The war goes on but so much distress and suffering. Charleston evacuated, Columbia sacked & burned, Cheraw[?], Winnsborough, Camden, Society Hill & other places visited by the Army of Sherman & sacked and burned. Our Army now under Johnston following Sherman and all [...]

1 January 1864        Mr Grimball was prevented from going to Town by the weather & I am glad he remained for we have always been together on New Year’s day. We are expecting a visit from Lewis on his way to the Western Army.—I thank God for all his mercies and pray to increase in [...]

Oct 21        William is now in Charleston at Battery Ramsy. He thinks we had better move the furniture in Charleston to the upper part of the City.–

4th October        I received this morning from Charlotte the painful account of Papa’s death, he suffered at last very much, and passed away on the morning of the 30th September 1863, between 5, & 6 in the morning, he was very much swollen had parozisms of difficulty of breathing which were terrible, had been twelve [...]

Sep 29        Our success in the West is very gratifying, & much needed to keep up the drooping spirits. Every paper contains accounts of the donations to the Hospitals, & it is wonderful & affecting to see whar little things are sent, combs, tooth brushes, a banjo, a bunch of herbs, a roll of rag, [...]