"Second year. Confederate independence. I write daily for my own distractions. These memoirs pour servir may some future day afford dates, facts, and prove useful to more important people than I am. I do not wish to harm or to hurt anyone. If any scandalous stories creep in, they are easily burned. It is hard, in such a hurry as things are in, to separate wheat from chaff.
Now I have made my protest and written down my wishes. I can scribble on with a free will and free conscience."
Sunday, September 6, 2015
22 February 1862
"What a beautiful [day] for our Confederate president to be inaugurated.* God speed him. God help him. God save him."
*Mary Boykin Chesnut was in Columbia, South Carolina, while writing in her journal on that day. Meanwhile, in Richmond, Virginia, there was a heavy rainstorm for Jefferson Davis's inauguration as president of the permanent government of the Confederate States of America.
*Mary Boykin Chesnut was in Columbia, South Carolina, while writing in her journal on that day. Meanwhile, in Richmond, Virginia, there was a heavy rainstorm for Jefferson Davis's inauguration as president of the permanent government of the Confederate States of America.
Friday, September 4, 2015
25 December 1861
Camden, South Carolina
"The negroes who murdered Mrs Witherspoon were tried by the law of the land and were hung. A man named Wingate, with a John Brown spirit—namely that negroes were bound to rise up and kill women, and his philanthropy taking that turn, he made himself devil's counsel and stood by the negroes clear through. At the hanging he denounced John Witherspoon bitterly. And had high words, too, with George Williams.*
Afterward George Williams, having raised a company, was made captain of it. The men were actually on board the train, and Captain Williams was sitting in a chair, near at hand, ready to jump on when the whistle blew. Wingate came behind him, rested his gun on the back of the chair, and shot him dead. There—before the very faces of his soldiers. It was very hard to rescue Wingate from the hands of George's men, who wanted to shoot him instantly—no wonder. (The people who laud and magnify John Brown's philanthropy must adore Wingate.)"
*George Frederick Williams was Elizabeth "Betsey" Witherspoon's grandson.
Afterward George Williams, having raised a company, was made captain of it. The men were actually on board the train, and Captain Williams was sitting in a chair, near at hand, ready to jump on when the whistle blew. Wingate came behind him, rested his gun on the back of the chair, and shot him dead. There—before the very faces of his soldiers. It was very hard to rescue Wingate from the hands of George's men, who wanted to shoot him instantly—no wonder. (The people who laud and magnify John Brown's philanthropy must adore Wingate.)"
*George Frederick Williams was Elizabeth "Betsey" Witherspoon's grandson.
Thursday, September 3, 2015
27 November 1861, the Northern misperception
"When Mrs Chesnut* married South, her husband was as wealthy as her brothers-in-law, Mr Binney or Mr Stevens. How is it now? Their money has accumulated for their children. Their old man's goes to support a horde of idle dirty Africans—while he is abused and vilified as a cruel slave-owner. I wish his 'Uncle Tom'—for he has one who never tasted calamity in any shape and whose gray hairs are honored, though they frame a black face—could be seen or could be heard as he tells me of 'me & master'—&c&c&c. We are human beings of the nineteenth century—and slavery has to go, of course. All that has been gained by it goes to the North and to negroes. The slave-owners, when they are good men and women, are the martyrs. And as far as I have seen, the people here are quite as good as anywhere else. I hate slavery. I even hate the harsh authority I see parents think it their duty to exercise toward their children.
There now!! What good does it do to write all that? I have before me a letter I wrote to Mr C while he was on our plantation in Mississippi in 1842. It is the most fervid abolition document I have ever read. I came across it, burning letters the other day. That letter I did not burn. I kept it—as showing how we were not as much of heathens as our enlightened enemies think. Their philanthropy is cheap. There are as noble, pure lives here as there—and a great deal more of self-sacrifice. . . ."
*Mary Boykin Chesnut's mother-in-law Mary Bowes Cox Chestnut (1775-1864) was from a prominent Philadelphia family. Also indicated are Philadelphia attorney/legislator Horace Binney and New Jersey entrepreneur Edwin Stevens.
There now!! What good does it do to write all that? I have before me a letter I wrote to Mr C while he was on our plantation in Mississippi in 1842. It is the most fervid abolition document I have ever read. I came across it, burning letters the other day. That letter I did not burn. I kept it—as showing how we were not as much of heathens as our enlightened enemies think. Their philanthropy is cheap. There are as noble, pure lives here as there—and a great deal more of self-sacrifice. . . ."
*Mary Boykin Chesnut's mother-in-law Mary Bowes Cox Chestnut (1775-1864) was from a prominent Philadelphia family. Also indicated are Philadelphia attorney/legislator Horace Binney and New Jersey entrepreneur Edwin Stevens.
November 1861,
the complexities of color
"Martha Adamson is a beautiful mulatress. That is, as good-looking as they ever are to me. I have never seen a mule as handsome as a horse—and I know I never will—no matter how I lament and sympathize with its undeserved mule condition. She is a trained sempstress and 'hired her own time,' as they call it. That is, the owner pays the doctor bill, finds food and clothing, &c. The slave pays his master five dollars a month, more or less, and makes a dollar a day if he pleases.
Martha, to the amazement of everybody, married a coal black negro, son of Dick the barber—that Dick who was set free fifty years ago or more for faithful services rendered Mr Chesnut's grandfather.
When asked in words such as these: 'How could she? She is so nearly white—how could she marry that horrid negro? It is positively shocking!'—answer: 'She inherits the taste of her white father—her mother was black.'
'How coarse you are.'
The son of this marriage, a bright boy called John, is grown—reads and writes—&c&c. The aforesaid Martha is now a widow. Her husband was free though black.
Last night there was a row. John beat a white man who was at his mother's. Poor Martha drinks. John had forbidden Mr T___ to bring whiskey to the house, and he found him seated at the table with his mother, both drunk. So he beat him all the way home to his own house. Verdict of the community: 'Served him right.' [House slave] Maria's word: 'White people say, "Well done! Go it, John—give it to him!"'"
Martha, to the amazement of everybody, married a coal black negro, son of Dick the barber—that Dick who was set free fifty years ago or more for faithful services rendered Mr Chesnut's grandfather.
When asked in words such as these: 'How could she? She is so nearly white—how could she marry that horrid negro? It is positively shocking!'—answer: 'She inherits the taste of her white father—her mother was black.'
'How coarse you are.'
The son of this marriage, a bright boy called John, is grown—reads and writes—&c&c. The aforesaid Martha is now a widow. Her husband was free though black.
Last night there was a row. John beat a white man who was at his mother's. Poor Martha drinks. John had forbidden Mr T___ to bring whiskey to the house, and he found him seated at the table with his mother, both drunk. So he beat him all the way home to his own house. Verdict of the community: 'Served him right.' [House slave] Maria's word: 'White people say, "Well done! Go it, John—give it to him!"'"
20 November 1861
"England is patting both sides on the back. She loves to see a Kilkenny cat fight. After all, she is not denying for the want of our cotton. She is prospering and pampering her Indian cotton and will magnanimously accept any apology for the Mason and Slidell affair that smart Yankee [Secretary of State William Henry] Seward will tender her."
19 November 1861,
The Trent Affair
"Oh, for a growl from the British Lion. Look out for hoarse thunder. I have heard a British goddamn swear on St Catherine docks. I know how thoroughly they can do it.
Slidell and Mason seized under the Meteor Flag of England—and brought back to Fortress Monroe prisoners!*
Something good obliged to come out of such a stupid blunder. Yankees must bow their knee to the British—or fight them."
*Taken from the British ship Trent by the U.S.S. San Jacinto near Cuba on 8 November 1861, James Mason and John Slidell arrived at Fort Monroe, Virginia, on 15 November. Many, North and South, believed the incident would bring British recognition of the Confederacy and perhaps war between England and the Union.
Slidell and Mason seized under the Meteor Flag of England—and brought back to Fortress Monroe prisoners!*
 |
| John Slidell (left) and James Murray Mason, Confederate diplomats, taken captive by the U.S. Navy while en route to Britain and France |
Something good obliged to come out of such a stupid blunder. Yankees must bow their knee to the British—or fight them."
*Taken from the British ship Trent by the U.S.S. San Jacinto near Cuba on 8 November 1861, James Mason and John Slidell arrived at Fort Monroe, Virginia, on 15 November. Many, North and South, believed the incident would bring British recognition of the Confederacy and perhaps war between England and the Union.
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
17 November 1861,
'Mulberry,' South Carolina
 |
| Mulberry Plantation Kershaw County, South Carolina |
"Our life here would be very pleasant if there were no Yankees.
Old Mr Chesnut's library is on the first floor. My husband's, a beautiful room in the third story, overlooking this beautiful lawn and grand old oaks up here—all is my very own. Here I sit and make shirts for the soldiers, knit, or read or write journal, as I see fit. Under my own vine and fig tree—and none to make me afraid. Out of the way of all callers or intruders—all that goes on downstairs."
Old Mr Chesnut's library is on the first floor. My husband's, a beautiful room in the third story, overlooking this beautiful lawn and grand old oaks up here—all is my very own. Here I sit and make shirts for the soldiers, knit, or read or write journal, as I see fit. Under my own vine and fig tree—and none to make me afraid. Out of the way of all callers or intruders—all that goes on downstairs."
12 November 1861
"Went to the turnout at Mulberry for Mr C. Met only Minnie Frierson.* She says they are hanging negroes in Louisiana and Mississippi, like birds in the trees, for an attempted insurrection. But out there they say the same thing of South Carolina, and we know it is as quiet as the grave here and as peaceful, except that one spot—Beaufort. We have no reason to suppose a negro knows there is a war. I do not speak of the war to them. On that subject they do not believe a word you say.
'How do I know that?'
'Watch the sudden deadening of their faces. The utter want of any possible expression as soon as one of these men has in his mouth a word that comes now so often—"Damn Yankee."'"
*Mary Chesnut "Minnie" Frierson was the wife of Sumter District planter James J. Frierson and niece of Mary Boykin Chesnut's husband.
'How do I know that?'
'Watch the sudden deadening of their faces. The utter want of any possible expression as soon as one of these men has in his mouth a word that comes now so often—"Damn Yankee."'"
*Mary Chesnut "Minnie" Frierson was the wife of Sumter District planter James J. Frierson and niece of Mary Boykin Chesnut's husband.
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
25 October 1861
"Yankees' principal spite to South Carolina—fifteen war steamers have sailed, or steamed out against us. Hot work cut out for us whenever they elect to land.
They hate us, but they fear us, too. They do not move now until the force is immense—'overwhelming' is their word. Enormous preparations, cautious approach are the lessons we taught them at Manassas, Bethel, &c&c. McClellan is to come against us, front and rear.
And now we have many little wars beside the great one.
The Judge raging in tantrums. He speaks to me, but he has ceased to look at me. It is months since I have caught his eye. That means mischief!
The president writes, asking for particulars of that interview 13th July. There were present Col. John S. Preston, General Lee, General Cooper, Mr Chesnut, and the president. General Beauregard says he sent the president by his aide, Colonel Chesnut, a plan of battle which the president rejected.
Are we going to be like the Jews when Titus was thundering against their gates? Quarreling amongst ourselves makes me faint with fear."
They hate us, but they fear us, too. They do not move now until the force is immense—'overwhelming' is their word. Enormous preparations, cautious approach are the lessons we taught them at Manassas, Bethel, &c&c. McClellan is to come against us, front and rear.
And now we have many little wars beside the great one.
The Judge raging in tantrums. He speaks to me, but he has ceased to look at me. It is months since I have caught his eye. That means mischief!
The president writes, asking for particulars of that interview 13th July. There were present Col. John S. Preston, General Lee, General Cooper, Mr Chesnut, and the president. General Beauregard says he sent the president by his aide, Colonel Chesnut, a plan of battle which the president rejected.
Are we going to be like the Jews when Titus was thundering against their gates? Quarreling amongst ourselves makes me faint with fear."
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