The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-03
A CHARLESTON GIRLS
DIARY OF THE WAR
Extracts From Journal Kept During the Grea
Struggle Between North and South-The
Prelude to Hostilities-Fort Sumter
Ronbarded.

OF our affection, the Charleston OF
today, witnessed hfty years ago the
breaking OF storm which had slow
~ gathered during anxious months
ef waiting. Those OF us who have
made this city our home since the
war clouds have passed away, who
have no conception Of tile sorrow and
distress enacted in tho very localities
In which We live, who can hy no
stretch OF the imagination appreciate
the conditions which existed Just prior
to the opening of hostilities must de.
pend for our informa ton upon the
stories which are told TO Ms or upon
the text. books at our disposal. But
the story-tellers are passing away and
the text books are dry and uninter-
estInS. and ~ sometimes seems as
though We shall never quite grasp he
true significance of those far-away
DAYS which made history War diaries
were kept. OF course. but It is rare.
Indeed. that any one is for fortunate as
20 have access to one AFTER this long
half-century OF years. and to be per
United to make such extracts from
~ as place us In close touch with
day long passed Through tho cour-
tesy Of lady friend. however, the
sunday. News is able to quote from
the pages Of young girls diary be-
gun in the early DAYS OF the war
end continued for q brief period. The
pages are yeliowed with age and the
many places into indistinct characters.
but the work Is so wolf done the
delicate. igirliRh writing has faded IN
accounts written In such an easy flow
ting style. andsthe whole 80 interesting
End Instructive that the task OF copy
Ing extracts has proved a real pleas
Urc.
The diary was begun on the 18th OF
February. 1881. and we quote from
the opening pages s follows:
BrenkinE of the Storm.
How l wish | had kept ii journal
during the last three months of great
political changes 4 revolution. won
6erful In the rapidly with which IT has
Ewept across the country from the
Atlantic almost to the Pacific, convuls-
ing the whole OF what was once our
pride and boast. the United States;
now, alas broken into fragments
through the malign!ty and blind fana
ficism OF the Black Republicans. Even
England herself, wrapped In her mantle
of pride. is thrilled TO the core, and
frembles for the future. depending, as
che does. on King Cotton the ruler
OF the world. Doubly proud am l of
my native State, that she should be
the nrst 10 arise and shake off the
mated chain which linked us with
Black Republicans and Abolitionists.
Secession said g gentlemen, was born
tn the hearts OF Carolina women
"on the 18th Of December 1850. dele
sates elected by tbs people OF South
Carolina met in solmen convention in
Columbia. TO withdraw our State from
the Union Smallpox was so prevalent
there that they as we'll S the legis
nature adjourned to Charleston, and on
the goth the Ordinance OF Secession.
declaring South Carolina free and in
dependent republic. was passed I'M
iEnimously at quarter-psst l, P. NJ,
Rnd that evening the two bodies met
and marched in procession to Secession
Hall where II was signed amidst an
Immense throng, But few ladies were
present as It was go late before it was
determined to sign 1t the same even
3ne. instead of the next day. AS had
tsen at frst proposed. that very few
people knew II until too late 10 come
back for them. The news flew upon
The wings Of the wind, carving dis
may among the Black Republicans. who
tGid not believe IL until the deed was &C
icomplished. Commissioners were sent
no Washington TO treat with the Fed
ersl overnmgent respecting the forts
End other government property and all
seemed going well when, on the morn
ing of the eth, we were startled and
almost stunned by the intelligence that
Anderson had evacuated Fort Moul-
arie and set It on fire. then taken pos
session OF Fort Sumter. in direct viola
ton of the Presidents promise that
the relative military status in Charles
ton harbor should be preserved
pandiwLpa ,enLtsie' shrdl ccccccccccccc
aeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ee tao shrd shrdl
Fort Sumter could have been taken
ct any time previous by the Carolinians,
for IT had no garrison, only Il keeper
and his wife staying there. but they
trusted the honor of the Federal gov
eminent, and were thus repaid. The
evacuation took place during the night
of the 26th. steals~g away in the dark
hess like O thief. after cutting the
flag staff to add insult to injury, spik-
ing the guns. and burning the carriages.
Ghe Governor Immediately ordered sew
eral companies to Fort Moultrie. and
Cousin w. DIS command and others
to Castle Pinckney; as the latter only
contained half dozen Federal soldiers
they quietly surrendered and in a few
days the damages at Fort Moultrie were
repaired and both forts put into excel
lent order On Friday, the 2Sth. the Gus
tom House, which had been closed for
several days. was re-opened under the
Palmetto dag. On Sunday. the 30th.
the Arsenal was taken possession OF by
the Palmetto Guard. and as 1t was
thought that Fort Moultrie might be
attacked. and no cartridge bags were
ready the ladies Immediately went to
work to supply the demand, and dur
= 1ns the rest OF the week our fingers
were busily employed making them.
That same afternoon Major Stevens.
with fifty cadets and two hundred
negroes. and several cannon, went down
to Morris Island. where they Immediate
~ went to work to construct Fort Nor
sis which commands the Ship Camel.
The city seemed suddenly turned into
3 camp. nothing was heard but pre-