1, "It makes my Southern blood boil…." An excerpt from the Diary of Mary L. Pearre
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Many are expecting a cessation of hostilities and a reconstruction of the union. It is the height of folly to prate about the old Union and constitution. Both parties have trampled them under their feet.
Lincoln has violated the constitution at every step since he declared war.
It makes my Southern blood boil to hear these filthy Dutchmen boasting that they are fighting for "The Glorious Union." "Glorious Union indeed." Their emotions are not susceptible to simple emotions of liberty and equality. What care they, fresh from a foreign land for "The Union" indeed. Money and subsistence is the motive power that moves them to invade the South and rob southern women and children.
I desire peace. Yet I can never love the Northern people again. Never trust them as brothers. Have endured too many heart aches. Shed too many bitter despairing tears & followed to the grave too dear a friend ever to forgive and forget.
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Diary of Mary L. Pearre
1, Observations relative to the Federal presence and occupation of Murfreesboro and environs
The Federal army continues to come in this place, in great numbers -- foraging going on in a regular way. They have got themselves pretty well settled in their quarters. A good many houses has [sic] been burned [sic], in the out skirts [sic] of town and the neighboring portions of the county. Others have been pulled down for various purposes by the army. If it should be continued any length of time, and become a general thing, it will take the country a long time to recover from the effect. So much property melting away -- every week, of every species.
Skirmishing parties are sent out every day, but they appear to effect but little in their trips.
After these fellows get through with the negros [sic], that is, offering them pay for their time and rations, they then commence enquiring about the master. First, is he a "sesesh," [sic] or a union man, has he got much money [sic], is he rich? Make enquiry about the quantity of stock. Has he any thing [sic] hid [sic] and where. All these questions are answered, quite promptly by the contraband as they are now called. The Yankees are disposed to believe the negros [sic] as to the truth of a thing sooner than they will a white man. They claim the negro to be their best friend.
The negros [sic] now begin to shew [sic] an indifference about home. When an order is given them to do anything, they go at in a slow, careless manner. Begin to be impudent and contrary. The next news we hear he, or she, is off at some head quarters as they call it. They have made an arrangement with some officer to wait on him at a price stipulated and when there [sic] can give a great deal of reliable information, and from it arrests can and is made of some one -- how is this? Why, we get if from an intelligent, reliable contraband.
Well, let the devils go. They are now not worth the fire they warm by. Shall likely refer often of their doings in course of notes of the times, [but will] for the present stop.
Spence, Diary, p. 72.
JULIA JOHNSON FISHER DIARY
February 1st, 1864
Went down to Mrs. Linn's. Found her quite depressed, the tears were ready to break through. To sit all day and look in the fire without work of any kind, her near neighbors gone, and husband gone back to the Army or to Savannah, was more than she could bear, and then she had been looking for three days for old Nelly--if she should not come that would be worse than all. While we were commiserating the forlorness of things in general, Nell's black head peered through the window, but it shed light within. We sprang towards her and felt that we could give her a warm embrace. Light and joy entered the household in the form of an old worn out negro, thus we are lead to appreciate what we once cast away as almost useless. Gussie came home and spent the Sabbath in order to get a change of clothes. He is on picket near St. Mary's and enjoys it much as there is a family of girls where he can spend his leisure time. Fred is still at home groaning over pork and hominy. We indulge in flour once a day. Sybil has engaged $100.00 worth of syrup--it is $6.00 a gallon. It is thought that she may get a little sugar at $2.00 per pound. Kate Lang says that Major Bailey paid $6.00 a yard for calico in Savannah--it is now selling at $10.00. only $100.00 for a calico dress--a fine state of things! Confederate money is hardly worth picking up. They are collecting an army of 80,000 to have a finishing battle in the Spring. God speed the right!
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