Abolitionists are blockading the River just above Plymouth, to keep the Gun boat we are building at Edwards Ferry from attacking them #cw150

May 23, 1863

Some days since I opened you O my Journal, but I have been busy and preoccupied. On Friday the 15th went to Hascosea, taking the young folks all with us. They had a merry time until Sunday the 17th when they all left. Thomas returns to his Regiment & his wife to her home in Perquimans, for we could not persuade her to remain with us & leave her mother in the enemies lines alone. She gave us a terrible account of the want of faith, the entire disregard of the most solemn oaths, & protestations which our Christian enemies exhibit towards the defenceless inhabitants within their power — tales of murder & outrage at which the heart sickens & the blood revolts. How long O! Lord? — how long will thou permit them thus to lord it over any portion of our country? But Thy will be done!

Patrick & I remained alone at Hascosea on Gardening & farming bent until Wednesday, the 20th when we returned to the plantation & sent for Rachel to come back & finish her visit to us. As we sat in the piazza just at dusk who should come riding up but James Edmondston! His command is ordered to Va & he waits only to load his waggons with corn & see them fairly on the road when he follows. We had a most pleasant & only too short a visit from him. He is in good spirits & quite well again & as usual most affectionate & delighted to see his brother & myself. He speaks most enthusiastically of Gen D H Hill, says that no matter how much one personally may dislike him, yet in action & under fire he commands the admiration & respect of every one. Says he is not to blame for the bad fortune of his campaign around Washington, that he not only was outnumbered but that he was deficient in Artillery of heavy enough calibre to cope with Gen Foster. He blames & regrets as much as we do his unfortunate correspondance with Stanley & Foster in which he is both coarse & weak & laments the idiosyncrasy which makes him thus rush into print. James left us on Saturday at sunrise for Lee’s Army at Fredericksburg, which it is reported is to advance upon Hooker. Troops are being pressed on to him & with the exception of the forces at Wilmington there are but three Brigades left in this State!

Affairs in the South West now engage all our attention. Grant with a column of 100,000 infantry & a large force of cavalry has crossed the Mississippi at Grand Gulf below Vicksburg. He was met by a Confederate force which being too weak to encounter him fell back fighting towards Jackson, Grant pressing on him. We were forced to evacuate the place, at least Gen Pemberton did so, tho some persons contend that it was unnecessary. Of this we cannot judge, but Grant occupied it in force, burned the Government & State property, the State House, the Court House, & committed the most shocking excesses, robbing, stealing, & destroying private property of all kinds. After two days occupation of Jackson, Grant in his turn evacuated it & fell back to Edwards Depot between Vicksburg & Jackson where Pemberton, Loring, & others of our Generals met & repulsed him; but being reinforced from Jackson, we were outnumbered and fell further back to the R R Bride over the Big Black. Loring with a Confederate force was cut off but finally cut his way through with heavy loss to Crystal Spring. In some of these engagements, as yet we know not which, Gen Tilghman was killed. Pemberton entrenced at the Bridge & a battle was expected there at the last advices.

Gen Johnston is collecting an Army, we hope rapidly, to fall on Grant’s rear, but we get only meager Telegraphic Dispatches, & the only thing we certainly know is that Vicksburg is seriously threatened by a heavy force in the rear. They hope to cut off all supplies & invest it both by the River & Land, but Gen Joe Johnston is in there & he is a Tower of Strength. Grant must be a master of strategy to out maneuver him. We wait with eager suspense for news.

At the North Lincoln has entered into a trial of strength with “Free Speech” as personified by Vallandigham. He has been arrested & tried by a Court Martial for a public speech he made at Dayton in which he animadverted against the War & the Government. The sentence of the Court is to a confinement for two years in one of the Government Forts & Burnside, the Christian under whose auspices the Court was held, has named Fort Warren as the place of his imprisonment. The North seems in a ferment, but they talk so much – brag, bluster, & submit, that I suppose it will all effervesce in talk & Mr Lincoln will be allowed to be as despotic as he chooses. What a nation they are! They give up the dearest rights of freemen without a struggle! We must have been as “salt” to them heretofore & that they have preserved a shadow even of independance or liberty is owing to Southern spirit — Southern resistance to tyranny.

To our pleasure we hear that the Abolitionists are blockading the River just above Plymouth, in order to keep the Gun boat which we are building at Edwards Ferry from attacking them. I hope that their barricade will be effectual against themselves also. Yesterday a company of Infantry passed here on their way to the Ferry, with orders to guard it and to picket the River from Norfleet’s to Pollock’s Ferry, so we will be under guard. Heard last night that Lieut Wiggins of the Scotland Neck Riflemen had been killed whilst gallantly heading a charge of his Company on the Blackwater. He was a fine young man, brave, impetuous, impulsive, and high spirited. Patrick thought more highly of him than he did of most of the young men under his command & he commanded my regard essentially for he refused and did [his] utmost to induce others to refuse to sign the request for Mr E to resign when the company, wanting to get rid of Lieut Smith, could think of no other way than to get a new election of all the officers. I feel deeply for his parents who were proud, & justly so, of him.

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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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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I have done several things today. Finished Fannie’s chemise, first parched some coffee #cw150

Saturday 2^nd [May 1863]

I have done several things today. Finished Fannie’s chemise, first parched some coffee. Sam & Others killed two hogs yesterday. Atheline done up the lard today. Fannie baked some loaf bread & molasses bread this evening. Sis Matt & I went to Mr. Henry this evening. He went to Asheville after Matt’s earring this evening. He forgot it. We rode down to the stables. He got 5 lbs. of sugar today for 7.50, 1.50 per lb., dear sugar. Harrie is in Asheville, gave out at Knoxville, Tenn.  Poor fellow, he has come back to die I fear. The two Matts went to church at the Academy today but did not stay for preaching as they saw a cloud coming. It did not rain any of consequence here. Our garden is backward, needs rain. Betsey went home last Thursday evening. The two Matts sleep upstairs in this room. Pinck & Willie on the trundle bed & Mr. Henry, Willie, the babe & I on the big bed.

Source: Diary of Cornelia Henry in Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journal and Letters of the Henry Family. Clinard, Karen L. and Russell, Richard, eds. (Asheville, NC: Reminiscing Books, 2008).

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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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I knit him a pr of nice gloves last winter which were not sent for want of his address. I am half glad of it now #cw150

April 28, 1863

Bad news again from Vicksburg! I fear our gunners there are getting remiss, as they have allowed more gunboats & transports to pass their batteries. True they sunk some and disabled others, yet some ran by, it is feared, intact. The Yankees claim to have forced us to destroy the Queen of the West in Grand Gulf & to have sunk the Diana there, but we do not credit it. Hill has certainly fallen back from Washington in this State, why we know not. He has succeeded in getting a quantity of provisions from within the enemy’s lines, however, & has written the coarsest personal letter I ever saw from the pen of a gentleman to Edward Stanley, the so-called Military Gov of N C. Perfectly unneccessary & entirely unmilitary, the document would disgrace an underbred school boy. Stanly’s reply is equally coarse & personal, with the additional merit of being untrue. Hill did one of the finest things of the war at Boonsboro in Maryland where he held the whole of McClellan’s Army at bay a whole day & ensured to us the fall of Harper’s Ferry & allowed Jackson & Lee to unite for the battle of Sharpsburg. It is a pity to see him destroy with his pen the reputation he has won with his sword. I knit him a pr of nice gloves last winter which were not sent, however, for the want of his address. I am half glad of it now. His letter is so ungentlemanly and unneccessary. A letter from James, however, tells us that we must not judge harshly of his falling back. People at a distance should suspend their censure. His R R communications were threatened & it was best in all respects for him to do as he has done. He, James, confirms the account of the supplies he has gained. I am sorry to say that he has been quite sick, confined to his bed for four days. I wish he could get a furlough and come here for a short time and recover perfectly. About Suffolk, matters continue uncertain. Longstreet at one time had cut off the water communication destroying one & disabling two gunboats by his Batteries. This the Yankees admit, but they claim to have reopened the navigation of the Nansemond. They are disarming the inhabitants of Norfolk & threaten if Suffolk is taken & an advance made upon them there to burn the town! Hooker has been repulsed in another so called reconnoissance and driven back across the Rappahanock with heavy loss.

In Tennessee nothing but Cavalry expeditions with varying success, generally in our favour, however, as we destroy their R R communication, burn the bridges, & capture their waggon trains. Forrest, Morgan, & Wheeler are thorns in the side of Rosencrans.

Walking in the garden this morning I espied the first Rose of the season. True it was only a common Bouisault, but then it was a Rose, an unmistakeable Rose, none the less welcome for being rather late in making its appearance!

The Committee on the Seal for the C S A have, I see, adopted the design suggested by Mr Edmondston last summer through the columns of the Examiner, viz., the figure of Washington on Horseback, the design taken from the Equestrian Statue of that noble patriot in the Capitol Square in Richmond. I am glad of it, for it is simple, majestic, and appropriate. Ah! would that such an one [were] now at the head of our Armies as he was at once soldier & statesman, untainted with party spirit, unwarped by personal predelictions.

Went to Hascosea on Sat the 25 and commenced planting my Dahlias. Intended to return on Monday & finish but the River has prevented me. I put them in in rather quieter times than I took them from the ground. Then Foster was reported as advancing upon us. I remember my labours of housing them were unduly interrupted by the tidings that he was in force at Williamston.

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 war exercises our ingenuity…I am making a set of table mats of corn shucks. They promise to be pretty. #cw150

April 10, 1863

Went up to Conneconara on the afternoon of the 8th, Mr E. intending to go to Halifax with father on the 9th about the assessment for our taxes, but in this he was disappointed for he felt so unwell & was so covered with the eruption which was inflamed and angry that he thought it best to decline the expedition. About twelve o’clock, the day being pleasant, we thought it best to come home as he had every symptom of a severe illness. We were forced to come on horseback on account of the late freshet & the ride was most distressing to him as his fever was very high and his headache severe. Sent at once for the Dr who, however, has not reached us yet. In the meantime he has continued very unwell & his fever unabated.

There is no evil though without a corresponding blessing we are told & this sickness keeps him from going off at once to Charleston to assist in the defense of his native state, for we hear that the long expected attack has at last commenced. The Captain of the Steamer brought father a paper on the morning of the 9th which told us that the enemies fleet had safely crossed the Bar and that our boats had gone down to the Forts to meet them. This did not tend to soothe the irritation under which Mr E was already suffering & he actually chafed at the restraint which kept him at home. With the mail came a note from father telling us that there was only undefined rumours of severe fighting at Charleston. “The reliable Gentleman” had seen on the bulletin boards at Richmond on the evening of the 8th that we had sunk one and disabled four Iron clads, but there was no paper of later date than the one we had in the morning, so we must wait for another mail with what patience we may. A letter from James dated “Tafts store” tells us that General Hill has the town of Washington completely invested, that there has been a good deal of Artillery fighting which is still going on, does not know the General’s plans. Father writes that he has driven off re-inforcements by water from Newberne, that he had sent in a Flag of Truce demanding the surrender of the place or the removal of non combattants, both which were refused, which seems infamous.

James goes on to personal matters which concern me so nearly that I had as well transcribe that part of his letter. “I saw General Robertson of the Cavalry today. He says that he had an interview with Gen Hill the other day about the appointment of field officers for the 41st Regt. (Baker’s Cavalry) & asked him if he had any reccomendations to make. At first Hill said ‘No.’ Afterwards he said the two Edmondston’s. This was very satisfactory to Robertson & we have been reccommended for the officers — you Lt Col & I Major. Robertson asked me to accept if appointed, which I agreed to cheerfully, such a good chance to get out of the Qr masters Depart. Robertson asked me if you would accept. Told him I did not know.” Neither do I, for it is the very same post that Gen French offered him whilst he held in his hand Hill’s reccommendation (his superior officer’s) for the Colonelcy of the same Regt! & which he at once declined. In fact I think it was insulting in French but when Robertson offers it under different circumstances the case is different, tho how he will like to serve under Baker, a junior both in years & original Rank & confessedly ignorant & incompetent & inefficient, is more than I can say. He is too sick just now to be worried about it, & after all it is as well not to take trouble by the forelock, as the appointment may not come.

The Northern papers say that Hooker is preparing for an advance but that we have heard every few weeks since the battle of Fredericksburg. The expedition down Yazoo Pass has returned a complete failure. We learn this from their own admission as also that that down the Sunflower is alike fruitless & that the canal from Lake Providence has submerged an enormous tract of country & produced only a feeling of undying & bitter hate from the inhabitants, whose property is thus destroyed & injured, to the U S Government. The water not being deep enough for their purposes, they also admit in addition a repulse at Port Hudson & are under serious apprehension that the two vessels which succeeded in running past may be captured by the Queen of the West & the Indianola. Their hope now is to starve us out. They think we are suffering, ignore the fact of the depreciation of our currency, & quote the high price of provisions to prove it, are jubilant over some mobs & riots which they call “bread riots.” We call them mobs for plunder & believe that they were instigated by the Yankees. They are composed of low foreigners, Irish, Dutch, & Yankee and in place of wanting bread they threw Rice, flour, etc., in the street & mobbed dry goods & shoe stores! This in Richmond; that at Salisbury was exagerated.  It was a small affair for plunder alone. The war exercises our ingenuity. I have just finished an excellent & really handsome & useful pair of gloves for Mr E, knit of Rabbit fur & wool, equal proportions spun together. They are warmer than wool & not too coarse for horseback & now I am making a set of table mats of corn shucks. They promise to be pretty.

The season very backward. Hard frost the last three mornings which I fear ends all hope of peaches & Pears. My dwarf pears are in beautiful bloom & it is a severe disappointment to lose the fruit of our labour for another year. The 1st Asparagus shoot made its appearance on the 1st of April & as yet it is the only one. Redbud in blossom. On the 8th are beginning to have a few shad & Rock, which is a relief to my housekeeping cares.

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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Weather uncomonly cold & cloudy for some days, anything but farming weather #cw150

April 5, 1863

Sunday — Came home in a canoe from father’s where we have been for two days, Mr E having business with him. Weather uncomonly cold & cloudy for some days, anything but farming weather. No news. It is supposed the enemy delay their advance on Charleston until the Connecticut election which takes place tomorrow & is the first open issue of Peace or War presented to the people. Seymour takes the ground that the war is iniquitous, unjust, cruel, unconstitutional, & suicidal. Peace on any terms. Let the South go, but Peace for the North. We shall see how many agree with him. Mr E quite sick, threatened with rheumatism, with considerable fever.

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 must try to make a wedding Cake, tho the war has diminished my stores sadly. #civilwar150

April 1, 1863

News of the success of our Cavalry in the west under Forrest, Wheeler, & Morgan, capturing prisoners, 800 in no., arms & equipments, burning Commissary stores & destroying a R R Bridge on the Nashville road at Brentwood — thus annoying Rosencrans to whom they have (the Abolitionists) given the sobriquet of “Old Holdfast.” They claim to have received from New Orleans tidings of a complete victory at Port Hudson & that all their vessels with the exception of the Mississippi, which they declare they burned because she was aground, were safely past our batteries, but that is for Europe as a Steamer sailed last week. O! universal Yankee nation how you do lie! Your moral sense is perverted, you see no shame in it. We suffer from aprehensions that our army in Va will be forced to “fall back.” Sec Stanton has a rumour to the effect that we are removing our machinery and munitions of war to a less exposed place than Richmond. Numbers of troops have, we know, left Gen Lee — some to So Ca, some to the Blackwater — & the country is filled with reports of the intentions of Government & the need of food, which are very painful, tho I do not credit the whole of them. Prices are fearfully high even for depreciated currency, which fact, however, loth & slow I have been to admit, is indisputable — Lard 1.25, Bacon 6.00 & upward, Flour $30 per barrel, Tea $7 per lb, sugar $1.12 ½ to 1.25 per lb, boots $50 a pr, Long cloth $2. to 2 25 a yard, Cotton Cards $30 for two pair, I think, Salt considered cheap at $25 per bu, butter $2 per lb — & every thing else in proportion. The country has been clamouring for a Tax — a high Tax & they have got one now. At least the House has passed it & there is little doubt but that the Senate will follow suit. It is enormous! Sidney Smith’s taxed Englishman was a favoured individual to what a taxed Confederate will soon be. I fear me that the vice of lying and false swearing will be amazingly increased. The temptation to under estimate one’s property will be great. When it is published as a law I will enumerate some portions & mention the amount we pay.

Last week the Battery constructed above us was taken in tow by a steamer to be carried down to a landing below us to be ironed. From some mismanagement they allowed her to drag the boat then under headway of steam past the landing & attempting to turn she ran afoul of the boat crashing her wheel & damaging her greatly. Shameful conduct some where & conduct which will be felt in the Army, for this is one of two Steamers upon which we depend to carry our supplies to Weldon. One boat was lost from the drunkenness of the person in charge last summer — now this from incapacity! It is too bad and we have had a part of a cargo ready bagged for three weeks waiting for her to come & take it and yet all the time is the out cry — “send on your corn“! They put a negligent ignoramus in charge because forsooth he has interest enough to get the appointment which keeps him from the Conscript Camp & then the nation & army suffer! Ah! patriotism, these stupid worthless officials try you sadly! Our gun at Rainbow Gen Beauregard wished for at Charleston & instead of sending the order to some man of sense who knew the country & that the best, in short the only practical, way of getting it there was to send it back by steamer to Halifax & there put it on the R R, some num-skull of a commissioned officer ordered it to be hauled 25 miles across the country to Tarrboro to the R R there. The consequence was that after dismounting & with great labour moving it about 300 yds it stuck hopelessly in the mud & there it lies useless to every one waiting, like fighting Joe, for the “roads to harden.”

We have had terrible weather latterly which has I fear played havoc with our Peach crop. “George the 4th” is the only one that I have examined which gives promise of fruit. “Miss Timmons” is deceitful. “Old Mixon” a cheat & “President,” “Ravenel’s favorite,” “Grape Mignon,” “Newington,” & “Early York” — blackhearted! Hard names to give my friends. The Apples will I hope escape, as they are very backward. My two hens in the house yard, Mrs Marllow & Katrine Von Tassel, laid in 75 days 118 eggs between them. Pretty well, considering one was a pullet!

Sue is gone to Raleigh to attend the Communion & Kate Miller’s wedding which latter is to take place on the 15th. I must try to make a wedding Cake, tho the war has diminished my stores sadly. Mr E read me this morning an extract, “The best way to see Divine Light is to put out thine own candle.” What a world of wisdom, of faith, and of trust in God & humility does it contain! “Put out thine own candle,” vain man, that the Sun of Righteousness may enlighten you.

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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Throwing off my bonnet I listened & distinctly heard two more [cannon] in quick succession in the same direction #cw150

March 30, 1863

 We have destroyed two of the enemies gunboats which attempted to run past our batteries at Vicksburg, sunk one & the other lies on the opposite shore a wreck. Gen Loring at Fort Pemberton has repulsed the expedition which came down Yazoo Pass destroying a Gunboat the Sciota & some transports. The enemy are re-inforcing & we, it is said, are doing the same in the Sunflower. Col Ferguson has repulsed the expedition sent down that River to join the one down the Yazoo Pass & thinks he can maintain himself & destroy it. Rosencrans is retreating towards Nashville, supposed to join Grant & march down the Mississippi Valley to ensure the fall of Vicksburg. So far all is good & hopeful for the future. The River is falling. Well for us that it is, for the Hunter Trunk Dam has been in great danger from the side current from the break above. Walked there with Patrick this afternoon. Its escape was a narrow one. As it is, half the base is gone. Busy all the morning making a model of an obstruction to navigation which Patrick thinks may be used with advantage in the Harbour of Charleston. It is a Scotch invention patented just before the war & perhaps Gen Beauregard has not seen it. So Mr E has concluded to send him both drawings & a model of it. My harmless little cardboard affair requires a great stretch of imagination before it can be magnified into a barrier to oppose the passage of an iron clad with torpedoes bearing death & destruction moored at intervals along it. I hope that Gen B will use it, as it will be a delightful thought to Patrick should he be enabled to contribute even a mite to the defence of his native city.

 This morning whilst stooping down admiring the beauty of my Hyacinths, my ear in consequence close to the ground, suddenly I heard the unmistakable “boom” of a heavy gun in Southerly direction. Never since the war began have I heard one so plainly. Throwing off my bonnet I listened & distinctly heard two more in quick succession in the same direction, probably a Gunboat in the Chowan, & that report heard by me in such tranquil repose may carry agony to the heart of some of our poor neighbors on that River! The enemy have been very busy in the inglorious task of destroying seines & fisheries there latterly & it is most likely that they are shelling some defenceless village like Winton or some isolated house such as Mr Etheridges at Coleraine — feats which their valour has accomplished once before.

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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