A bold Yankee commander could make a dash & burn it without meeting the slightest opposition, so denuded is our county of both men & arms. #cw150

May 14, 1863

Came Tom Jones & his bride to spend a few days with us, we having dined with them at father’s yesterday. She seems a pleasant tempered sensible affectionate young person. Rachel, Sue, & Lieut Elliot dined with us. Concluded not to separate the young folks, to go out to Hascosea & entertain them there where our means for making them comfortable are more ample. Lieut Elliot is superintending the construction of a Gun boat at Edwards Ferry within two miles of us. He feels uneasy for the want of a guard. A bold Yankee commander could make a dash & burn it without meeting the slightest opposition, so denuded is our county of both men & arms.

Source: Edmondston, Catherine Ann Devereux, 1823-1875, Journal of a Secesh Lady: The Diary of Catherine Ann Devereux Edmondston 1860-1866. Crabtree, Beth G and Patton, James W., (Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1979). http://nc-historical-publications.stores.yahoo.net/478.html

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Woke up this morning with a sense of a heavy misfortune. Asked myself what had happened & remembered that Jackson was dead! #cw150

May 12, 1863

Woke up this morning with a sense of a heavy misfortune. Asked myself what had happened & remembered that Jackson was dead! Omitted to write yesterday that my nephew Thomas Jones had brought his wife to fathers. We go up to see her this morning. I shall offer her a home until the war is ended — for she cannot return into the lines of the hated enemy & since Hill’s repulse at Washington, they have grown more stringent & oppressive. The papers are full of McClellan’s & Burnside testimony respecting the command & conduct [of] the Army of the Potomac. I take little interest in any of them, or anything they say. They only offer an additional proof, if proof were wanting, that neither Lincoln, Halleck, Stanton, McClellan, Burnside, or Hooker understand the first principles of a gentleman. Deficient alike in self respect & respect for each other, they know not what is due themselves from their subordinates, or their subordinates from their own hands. Faugh! they disgust me, a set of cold blooded quill drivers. They have neither the instincts or the impulses of gentlemen.

Source: Edmondston, Catherine Ann Devereux, 1823-1875, Journal of a Secesh Lady: The Diary of Catherine Ann Devereux Edmondston 1860-1866. Crabtree, Beth G and Patton, James W., (Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1979). http://nc-historical-publications.stores.yahoo.net/478.html

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unfolded the paper & I saw that it was in mourning. I felt that Jackson was dead! & so it proved! #cw150

May 11, 1863

Went out Hascosea after dinner with Mr E on horseback. Everything is terribly backward there. The garden wants work & the flowers resent the neglect by refusing to bloom. A little girl ran out from the house of one of our neighbours & stopped us to ask for some flowers for their May party next Friday. Promised to send them, much to her gratification. Ah! me what happiness have May Queen’s conferred on me in times gone by & what a contrast to the times does a Queen of May now present.

The mail came in after tea & heavy news it brought us. A chill went through my heart as Mr Edmondston unfolded the paper & I saw that it was in mourning. I felt that Jackson was dead! & so it proved! He died of pneumonia on Sunday the 10th, eight days after the amputation of his arm, died in the fulness of his reputation, the brightness of his glory, a Christian patriot, unselfish, untiring, with no thought but for his country, no aim but for her advancement. I have no heart to write more, tho the paper is full of news. I care for nothing but him. It is as tho a Divine voice has said again “Little children keep yourselves from idols.”  He was the nation’s idol, not a breath even from a foe has ever been breathed against his fame. His very enemies reverenced him. God has taken him from us that we may lean more upon Him, feel that He can raise up to Himself instruments to work His Divine Will.

Source: Edmondston, Catherine Ann Devereux, 1823-1875, Journal of a Secesh Lady: The Diary of Catherine Ann Devereux Edmondston 1860-1866. Crabtree, Beth G and Patton, James W., (Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1979). http://nc-historical-publications.stores.yahoo.net/478.html

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Catherine reviews the news of the war – Chancellorsville, Stoneman, Vicksburg, etc. #cw150

May 9, 1863

Gen Lee’s dispatch to the President dated Chancellorsville May 7th tells us that “After driving Sedgewick across the Rappahanock on the night of the 4th I (he) returned on the 5th to Chancellorsville. The march was delayed by a storm which continued all night and the following day. In placing the troops in position on the morning of the 6th to attack Gen Hooker, it was ascertained that he had abandoned his fortified position. The line of skirmishers was pressed forward until they came in range of the enemies batteries planted on the north of the Rappahanock which from the configuration of the ground completely commanded this side. His army, therefore, escaped with the loss of a few additional prisoners.” Signed R E Lee, General. So he is gone, driven back, beaten ignominiously by a far inferior force, for we had but 80,000 (eighty thousand) men all told, whilst he has 158,000 (one hundred and fifty eight). Our loss is stated on the best authority now attainable at nine hundred killed & six thousand wounded many of them slightly so. We lost some prisoners, but all told killed, wounded, prisoners, and missing — eight thousand covers it. Theirs is estimated at thirty thousand. We have nine thousand prisoners! We took fifty three canon & lost five on Marye’s Hill, belonging to the Washington Artillery. The no of muskets captured & picked up on the battlefield is enormous. Were Lee now to advance, a large part of Hooker’s Army could not fight for want of a weapon. They are piled by the side of the R R track — a wonder to the beholder. The enemies loss in generals is heavy, including the infamous Sickles. Six are enumerated, but they are not of consequence enough to interest me. We lose one — Gen Paxton — in command of the old Stonewall Brigade. We have lost several Colonels, but as yet the details are not published. Stoneman is reported as encamped in heavy force near Gordonsville. Ah that we could capture him! No news of importance from the West. Van Dorn is dead, but how we hear not. Forrest, Wheeler, & Morgan continue to annoy Rosencrans & capture his marauding parties. In Louisianna we have had a repulse. At Grand Gulf Gen Taylor was forced to retreat, which he did fighting, after two days battle. He had 3000, the enemy 20,000 men, yet he came off in good order, bringing guns & stores. One waggon (whose mule gave out) only was captured. Our loss not heavy. All quiet before Vicksburg.

Source: Edmondston, Catherine Ann Devereux, 1823-1875, Journal of a Secesh Lady: The Diary of Catherine Ann Devereux Edmondston 1860-1866. Crabtree, Beth G and Patton, James W., (Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1979). http://nc-historical-publications.stores.yahoo.net/478.html

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The excesses, the robbery, the wanton destruction of property, committed by them almost exceeds belief #cw150

May 8, 1863

Dined at Father’s with Rachel. A letter from Thomas J. tells us that he hopes to bring his bride out from the enemy’s lines & spend a short furlough he has with his Grandfather. The panic in Richmond at the Cavalry raid was fearful. One body of them went west towards Columbia & attempted to blow up the Aqueduct of the James River Canal, in which attempt, however, they failed. They have stolen horses & alarmed the country, but beyond the insult have done us but little damage. Gen Fitz Hugh Lee encountered them, captured 30, & killed several, but his horses were too much jaded to pursue them. Rumour puts their no down at from ten to twenty thousand. This must be an exageration, as they could not subsist in the country where they now are. Two Regts of them are making their way across the country towards West Point or Williamsburg. This detachment it is which burnt the Chickahominy bridge and paroled the wounded prisoners; they also burned a train of eighty waggons with a quantity of grain at Ayletts, a village in Prince William. They took the teams leaving eighty or ninety of their own exhausted horses in their stead.

A marauding party sent out through Alabama towards Rome, Georgia, where the Gov has important works, was not so fortunate as their brethren in Va. Forrest pursued them, skirmishing from day to day, & before they reached their destination captured the whole command. Men, horses, & equipment 1700 strong — they were marched as prisoners into the place they came to destroy. The excesses, the robbery, the wanton destruction of property, committed by them almost exceeds belief, was it not eclipsed by another band sent into Mississippi from their head quarters in Louisianna. So far this last has escaped punishment, there being no Confederate troops in that region. With the romantic element left out, their conduct is more like a body of half civilized marauding caterans of the 16th Century than Christian warriors of the enlightened nineteenth. Yet we have the most Christian Burnsides word for it that they are Christians.

Source: Edmondston, Catherine Ann Devereux, 1823-1875, Journal of a Secesh Lady: The Diary of Catherine Ann Devereux Edmondston 1860-1866. Crabtree, Beth G and Patton, James W., (Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1979). http://nc-historical-publications.stores.yahoo.net/478.html

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May 7, 1863: Catherine recounts the wounding of Stonewall Jackson, believes he will be fine and recover the use of his hand. #cw150

May 7, 1863

News from the Rappahanock! A victory, tho dearly bought! The Abolitionists crossed, as I before stated, about 15 miles above Fredericksburg after making a feint at that point. He strongly entrenched that wing of his army which rested upon the River, but Jackson making a rapid march got into his rear beyond Chancellorsville whilst Lee made an attack in point at that point. Thus pressed, his left Flank was doubled up upon his right which lay on the River (the Rapid Ann) which he crossed in great confusion, the slaughter being terrific. In the mean time Early who had been left in command of Fredericksburg & the intrenchments there was attacked by over whelming odds under Gen Sedgwick (I wonder if he is any kin of mine) & driven from the post, Sedgwick even gaining Marye’s Hill. But let me tell the rest in Lee’s own words — “At the close of the battle of Chancellorsville on Sunday the enemy was reported as advancing from Fredericksburg in our rear. General McLaws was sent back to arrest his progress & repulsed him handsomly that afternoon. Learning that this corps consisted of his corps under General Sedgwick I determined to attack it & marched back yesterday with General Anderson & uniting with McLaws & Early in the afternoon, succeeded by the blessing of Heaven in driving Gen Sedgewick over the River. We have reoccupied Fredericksburg, & no enemy remains south of the Rappahanock in its vicinity.” Dated May 5th.

Hooker is on the South bank of the Rappahanock, reported as entrenching & receiving reinforcements, but he is a beaten man. His prestige is gone and to God are our praises due. “With His own right hand and His holy arm hath He gotten Himself the victory.”  Fill our hearts with grateful praise, and may we as a nation ascribe unto God the praise due unto His name.

Jackson’s wound was in this wise. At midnight on Saturday night, his troops being drawn up in line of battle, a body of men were seen a short distance in advance of our line. It being doubtful whether they were friends or enemies, Gen Jackson & staff rode forward to reconnoitre. Whilst thus engaged, his own men being unaware of his movements, mistook himself & staff for enemies & fired a volley into them instantly killing one & severely wounding Gen Jackson & Major Crutchfield.  One ball struck his left arm below the elbow & ranging upwards shattered the bone near the shoulder. Another passed through his right hand. He instantly fell to the ground. His brother in Law laid down by his side to ascertain what were his wounds. In a moment the unknown troops in front who proved to be the enemy advancing captured two of his staff who were standing over him without, however, perceiving him. A stretcher was procured & four of his men were bearing him to the rear when they were all shot down. His arm has been amputated above the elbow, and the injury to his right hand is severe, one of the bones having been shot away, but it is believed that he will recover the use of it. He is reported as doing well & Mrs Jackson — who was in Richmond has joined him. He is a heavy loss to us & the Yankees will think their defeat cheaply purchased with his life. Of course they will say that his men did it purposely & that they were demoralized — but who will believe them?

The Cavalry raid in the vicinity of Richmond is most annoying & insulting, but they have done but little real damage besides destroying a span of the R R Bridge over the Chickahominy & delaying our communication with Fredericksburg. The damage will soon be repaired, but the additional suffering to our wounded is a serious consideration. They captured an ambulance train, destroyed the engine & paroled the wounded. A young lady having heard of their advance informed Col Duke of Wise’s Legion who was, with a small detachment of men — infantry, fortunately within reach. He placed his men on the train & reached Tunstall’s at the very moment that they did. Taking them thus by surprise, he killed several & captured fifteen of the marauders. They came within two miles of Richmond, stealing Mr John Young’s horse from before his door in his sight. He, poor man, offered no resistance thinking Gen Lee was beaten and that this was the advance of Hooker’s army. He had no time for “an abstraction” then, fond as he used to be of them.

Source: Edmondston, Catherine Ann Devereux, 1823-1875, Journal of a Secesh Lady: The Diary of Catherine Ann Devereux Edmondston 1860-1866. Crabtree, Beth G and Patton, James W., (Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1979). http://nc-historical-publications.stores.yahoo.net/478.html

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Where is Stuart? Where is he that he allows the Abolitionists thus to careen through our lines & pluck his Laurels? #cw150

May 6, 1863

News of a Victory at Fredericksburg! Hooker is repulsed & is in retreat. More than that we cannot tell, but that fills our hearts with grateful praise. Lee telegraphs that by “the blessing of God we have gained a great Victory” — 10,000 prisoners are captured, no details of our loss in either killed or Wounded. The Cavalry expedition sent out to beat up our quarters carry dismay and surprise to an unexpectant country. They have torn up the R R track between Gordonsville & Richmond, stolen horses, & captured an old engine. Beyond that they have effected nothing, but the insult is great & a burning shame which must be wiped out in blood ere it can be atoned. One of the Col’s, one Davis, boasts that he is a Virginian, is familiar with the country over which he has often fox hunted! More shame to him a traitor & a renegade! Their movements are wrapped in obscurity, & they have cut the Telegraph wires so that our intercourse with the Army is destroyed for the present. The next news we hear of them will, I hope, be that they are all in the Libby Prison, but it is the most daring thing the Yankees have as yet attempted & should put us on our guard against despising our enemy.

Where is Stuart? “One blast upon his bugle horn were worth ten thousand men.”  Where is he that he allows the Abolitionists thus to careen through our lines & pluck his Laurels unwithered from his brow?

Source: Edmondston, Catherine Ann Devereux, 1823-1875, Journal of a Secesh Lady: The Diary of Catherine Ann Devereux Edmondston 1860-1866. Crabtree, Beth G and Patton, James W., (Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1979). http://nc-historical-publications.stores.yahoo.net/478.html

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Rumour has it that Stonewall Jackson and A P Hill both wounded, the first slightly, the latter severely #cw150

May 5, 1863

News last night principally rumours. The enemy under General Stoneman have made a dash into our lines and emulous of Stuart have penetrated into the heart of Va, cutting Telegraph wires, tearing up R R tracks, but as I do not know whether the particulars are authentic I will wait until they are confirmed. Rumour has it that we fought on Sunday the 3d & repulsed the enemy at every point save one & took five thousand prisoners. Stonewall Jackson and A P Hill both wounded, the first slightly, the latter severely, but we do not know whether it be true or not; in fact we do not know that there has been a fight — not even a Telegram. Matters in the West more confused than ever. I cannot keep up with them — a skirmish here at some unpronounceable unheard of before name in which we are successful & another there at some equally unknown place from which we retire. Morgan, Van Dorn, and Forrest destroy R R Bridges & tear up tracks until one would think there were none left to be destroyed. They capture one waggon train only to make room for another, but our eyes are bent now on Fredericksburg & Gen Lee. God grant him the victory. Rachel Jones came to make us a visit last night.

Source: Edmondston, Catherine Ann Devereux, 1823-1875, Journal of a Secesh Lady: The Diary of Catherine Ann Devereux Edmondston 1860-1866. Crabtree, Beth G and Patton, James W., (Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1979). http://nc-historical-publications.stores.yahoo.net/478.html

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I was up bright and early … to repair the damages of a Campaign on wearing apparel & got ready a box of stores for him #cw150

May 4, 1863

Went on the 1st to Hascosea, planted Dahlia & Tube Rose Roots and gardened generally. Ochra crop put in & forced Cucumbers set out from the Hot bed. Came back on Sunday. Met an invitation to dine at father’s on the road which it was too late to accept & beside James Edmondston’s servant was awaiting us with his baggage & I had his wardrobe to over look & some supplies to see after for him. So I was up bright and early on Monday morning, set my handmaidens to repair the damages of a Campaign on wearing apparel & Mrs Capstick like “walked around” his buttons myself & got ready a box of stores for him — 2 bottles Pepper, Butter, Honey, Pickles, & — strange sight — “A Reminiscence of the Past,” as a witty grocer advertises it, a box of Sardines! This with some Loaves of bread, bottles of Vinegar, Blackberry cordial, some Wedding Cake for him to dream on, a box of yeast powders, some Tobacco & a pouch sent him by father & a bag of Hominy, 2 bottles of Pepper for Col Leventhorpe, 2 do. for Capt Haxall & some butter, a jar of pickles, and a bottle of Vinegar for him filled a good sized box. Dainties are fast disappearing from my household stores & bacon & Hams we hear he has in plenty.

News met us of an advance of the Yankee Army on the Rappahannock. Hooker crossed, it is supposed with Lee’s connivance, about fifteen miles above Fredericksburg. It is thought he hopes to outflank us & cut off our communications with Richmond. We have every confidence in Gen Lee, still whilst a battle is imminent we cannot but feel anxious. The situation is a grave one & should Lee not be prepared the result may be sad indeed to us. Our strong position at Fredericksburg is thus rendered useless to us, as the battle will in all probability be fought on what is now our left Flank.

As for the news from the West, I cannot understand it. There is so confused a jumble of odd names of places, contradicting & duplicate Telegrams that it would puzzle an Oedipus to make sense of them. Price has taken the field in Missouri & matters are looking up there. More transports have passed Vicksburg, but through an ordeal of fire, as few escape uninjured.

Source: Edmondston, Catherine Ann Devereux, 1823-1875, Journal of a Secesh Lady: The Diary of Catherine Ann Devereux Edmondston 1860-1866. Crabtree, Beth G and Patton, James W., (Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1979). http://nc-historical-publications.stores.yahoo.net/478.html

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“Confederate Raisins” are dried Peaches clipped to bits with scissors, & quite nice puddings do they make.#cw150

May 1, 1863

Dined yesterday at Father’s. Found all well & pleased to see me again after so long an absence. Heard from Sue & Rachel all the particulars of Kate Miller’s wedding. Her Aunt Sophia entertained & gave them their wedding feast, nice bride’s cake she sent me, but the Raison cake was really a clever substitute for the genuine article, being made of dried cherries and whortleberries. The eye was well deceived, but to the taste it was rather sour tho’ not more so than cake made from old raisins often is. “Confederate Raisins” are dried Peaches clipped to bits with scissors, & quite nice puddings do they make. Puddings! what a reminiscence! It seems ages since I dabbled in eggs & sugar, currants, maccaroni, & sage. “What shall I have for dessert?” seems a question of medieval times, so long it is since the question perplexed me. Kate’s wedding outfit, that is her underclothing, is a fit one for war & for a soldiers wife, who perforce must practice economy & management. Her Chemises are made of her Aunt Sophia’s fine linen sheets & her drawers, which I had made for her, were cut from some of her Grandmother’s fine cotton ones — think of that!

No public news except that more gunboats & transports have passed Vicksburg. The country, I am glad to see, begins to clamor at it, so I hope it will be stopped. The enemy slowly & from a great distance shell our works there, tho with little damage.

Sometime since in a skirmish at [ -- ] between some of Van Dorn’s Cavalry & the enemy they captured part of a Battery commanded by Capt Freeman, taking him & some of his officers and men prisoner. We heard that they had wantonly shot him, but the particulars which now reach us outrage every feeling of decency, civilization and humanity. It seems that Van Dorn ordered a charge, determined at all hazzards to retake the guns (in which by the way he was successful), when the Yankees seeing the Cavalry forming for the purpose ordered Capt Freeman to take command of his Guns & to point them at his comrades & mow them down as they came up, which of course he refused, when, horrible to relate, they instantly & in cold blood shot him. ⁶⁴ In retaliation, we took no prisoners that day, but we retook the guns & the slaughter was terrific.

There are rumours of war between the U S & England, but we do not beleive them & in fact have lost all interest in England. We feel almost as indifferent to her as we do to Austria or Turkey. If the U S were to let us alone, England & herself might re-enact the “Killkenny Cats” for ought we care.

Father has written a fine letter on the food and farming question to Gov Vance,. The Gov has published it  [April 28, 1863, North Carolina Standard].  We go out this afternoon for a couple of days at Hascosea; I on gardening, Mr E on farming, bent.

No news from Suffolk. We lost a Battery there last week by Gen French’s mismanagement. He exposed & failed to support it. He is a Jersey man, low bred & vulgar. His heart cannot be in his business. I wonder why President Davis ever made him a Major Gen’?

Source: Edmondston, Catherine Ann Devereux, 1823-1875, Journal of a Secesh Lady: The Diary of Catherine Ann Devereux Edmondston 1860-1866. Crabtree, Beth G and Patton, James W., (Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1979). http://nc-historical-publications.stores.yahoo.net/478.html

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