Title: Reminiscences of peace and war,
Authors: Pryor, Sara Agnes Rice, 1830-1912.
Publisher: The Macmillan company; Macmillan & co., ltd.,
Year: 1904
Subjects: Pryor, Roger A.; Reconstruction Virginia.; Washington (D.C.) Social life and customs; United States Politics and government; Confederate States of America
Abstract: It will be obvious to the reader that this book affects neither the "dignity of history" nor the authority of political instruction. The causes which precipitated the conflict between the sections and the momentous events which attended the struggle have been recounted by writers competent to the task. But descriptions of battles and civil convulsions do not exhibit the full condition of the South in the crisis. To complete the picture, social characteristics and incidents of private life are indispensable lineaments. It occurs to the author that a plain and unambitious narrative of her recollections of Washington society during the calm which preceded the storm, and of Virginia under the afflictions and sorrows of the fratricidal strife, will not be without interest in the retrospect of that memorable era. The present volume recalls that era in the aspect in which it appeared to a woman rather than as it appeared to a statesman or a philosopher. - Preface.
Contents: Washington in the Fifties -- President Pierce's inauguration -- Mr. Buchanan and his cabinet -- The president at church -- Great names on the rolls of the Supreme Court, Senate, and House of Representatives -- Beautiful women in Washington during Mr. Buchanan administration -- The 36th Congress -- Memorable days in the history of the country -- The fall of Fort Sumter -- March of the volunteers -- A Virginia tobacco plantation -- Battle of Bull Run -- The Seven Days' Battles around Richmond -- Campaign in Maryland and Northern Virginia -- The foraging party on the Blackwater -- The Bread Riot at Richmond, described by "Agnes" -- The winter of 1863-1864 -- Siege of Petersburg -- August in the besieged city -- Capture of General Pryor -- Christmas at Cottage Farm -- General Pryor's return from captivity -- Evacuation of Richmond described by "Agnes" -- Arrival of Southern prisoners of war -- Incidents and events -- Tourists.