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 ArmyChesnut, Mary Boykin
History
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
Chesnut, Mary Boykin
Chesnut, Mary Boykin, 1823-1886 -- Diaries; Confederate States of America -- History -- Sources; Southern States -- Biography; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives, Confederate
Wigfall is black with rage at Colonel Anderson’s account of the fall of
Sumter. Wigfall did behave magnanimously, but Anderson does not seem to
see it in that light. “Catch me risking my life to save him again,” says
Wigfall. “He might have been man enough to tell the truth to those New
Yorkers, however unpalatable to them a good word for us might have been.
We did behave well to him. The only men of his killed, he killed himself,
or they killed themselves firing a salute to their old striped rag.”
Mr. Chesnut was delighted with the way Anderson spoke to him when he went
to demand the surrender. They parted quite tenderly. Anderson said: “If
we do not meet again on earth, I hope we may meet in Heaven.” How Wigfall
laughed at Anderson “giving Chesnut a howdy in the other world!”
What a kind welcome the old gentlemen gave me! One, more affectionate and
homely than the others, slapped me on the back. Several bouquets were
brought me, and I put them in water around my plate. Then General Owens
gave me some violets, which I put in my breastpin.
“Oh,” said my “Gutta Percha” Hemphill,[36] “if I had known how those
bouquets were to be honored I would have been up by daylight seeking
the sweetest flowers!” Governor Moore came in, and of course seats were
offered him. “This is a most comfortable chair,” cried an overly polite
person. “The most comfortable chair is beside Mrs. Chesnut,” said the
Governor, facing the music gallantly, as he sank into it gracefully. Well
done, old fogies!
Browne said: “These Southern men have an awfully flattering way with
women.” “Oh, so many are descendants of Irishmen, and so the blarney
remains yet, even, and in spite of their gray hairs!” For it was a group
of silver-gray flatterers. Yes, blarney as well as bravery came in with
the Irish.
At Mrs. Davis’s reception dismal news, for civil war seems certain. At
Mrs. Toombs’s reception Mr. Stephens came by me. Twice before we have
had it out on the subject of this Confederacy, once on the cars, coming
from Georgia here, once at a supper, where he sat next to me. To-day he
was not cheerful in his views. I called him half-hearted, and accused
him of looking back. Man after man came and interrupted the conversation
with some frivle-fravle, but we held on. He was deeply interesting, and
he gave me some new ideas as to our dangerous situation. Fears for the
future and not exultation at our successes pervade his discourse.
Dined at the President’s and never had a pleasanter day. He is as witty
as he is wise. He was very agreeable; he took me in to dinner. The talk
was of Washington; nothing of our present difficulties.
A General Anderson from Alexandria, D. C., was in doleful dumps. He says
the North are so much better prepared than we are. They are organized, or
will be, by General Scott. We are in wild confusion. Their army is the
best in the world. We are wretchedly armed, etc., etc. They have ships
and arms that were ours and theirs.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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