Wednesday, February 13, 2013

2/13/2013 cwn

13, "Sweethearts vs. War"


Oh, dear, it's shameful, I declare


To make the men all go


And I have so many sweethearts here


Without a single bean


We like to see them brave, 'tis true,


And would not urge them stay


But what are we poor girls to do


When they are all away?


We told them we could spare them here


Before they had to go


But bless their hearts we won't aware


That we would miss them so


We miss them all in many ways;


But truth will ever out.


The greatest thing we miss them for


Is seeing us about.


On Sundays when we go to church,


We look in vain for some


To meet us, smiling on the porch


And ask to see us home.


And then we can enjoy a walk


Since all the beaux have gone.


For what's the good (to use plain talk),


If we must trudge alone?


But what's the use of talking thus,


We'll try to be content,


And if they cannot come to us


A message may be sent


And that's our comfort anyway


For though we are a part


This is no reason why we may


Not open heart to heart.


We trust it soon may come


To a final test


We want to see our Southern homes


Secure in peaceful rest


But if the blood of those we love


In freedom's cause must flow


With fervent trust in God above


We bid them onward go.

And we will watch them as they go


And cheer them on their way


Our arms shall be their resting place,


When wounded sore they lay;


Oh if the sons of Southern soil


For freedom's cause must die,


Her daughters ask no dearer boon


Than by their side to lie.


Chattanooga Advertiser, February 13, 1862

 

 

 

13, Social outcasts in White County, excerpt from the journal of Amanda McDowell

* * * * 

....There were two girls here [i.e., at the Cumberland Institute] today trying to rent a house; their parents are dead and they wish to stay together. They have a sister in the neighborhood who has been under a very bad character for years; she is going to live with them if they get a house. Not liking the prospect, Father did not let them in; neither would Mr. Stone, whom Father went to see for them, let them have his mountain house....

Fiddles in the Cumberlands, p. 168.

 

 

 

13, The Rebel-St. Valentine's Day ball at McMinnville. "Mollie and myself were the only ladies who did not dance, and we did not, only because we have judged it our duty to dance 'not at all' until this dreadful war shall be over."


A host of men host of men and boys were a bout, and we got thro' before very late in the evening. Mrs. Poindexter prepared the supper, which was better and more bounteous than could have been expected at this time of scarcity. The meats and the coffee, were however the only really good things. The brown sugar cake without icing--beets and cabbage for pickles--chicken salad without celery and molasses candy in lieu of French Confectionery made a very marked difference in the appearance of such a supper table now, and two years ago.--Lieut. Cunningham, a very nice fellow, took Mollie to the ball. The Col. and myself went in company. We went late--11 o'clock and retired early at 3. Everything was in full blast when we arrived and they ;young folks seemed to be enjoying themselves vastly.. Everything looked more brilliant than I had ever supposed possible form the meager resources at command. The music was good--they had a brass band from Tulahoma [sic] , and th dancing was very spirited. But few ladies were present compared with those who had been invited. I excused or ladies here to the gentlemen who remarked on this paucity of the feminine element by saying it was on account of so many of them having lost friends. The truth is however [sic] that there was a great feeling of opposition to the ball among the citizens, partly arising from their professed piety--which don't [sic] seem to hurt them ordinarily, but which is sure to break out afresh when anything turns up which they can't enjoy--partly because the don't like Morgan's men who have been "pressing" extensively around here--partly on account of those having troublous [sic] times when folks out not to enjoy themselves--and partly because a great many people like to denounce anything which they themselves are not the head and front of. The only "married folks" of the citizens present were the Col. and myself. I did not desire to go into the affaire [sic] at all and should not have done so had it not been that it was given to Mrs. Morgan--whom I like, and for whom I was willing to do what I could. I did not wish to go to the ball--but went in compliance with the Col's [sic] wish. There were 8 gentleman to one lady present and all the girls were belles. Mollie and myself were the only ladies who did not dance, and we did not, only because we have judged it our duty to dance "not at all" until this dreadful war shall be over. I was pleased to see that the girls could appear so well as regards dressing, with our present slender resources. I suppose everything worn that night was "old things fixed over." My own dress, I suppose, was the only new one--it was not a ball dress--but a simple white swiss which I got last summer, made up and never had on. It was "tucked to the waist" trimmed with swiss inserting and Valenciennes [sic?] lace, high neck [sic] and long sleeves. [sic] I wore Mollie's pearls and she my corals. Mollie wore the same dress she wore to the concert [February 7] and looked extremely well. Misses Sophy Searcy and Bettie Reid wore white swiss--Miss Wade pink tarleton [sic].--June Morford light silk--Sallie Rowan tulle [sic?] with spangles--Mary Armstrong the "shiny" dress she wore at the concert with two flounces of pink tarleton [sic] at the bottom and a blue veil with stars on her head. This she called "the Confederate Dress" and "military style." Mrs. Morgan wore a crimson silk trimmed with black lace--and a full set of pearl ornaments--headdress, comb, and all. She looked very well, and was a conspicuous figure in the dance. The Misses Putnam from near Manchester were present--pleasant girls--yet not very elegant looking, as I had supposed from reputation they would be. There was a general assortment of brass buttons though but little tinsel among the gentlemen, many of whom were in citizens dress, as was Gen. Morgan himself. We left early....I have heard nothing since, having been nearly dead with sleep all day yesterday, and seen [sic] no one.


War Journal of Lucy Virginia French, entry for February 15, 1863.

 

 

 

 

 

     13, Col. Fielding Hurst [First Regt. West Tennessee (U.S.) Cavalry] extorts tribute from the city of Jackson and the lynching of an informant

* * * *

....in a few days, last Saturday 2 weeks ago [February 13], I believe, Col. Fielding Hearst  with about o­ne hundred men in full tilt taking o­ne & all as much by supprise [sic] as ever a people was supprised. [sic] I had been out at home to feed my hogs, had come in, turned my horse in the lot, came in & sat down when by they went. We caught a glimpse of my horse & before I knew it, he went as good many have gone, stolen [sic]. I had my old partnership horse & bay horse. Good Smith had been keeping for a year also in town, sliped [sic] them the back yard & him them as well as I could behind the cedars. 'Twas near night. They left town after dark & camped next morning at Mr. Bond's 3 miles out of town. I got out next morning & took the 2 horses to the river bottom & tied them in the cane before they got back town. [sic] During the day (Sunday) these fellow went down into the bottom & brought out some mules & o­ne good mare, but did not succeed in finding mine.

Col. Hearst [sic] called for some of the most prominent citizens and announced to them that Five thousand dollars had to raised or the town would be burned. They concluded it would be better to raise the money than to have the town sacked. No doubt but Hearst [sic] would have turned his soldiers loose upon the town if he had not burned it. Some burning would have occurred any how. These men are capable of the most brutal conduct and were ripe for the word. They money could not be raised upon that day. Twenty of the citizens obliged to raise the amt [sic] in 5 days. o­n Friday following Hearst [sic] came in with an escort, his regiment camped at Bob Chester's 2 miles south of town. The pretext for raising this money was simply this -- last summer when Hatch with a large force, Hearst [sic] among them,, the time a small fight took place between Hatch and parts of Col. Forrest's & Biffle's regiments, the stores were broken open and a general pillage [took place]. Among the sufferes [sic] was a Mrs. Newman. She had a millenary establishment. Mrs. N. went to Memphis & judgment was given against Hearst's [sic] Regmt & the pay of the Regt stoped [sic] for 3 months to pay the amount I suppose. Judgement [sic] was given for five thousand dollars & something over. Hearst [sic] said here that if his regmt [sic] did not do it and collects the damage off the citizens of Jackson. Comment is unnecessary. No damage was done beyond taking horses and mules.

Mr. John Campbell had difficulty with some of them and struck o­ne with a stick & choked a Lieut. His house was fired in 3 rooms, furniture smashed up. Owing to a capt [sic] coming up with a squad of men, the house was saved.

They gave Mr. Bond an old horse for forage &c. Mr. Bond told them that he did not want any citizen's horse. Col. Hearst [sic] told him that the horse had been in this regiment 6 months & no citizen had right to him. The next morning or when the came to town, o­ne of Mr. Campbell's daughters applied for their old buggy taken the day before. She was told that they had left him out at the man's house where they camped the night before and it proved to be Mr. C's [sic] horse.

I understand a part of Lexington and Brownsville were burned by this same crowd. They destroyed a large quantity of fencing over the river & set the woods o­n fire besides burning it when camped, pillaged houses & robed [sic] citizens. Frequently citizens are killed by them when they resist these outrages. Hearst's [sic] command was made up principally in McNairy & Henderson counties, some from Hardeman & Carrol sic counties in the Western District. I saw ma man & his son with them who formerly lived here in Jackson, a gambler named Waters. His son, named Tom, also saw a man o­nce Sheriff of McNairy Co. named Alridge.

* * * * 

Old Jessie, a negro [sic] belonging to the estate of Mr. James Caruthres [sic] was called out of his house a few nights since, marched down to the river, shot & thrown in, by whom I have no idea. He was seen to talk for 2 or 3 hours with Hearst's [sic] men when here & very likely was in the habit of reporting to the Yankees. Those who did the thing knew enough to cause them to resort to such an extreme measure. Knowing nothing about it, I can neither justify or censure them. -- Peace alone can put an end to the awful state of affairs now casting a gloom over the land. Waste and ruin are plainly visible o­n every hand.

Robert H. Cartmell Diary, February 21, 1864.


James B. Jones, Jr.

Public Historian

Tennessee Historical Commission

2941 Lebanon Road

Nashville, TN  37214

(615)-532-1550  x115

(615)-532-1549  FAX

 

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