August 22, 1863
The bombardment of Sumter the telegraph tells us still continues, mostly from their Parrot guns on Morris Island. Sad to relate it adds, “Their fire begins to tell on Sumter which replies only at long intervals” & then goes on with the usual balderdash about “the defence of the harbour not depending on Sumter,” a preparation I fear for the news of its fall, for it is a way our papers have that so soon as we lose a thing or a place — Hey — presto! it becomes valueless. Did we beleive some of them, the Yankee nation has actually conferred a favour upon the South by their capture of Vicksburg. “They have caught an Elephant” & much more nonsense to the same purpose. The fact I recorded of Maj Gen Hood’s having been created a Lieut Gen & placed in command of the Cavalry of the Army of Va is a mistake, an announcement made I suppose by some one who wished it to be true.
The draft at the North so far is proceeding quietly tho Mr Lincoln has receded from his demands greatly in the face of his declaration that he would not do so. Not more than half the men at first demanded are now called for. Have been very busy the past few days in a contest with my old enemy, the Peach tree borer. Find my labours of last Aug. and March have resulted in some good, as we have had more sound fruit this year than usual in spite of the wet, but as yet the dimunition of their numbers is scarcely perceptible. Broke both my knives this morning which at this time is a heavy loss, for I can scarcly replace 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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