June 21st, 1865.—We held our first meeting of the Shakespeare Club last night, the play selected is, “The Merchant of Venice.” The parts have been assigned and practice will begin immediately. The meeting was held here and we had a fine supper and, after much persuasion, Mother played for us to dance, the first time [...]
June 18th, 1865.—1 went to town today, arranged the business for which I went and also saw something that made my blood boil. As Sister Mart and I sat in the carriage in front of Uncle Arvah’s store, Church Croom came to speak to us. From his uniform every button had been cut and replaced [...]
June 17th, 1865.—We had our first riding lesson yesterday and we had quite a respectable company, fifteen young ladies and as many gentlemen. Best of all, they, the gentlemen, came dressed in our beloved gray. We are so proud of the Confederate Army and we love the gray uniform. We love and reverence our captive [...]
June 15th, 1865.—Once more the family are every one well and this is a truly delightful state of affairs. Ever “sence freedom drapped,” as the negroes say, we have not been permitted to ride horseback without a gentleman with us. Sometimes it was not convenient to find one and often we could not go but [...]
June 9th, 1865.—Nellie went away today and the parting between her and Sister Mag was pitiful. She has nursed Eddie all his life and for three weeks now, the three weeks Sister Mag has been so ill, she has been almost constantly at her side, while I took care of Eddie. He is sorely distressed [...]
May __, 1865.—Mother has been sick with fever for three days past and I have paid no attention to my diary. Last night such a mysterious stranger came to us. I, who have the reputation of having no curiosity, am fairly eaten up with it. Father knows but does not tell. He says I must [...]
May 21st, 1865.—We have found out about the gathering of negroes at Centreville yesterday. More than a week ago a notice was sent to all the negroes in this and adjoining counties to come and bring well-?lled picnic baskets. Lieutenant Zachendorf and the soldiers under his command had a message to them from the President [...]
May 20th, 1865.—It is late at night and this has been a perfectly horrible day. For three days Sister Mag has been very ill; last night death seemed very near and this morning her dead baby was laid in a little white casket and buried in God’s Acre. She does not know. She has known [...]
May 11th, 1865.—I went to the picnic and if I was not entertaining nobody was so ill-mannered as to tell me so and I can assure you I was entertained. So many gray-coated soldiers; so much to listen to; so many questions to be asked and answered. A delicious dinner, boat rides in the cool [...]
May 10th, 1865.—I felt bad over giving up the girls but they were so happy in going. I hope we will hear from them often. There is to be a picnic on Lake McBride tomorrow. At ?rst I thought I could not go but Brother Amos says it is my duty to make things pleasant [...]
May 7th, 1865.—Aunt Margaret has been busily making her preparations for going home and yesterday she received notice that General Fish would evacuate her premises on the 20th of May. So she is leaving us tomorrow. Most of the servants she brought with her are going back in the same wagons they came in but [...]
April 30th, 1865.—General Johnston, too, has surrendered and the last slender hope to which some of our people were clinging, has vanished. We have lost all save honor.
April 23rd, 1865.—I ought to be ashamed of myself and yet I am afraid I am not. For the first time in all my life I have laid hands in violence upon a negro. It happened in this way. We were sitting last night in the back parlor, the two tallow candles did little more [...]
Warning The following diary entry contains wording that is offensive to many in the world of today. However, the entry is provided unedited for its historical content and context. April 22nd, 1865.—Aunt Margaret is going back to her home in Tennessee. She had letters today telling her General Fish had possession of her house as [...]
April 19th, 1865.—It is bedtime and I am writing in my own room; usually I write in the library, where Father sits, but tonight I want to be alone. Oft I have repeated, perhaps repeated boastfully, those brave lines: “I am the master of my fate; The captain of my soul.” And now, I find [...]
April 19th, 1865.—This morning at breakfast Father said, “Ten days since Lee’s surrender and none of our boys home yet.” We look for them continually but they do not come. A miserable uncertainty hangs over us and we do not know what to expect. Ever since I can remember Father has been trying to teach [...]
April 18th, 1865.—There are several companies of negro troops commanded by white officers, stationed at Centreville only two miles away. We fear the effect this will have on the neighboring plantations. We hear that these troops are a part of those who came with General Newton to attack Tallahassee. Generl Newton, himself, is in command [...]
April 17, 1865.—We have been very miserable the past few days. General McCook with his command were near Thomasville when General Lee surrendered and they pushed on to Tallahassee. Everybody knew they were coming and some things in the Capitol were hidden away but, just as it is in case of a fire, the most [...]
April 16th, 1865.—We have seen no more of McCook’s men. It took a long, long time for the dusty column in blue to pass our place. The officers were very strict with the men and did not allow them to straggle nor did they let the men come inside the enclosure for any purpose; we [...]
April 11th, 1865.—McCook’s men got us after all. About twelve o’clock today they came in sight, a long line of blue. I don’t see how I could ever have thought the blue uniform was pretty, and yet, when we were at Fortress Monroe, and I was a small girl, I admired the officers so much, [...]
APRIL 10th, 1865.—General Lee has surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia. Oh, I wish we were all dead! It is as if the very earth had crumbled beneath our feet. In our minds all is chaos and confusion and yet, outwardly there is no difference. The skies are just as blue, the flowers just as [...]
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 [...]