A DIARY FROM DIXIE [Illustration] [Illustration: MRS. JAMES CHESNUT, JR. From a Portrait in Oil.] A DIARY FROM DIXIE, _as written by_ MARY BOYKIN CHESNUT, _wife of_ JAMES CHESNUT, JR., _United States Senator from South Carolina, 1859-1861, and afterward an Aide to Jefferson Davis and a Brigadier-General in the Confederate Army_ Edited by Isabella D. Martin and Myrta Lockett Avary [Illustration] NEW YORK D. APPLETON AND COMPANY 1906 COPYRIGHT, 1905, BY D. APPLETON AND COMPANY _Published March, 1905_ CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION: THE AUTHOR AND HER BOOK xiii CHAPTER I.—CHARLESTON, S. C., _November 8, 1860-December 27, 1860_. The news of Lincoln’s election—Raising the Palmetto flag—The author’s husband resigns as United States Senator—The Ordinance of Secession—Anderson takes possession of Fort Sumter 1 CHAPTER II.—MONTGOMERY, Ala., _February 19, 1861-March 11, 1861_. Making the Confederate Constitution—Robert Toombs—Anecdote of General Scott—Lincoln’s trip through Baltimore—Howell Cobb and Benjamin H. Hill—Hoisting the Confederate flag—Mrs. Lincoln’s economy in the White House—Hopes for peace—Despondent talk with anti-secession leaders—The South unprepared—Fort Sumter 6 CHAPTER III.—CHARLESTON, S. C., _March 26, 1861-April 15, 1861_. A soft-hearted slave-owner—Social gaiety in the midst of war talk—Beauregard a hero and a demigod—The first shot of the war—Anderson refuses to capitulate—The bombardment of Fort Sumter as seen from the house-tops—War steamers arrive in Charleston harbor—“Bull Run” Russell—Demeanor of the negroes 21 CHAPTER IV.—CAMDEN, S. C., _April 20, 1861-April 22, 1861_. After Sumter was taken—The _jeunesse dorée_—The story of Beaufort Watts—Maria Whitaker’s twins—The inconsistencies of life 42 CHAPTER V.—MONTGOMERY, Ala., _April 27, 1861-May 20, 1861_. Baltimore in a blaze—Anderson’s account of the surrender of Fort Sumter—A talk with Alexander H. Stephens—Reports from Washington—An unexpected reception—Southern leaders take hopeless views of the future—Planning war measures—Removal of the capital 47 CHAPTER VI.—CHARLESTON, S. C., _May 25, 1861-June 24, 1861_.