A Confederate Girl's Diary (1913) - Plot & Excerpts
This first-hand account of the life of a Confederate girl is both interesting and a very informative source of historical facts. As a "Yankee" myself, I have tended to hear mostly "Northern" accounts of the way certain battles were fought and either won or lost. This book actually gave me a chance to see things from the other side of the conflict. Miss Sarah is a most eloquently spoken Southern Belle, and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to read her diaries, thank Heavens they were never burned, as she originally intended for them! A Confederate Girl’s Diary (published in 1913, by her daughter) by Sarah Morgan Dawson (1842-1919)is a remarkable work. It paints the civilian life during the Civil War in Louisiana. If one considers that Sarah had but a scant 10 months of formal education, it says much for home and self education that many southern girls of the time were forced to follow. Her diary wasn’t just informative but she succeeds in making mundane daily life on the home front interesting. Her personal views of the war and the northern enemy changes constantly, giving the reader the feeling that she never cared about the political side or the military horrors that afflicted people (especially the soldiers) of both sides. The first couple of books (1862) clothes and other trifles seem to take up most of her thoughts. Once her family home was looted by Union troops, she soon accepted the loss and her concerns take on another light. It is interesting to note the rumors that circulated far from the front lines and the effect it has on the populace. The later books see her again as a true confederate patriot and her small efforts to care and comfort soldiers for both sides. I have read similar diaries of soldiers fighting on both sides but this is one of the few by a non-combatant woman. Her home in Baton Rouge was occupied fairly soon after the commencement of the war so many of the sketches are those of Yankee occupation. A Confederate Girl’s Diary gives a good insight in southern civilian life during that great American struggle and should interest anyone fascinated with that period of history.
What do You think about A Confederate Girl's Diary (1913)?
Excellent true story of a young women living through the war between the states.
—Dean
So interesting and it turns out the diarist lives in Baton Rouge.
—kush
