Description
By: Sarah Morgan Dawson (1842-1909)
A Confederate Girl’s Diary by Sarah Morgan Dawson is a poignant and moving account of life in the South during the Civil War. Through the eyes of 20-year-old Sarah, readers are taken on a journey through the trials and tribulations of war-torn Louisiana, as she recounts the struggles of her family and community to survive in a war-torn land.
Sarah’s writing is intimate and powerful, drawing readers in with her vivid descriptions and heartfelt emotions. Her diary entries reveal the daily hardships and heartaches faced by those living in the midst of conflict, from the loss of loved ones to the destruction of homes and livelihoods.
Despite the challenges she faces, Sarah’s indomitable spirit and unwavering faith shine through in her words, inspiring readers to persevere in the face of adversity. Her courage and resilience are truly admirable, making this diary a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the Civil War or the human experience in times of crisis.
Overall, A Confederate Girl’s Diary is a moving and thought-provoking read that offers a unique perspective on a tumultuous period in American history. Sarah Morgan Dawson’s diary is a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit and the enduring power of hope in the darkest of times.
Book Description:
Sarah Morgan Dawson was a young woman of 20 living in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, when she began this diary. The American Civil War was raging. Though at first the conflict seemed far away, it would eventually be brought home to her in very personal terms. Her family’s loyalties were divided. Sarah’s father, though he disapproved of secession, declared for the South when Louisiana left the Union. Her eldest brother, who became the family patriarch when his father died in 1861, was for the Union, though he refused to take up arms against his fellow Southerners. The family owned slaves, some of whom are mentioned by name in this diary. Sarah was devoted to the Confederacy, and watched with sorrow and indignation its demise. Her diary, written from March 1862 to June 1865, discourses on topics as normal as household routines and romantic intrigues to those as unsettling as concern for her brothers who fought in the war. Largely self-taught, she describes in clear and inviting prose, fleeing Baton Rouge during a bombardment, suffering a painful spinal injury when adequate medical help was unavailable, the looting of her home by Northern soldiers, the humiliation of life under General Butler in New Orleans, and dealing with privations and displacement in a region torn by war. She was a child of her time and place. Her inability to see the cruelty and indignity of slavery grates harshly on the modern ear. Regardless of how one feels about the Lost Cause, however, Sarah’s diary provides a valuable historical perspective on life behind the lines of this bitter conflict. (Introduction by Christine Dufour)
