A diary from Dixie, as written by Mary Boykin Chesnut, wife of James Chesnut, jr., United States senator from South Carolina, 1859-1861... |
CONTENTS |
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
 | A diary from Dixie, |  |
v
CONTENTS
| PAGE | |
| INTRODUCTION: The Author and Her Book | xiii |
| Chapter I.—CHARLESTON, S. C., November 8, 1860—December 27, 1860. The news of Lincoln's election—Raising the Palmetto flag—The author's husband resigns as United States Senator—The Ordinance of Secession—Anderson takes possession of Fort Sumter |
1 |
| Chapter II.—MONTGOMERY, Ala., February 19, 1861—March 11, 1861. Making the Confederate Constitution—Robert Toombs —Anecdote of General Scott—Lincoln's trip through Baltimore—Howell Cobb and Benjamin H. Hill—Hoisting the Confederate flag—Mrs. Lincoln's economy in the White House—Hopes for peace—Despondent talk with anti-secession leaders—The South unprepared— Fort Sumter |
6 |
| Chapter III.—CHARLESTON, S. C., March 26, 1861 —April 15, 1861. A soft-hearted slave-owner—Social gaiety in the midst of war talk—Beauregard a hero and a demigod—The first shot of the war—Anderson refuses to capitulate—The bombardment of Fort Sumter as seen from the housetops —War steamers arrive in Charleston harbor—" Bull Run" Russell—Demeanor of the negroes |
21 |
| Chapter IV.—CAMDEN, S. C., April 20, 1861— April 22, 1861. After Sumter was taken—The jeunesse dorée—The story of Beaufort Watts—Maria Whitaker's twins— The inconsistencies of life |
42 |
| Chapter V.—MONTGOMERY, Ala., April 27, 1861 —May 20, 1861. Baltimore in a blaze—Anderson's account of the surrender of Fort Sumter—A talk with Alexander H. Stephens—Reports from Washington—An unexpected reception—Southern leaders take hopeless views of the future—Planning war measures—Removal of the capital |
47 |
| Chapter VI.—CHARLESTON, S. C., May 25, 1861 —June 24, 1861. Waiting for a battle in Virginia—Ellsworth at Alexandria —Big Bethel—Moving forward to the battleground —Mr. Petigru against secession—Mr. Chesnut goes to the front—Russell's letters to the London Times |
57 |
| Chapter VII.—RICHMOND, Va., June 27, 1861— July 4, 1861. Arrival at the new capital—Criticism of Jefferson Davis —Soldiers everywhere—Mrs. Davis's drawing-room— A day at the Champ de Mars—The armies assembling for Bull Run—Col. L. Q. C. Lamar |
68 |
| Chapter VIII.—FAUQUIER WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, Va., July 6, 1861—July 11, 1861. Cars crowded with soldiers—A Yankee spy—Anecdotes of Lincoln—Gaiety in social life—Listening for guns— A horse for Beauregard |
77 |
| Chapter IX.—RICHMOND, Va., July 13, 1861— September 2, 1861. General Lee and Joe Johnston—The battle of Bull Run —Colonel Bartow's death—Rejoicing and funerals— |
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| Anecdotes of the battle—An interview with Robert E. Lee—Treatment of prisoners—Toombs thrown from his horse—Criticism of the Administration—Paying the soldiers —Suspected women searched—Mason and Slidell |
82 |
| Chapter X.—CAMDEN, S. C., September 9, 1861— September 19, 1861. The author's sister, Kate Williams—Old Colonel Chesnut —Roanoke Island surrenders—Up Country and Low Country—Family silver to be taken for war expenses —Mary McDuffie Hampton—The Merrimac and the Monitor |
127 |
| Chapter XI.—COLUMBIA, S. C., February 20, 1862—July 21, 1862. Dissensions among Southern leaders—Uncle Tom's Cabin—Conscription begins—Abuse of Jefferson Davis —The battle of Shiloh—Beauregard flanked at Nashville —Old Colonel Chesnut again—New Orleans lost— The battle of Williamsburg—Dinners, teas, and breakfasts —Wade Hampton at home wounded—Battle of the Chickahominy—Albert Sidney Johnston's death— Richmond in sore straits—A wedding and its tragic ending—Malvern Hill—Recognition of the Confederacy in Europe |
131 |
| Chapter XII.—FLAT ROCK, N. C., August 1, 1862 —August 8, 1862. A mountain summer resort—George Cuthbert—A disappointed cavalier—Antietam and Chancellorsville— General Chesnut's work for the army |
210 |
| Chapter XIII.—PORTLAND, Ala., July 8, 1863— July 30, 1863. A journey from Columbia to Southern Alabama—The surrender of Vicksburg—A terrible night in a swamp on a riverside—A good pair of shoes—The author at her mother's home—Anecdotes of negroes—A Federal Cynic |
216 |
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Chapter XIV.—RICHMOND, Va., August 10, 1863— September 7, 1863. General Hood in Richmond—A brigade marches through the town—Rags and tatters—Two love affairs and a wedding—The battle of Brandy Station—The Robert Barnwell tragedy |
229 |
| Chapter XV.—CAMDEN, S. C., September 10, 1863 —November 5, 1863. A bride's dressing-table—Home once more at Mulberry —Longstreet's army seen going West—Constance and Hetty Cary—At church during Stoneman's raid— Richmond narrowly escapes capture—A battle on the Chickahominy—A picnic at Mulberry |
240 |
| Chapter XVI.—RICHMOND, Va., November 28, 1863—April 11, 1864. Mr. Davis visits Charleston—Adventures by rail—A winter of mad gaiety—Weddings, dinner-parties, and private theatricals—Battles around Chattanooga— Bragg in disfavor—General Hood and his love affairs— Some Kentucky generals—Burton Harrison and Miss Constance Cary—George Eliot—Thackeray's death— Mrs. R. E. Lee and her daughters—Richmond almost lost—Colonel Dahlgren's death—General Grant—Depreciated currency—Fourteen generals at church |
252 |
| Chapter XVII.—CAMDEN, S. C., May 8, 1864— June 1, 1864. A farewell to Richmond—"Little Joe's" pathetic death and funeral—An old silk dress—The battle of the Wilderness—Spottsylvania Court House—At Mulberry once more—Old Colonel Chesnut's grief at his wife's death |
304 |
| Chapter XVIII.—COLUMBIA, S. C., July 6, 1864— January 17, 1865. Gen. Joe Johnston superseded and the Alabama sunk— The author's new home—Sherman at Atlanta—The |
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| battle of Mobile Bay—At the hospital in Columbia— Wade Hampton's two sons shot—Hood crushed at Nashville—Farewell to Mulberry—Sherman's advance eastward—The end near |
313 |
| Chapter XIX.—LINCOLNTON, N. C., February 16, 1865—March 15, 1865. The flight from Columbia—A corps of generals without troops—Broken-hearted and an exile—Taken for millionaires—A walk with Gen. Joseph E. Johnston —The burning of Columbia—Confederate money refused in the shops—Selling old clothes to obtain food —Gen. Joe Johnston and President Davis again— Braving it out—Mulberry saved by a faithful negro— Ordered to Chester, S. C. |
344 |
| Chapter XX.—CHESTER, S. C., March 21, 1865— May 1, 1865. How to live without money—Keeping house once more —Other refugees tell stories of their flight—The Hood melodrama over—The exodus from Richmond—Passengers in a box car—A visit from General Hood—The fall of Richmond—Lee's surrender—Yankees hovering around—In pursuit of President Davis |
367 |
| Chapter XXI.—CAMDEN, S. C., May 2, 1865— August 2, 1865. Once more at Bloomsbury—Surprising fidelity of negroes —Stories of escape—Federal soldiers who plundered old estates—Mulberry partly in ruins—Old Colonel Chesnut last of the grand seigniors—Two classes of sufferers— A wedding and a funeral—Blood not shed in vain |
384 |
| INDEX | 405 |
| A diary from Dixie, | |