New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-27
A GAY AND TRAGIC DIARY
The Life of Rebel Girl During
the Civil War.

A CONFEDERATE GIRLS DIARY. BY
Sarah Morgan Dawson. With an IN.
PRODUCTION by Warrington Dawson. Ano
with illustrations. 8vO, PIP NlA, 4i4
The Houghton Mifiin Company.
A very. very fine thing is this diary
Of q young Confederate girls life dur
ing the Civil War. II is charming
niece Of pure literature a valuable his
torical document, and a deeply touch
ing, dramatic and tragic story. The
style is enchanting. The young Louisi-
ana lady began her diary in March
1862: Here am, al your service
Nine. Idleness, waiting for any sug-
gestion 1t may please you 10 put IN
my weary brain, as a means 70 pass
this dull, cloudy Sunday afternoon"
The gayest of chit-chat follows con
corning her delicious self. her family
and friends in Baton Rouge, before we
come 10 the black cloud Of war And.
indeed. the delightful feminine vivacity
and high spirit Of the youthful writer
do not desert her even through danger,
suffering and privation. Later on OF
"a tremendous shell whizzing past" she
is able 10 sey: "Of course, there was
q slight stir among the unsophisticated;
though we, who had passed through
commandments, sieges and alarms Of all
kinds. coolly remarked. q shell, and
kept quiet" And her filings at the hated
Northerners are full OF wit, as where
she says OF the momentous Smelling
Of Baton Rouge" that "the valiant Far
ragut killed one whole woman, wound
ed three, struck some twenty horses
several times apiece. and indirectly
caused the death OF two little children
who were drowned In their flight"
Sarah Morgan Dawson was a gallant
rebel. body and soul" and gloried In
IT, But politics" could not come be-
tween her and the one OF her brothers
whose stand was with the Union. When
people were insolent enough to her TO
say, Your brother is as good a Yankee
as any," her blood boiled as she made
the answer. Let him be President
Lincoln If he will, and I would love
him the same"
But with all her enthusiastic South
ern spirit this fair commentator main
tanned a fairness and a balance OF
judgment splendid at such q period and
striking IN one so young. She will not
agree with many of her friends in say
ing that the Federal officers are liars,
thieves, murderers. scoundrels, the
scum of the earth, etc"
Such epithets are unworthy Of ladies. I
say and do hSrm rather than ADVANCE
our cause Let them be what they WILL.
II shall not make me less the lady; say
IL is unworthy OF anything except low
newspaper war, such abuse, and VIII not
Join in II. Let us have liberty OF
speech and action in our land, l say, but
not gross abuse and calumny. Shall l
acknowledge that the people we so recent
y called our brothers are unworthy OF
consideration. and are liars, towards,
dogs? Not /! II they conquer US &C
knowledge them as superior race; ! VIII
not say that We were conquered by cow
ards, for where would that place US? II
will take a brave people to gain US. and
that the Northerners undoubtedly are. l
would scorn TO have an inferior roe; /
fight only my equals. These women may
dChIoNleQet lndt nave NOA bot
ties In which their brothers were engaged,
but !, ] will ever say mine fought against
brave men, and won the day. Which Is
most honorable?
And she expresses deep appreciation
OF the kindness OF Union officers to her
and her sisters in their singular situa-
ton In Baton Rouge, with three OF
their brothers off lighting the Union
army. General Williams, who offered
10 place q Federal sentinel before her
family's house 10 guard them against
plunderers, she says must be a dear
old gentleman; he is so good" though
his guard was refused.
This diary, so airily begun. was con-
tinued as q vent for the writer's feel
ings as Il would not make an exhibit
ton of myself by talking. as so many
women did" until April, 1865. 1t is a
spontaneous record OF what Southern
women did and thought at that time
Frequently 1t was written while rest
ing to recover breath in the midst OF
stampede" for the Morgan family were
forced TO fee their home. Once the
author, being unwilling for any Chris
tian to see such a book" passed