12, A refugee's dream; an excerpt from the diary of Sarah Estes
….We returned to Aunt's that evening and Mr. Estes was so unhappy and dissatisfied with the position he occupied that we determined to try again to get a conveyance to go South. We succeeded in getting a hack, as rough a vehicle as ever was made. I felt very much depressed about leaving my children not being able to hear from them and not hoping to see them in a long time, but although my husband gave ma a free choice to follow him or return to them, I thought it my duty to go with him knowing how very miserable he was without me. I felt much distressed and after falling asleep I dreamed that we concluded to remain here and one day when we were in the front hall Aunt Nannie looked down the lane and said there is Cavalry and they have on blue coats, my husband rushed to the door and said, no I suppose not. I saw they were Yankees and caught my brother and beckoned him to run. He ran around the house but they rushed up and saw him trying to escape them and took him and my husband prisoners. My distress was very great, the scene changed. I thought they were already north and I followed them that I was very miserable and the Yankee women laughed at my misery saying they felt no sympathy for a Southerner. I was so unhappy that I woke. I felt as if I had this dream to comfort me and make me willing to go South and about nine o'clock next morning we again said goodbye and started. The roads were very band and we had a rough ride….
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Estes Diary, June 12, 1862.
12, "A Female Warrior."
In ancient times, we are told that there was a nation of women who waged the most bitter and relentless warfare against the surrounding nations. Yet the myth-kike story of the Amazons has passed into an "almost dream," and for ages [we know?] of but few women warriors. 'Tis true that Miss. [sic] Jane [illegible, page torn] in her fascinating Scottish Ohio [?] mad infatuation of Lady [illegible, page torn] [W]illiam Wallace; and for the purpose of wining his love, and esteem, she dressed up in the habiliments of the knightly warrior, and in the disguise of the Knight of the Green Plume, followed him to battle and heroically fought by his side. But this too has passed away to the dim history of bygone years, and is now principally thought of as the creation of a wild and romantic nature, rather than a sober reality. Yet we have a tangible reality of a feminine warrior in our mind's eye. The patrol guards were the first to develop the fact. As they were on their rounds yesterday morning, they came upon a youthful looking soldier, having on the stripes of a sergeant. They accosted him and demanded his pass, which of course he could not produce. No being exactly satisfied with the peculiar gait of the young gentleman, and expecting that after all it might after all be a real solider, they arrested him and brought him to the Irving Block where it was ascertained by the confession of the delinquent sergeant that he was not a real sergeant, but a female in sergeant's attire. She said that her friends had dared her to put on the soldier's clothes, which she could not take. That she put them on and started across the street to the house of a friend, when the guards came along and arrested her. She seemed very much embarrassed by the awkward position in which she was placed by her untimely arrest. We did not learn the name of this modern night of the Amazon tribe, and even if we had, we would not publish it. She is now in confinement, whether as a prisoner of war, or a political prisoner, we cannot say – it does not make much difference.
Memphis Bulletin, June 12, 1863.
12, "The Public Schools;" the fight for public education in Civil War Nashville
After all we have said and written on this subject, we almost despaired of having any schools open for the poor white children of our city; but inasmuch as Councilman Myers has procured the passage of a resolution through the Common Council, referring the subject to the School Committee, we are disposed to hope that something may be done, even at the risk of some people calling them "poor schools," or "ragged schools." The money is contributed by our citizens to educate the poor, not the rich, although the rich are not deprived of the benefits of a free education, if they choose to avail themselves of it. It is therefore, right, and just, that schools could be opened for the poor. There is plenty of money on hand, and large rooms can be obtained to suit temporary purposes. We hope, therefore, the Committee will go to work at once, and without waiting to get possession of the school buildings, prepare t open two or three schools, at the latest by the 1st of September. A heavy responsibility rests upon the Committee and upon the Board of Education, who have been the cause of the downfall of many of our boys, and girls too.
Nashville Dispatch, June 12, 1864
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