Diary of a Southern Refugee During the War, Annotated

by Judith W. McGuire, Lucy Booker Roper

Written by Judith McGuire, originally intended only for members of the family who were too young to remember these days, was first published in 1867. This noble southern lady recorded day-to-day happenings as she wandered across Virginia. Concerned that in future histories her grandchildren would be told that their ancestors were "tyrants to their servants," and "traitors to their country," she recorded in her diary more than enough proof of the truth.

The late celebrated and Rev. Stuart Robinson wrote of it in a Louisville
"This has proved to us a most fascinating volume. It is the diary of a lady, evidently a thoughtful, refined, eminently Christian matron, kept for the benefit of her grandchildren, from May, 1861, when she was obliged to leave her home by the advent of Federal troops to Alexandria, Va., on through all the days of her sojourn at Winchester, Richmond, and elsewhere in Virginia, till the surrender of Generals Lee and Johnston, in April, 1865. . . . The reading of a dozen pages of this Diary make it sufficiently manifest that this gallery of 'inside views' of the Southern public opinion and the Southern heart during the memorable era of the civil war, are pictures taken from nature, and that, too, photographically—these leaves being but the plates upon which the thoughts and emotions shadowed themselves, and were caught as they arose day by day.
From the Richmond Enquirer and Examiner, Friday morning, January 19, 1868:
"The 'Diary of a Refugee' is a work unpretending in its character, but of rare literary merit, and of the deepest interest. It was written without any design of publication, but to preserve a faithful record, for the benefit of the many young friends and near relations of the authoress. No true-hearted Virginian can read it without the deepest emotion, and an interest far surpassing that of the most exciting romance. In truth, it is the best history of the war in Virginia, or of Virginia during the war, that has been written, no other authors having given to the passing transactions the freshness of reality by recording them as they passed. The style is animated, graceful and chaste. The book is a lively picture of the inner life of the Confederates during the war; of their hopes and fears, their joys and sorrows, through the eventful struggle. With all the personal detail is mingled a faithful account of almost every important event, from the firing of the first gun at Sumter to the surrender of Gen. Johnston.''

"The Diary of a Refugee During the War." From Southern Society,
"This work is, as a whole, a more faithful representation of the inner life of the Confederates—that life which is not shown in histories, but felt in the heart, and expressed from the lips, 'when friend holds fellowship with friend'—than any publication which we have seen since the close of the war."

Genres: History, American History, American Civil War, Nonfiction, Memoir, War, Civil War

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 7, 2012

About the author

Judith White McGuire

Reviews

[Susan Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

✔️Published in 1868.
🖊 My review: This is a captivating diary written by a middle-aged Southern woman, which is interesting in itself since most Southern diaries during the American Civil War were written by young women and teenaged girls. This diary was intented for AUTHOR’s decendents’ eyes only; I am thrilled to have found copies to read, since I am a historian with a curious bent. 🖋 The writing style is decidedly nineteenth century style, which is charming. 📌 Would I read this again? Yes, for my curiosity and research.
🤔 My rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🟣 Media form: Kindle version.
🔵 Media form: Internet Archive .
📚 Media form: Tufts University .
🔲 Excerpts :

🔸AT HOME, May 4, 1861. — I am too nervous, too wretched to-day to write in my diary, but that the employment will while away a few moments of this trying time. Our friends and neighbors have left us. Everything is broken up. The Theological Seminary is closed; the High School dismissed. Scarcely any one is left of the many families which surrounded us. The homes all look desolate; and yet this beautiful country is looking more peaceful, lovelier than ever, as if to rebuke the tumult of passion and the fanaticism of man.

🔸Some of our old men are a little nervous, look doubtful, and talk of the impotency of the South. Oh, I feel utter scorn for such remarks.

🔸It makes my blood boil when I remember that our private rooms, our chambers, our very sanctums, are thrown open to a ruthless soldiery.

🔸The Briars, June 12.—We are now in the beautiful Valley of Virginia, having left Chantilly on the 8th. The ride through the Piedmont country was delightful; it looked so peaceful and calm that we almost forgot the din of war we had left behind us. The road through Loudoun and Fauquier was picturesque and beautiful. We passed through the villages of Aldie, Middleburg, and Tipperville. At Middleburg we stopped for an hour, and regaled ourselves on strawberries and cream at the house of our excellent brother, the Rev. Mr. K. At Tipperville we spent the night.

🔸While in Winchester, I heard of the death of one who has been for many years as a sister to me—Mrs. L. A. P., of S. H., Hanover County. My heart is sorely stricken by it, particularly when I think of her only child, and the many who seemed dependent on her for happiness. She died on Saturday last. With perfect resignation to the will of God, she yielded up her redeemed spirit, without a doubt of its acceptance. There is none for us here.

✿●▬●✿●✿●▬●✿

[Deborah H. Arrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional diary by a Confederate Lady

This is a highly readable first person account by a well educated, upper class woman in Virginia during the Civil War. The diarist's account of the fall of Richmond is riveting. And her careful references to slaves ("servants") demonstrate an incredible willingness and ability to put lipstick on a pig. But the writer deserves both respect and compassion. I'm very glad I read the diary and will most likely re-visit parts of it.

[Sharon Carver · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lady telling it like it was.

This journal is a work of the heart telling the true thoughts and beliefs of the changing world around her during the civil war. A woman's heart is first for her family and then her beliefs. The author struggles with the world as it changes around her.

[AJA]

Books like this are 100% why I like history and are so important. However the nature of the book in diary format requires a lot of knowledge of the times including numerous random towns and people. The editor helpfully annotates this but in footnotes which was extremely difficult to use in an e-book format.

Note to self to try again at some point with a physical copy.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well-written! Highly recommended to anyone interested in knowing what Southerners went through and how they felt during the invasion and destruction thrust upon them during the War of Northern Aggression.

[Karen G Clesen · Rating 2 out of 5]

My least favorite of Civil War diaries

This author used initials for people's names, including her own husband's! I just couldn't understand who's who with the initials! I found it rather boring.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best diaries I've read. It was slow at times, but it was an excellent look at what the average woman at the time went through.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with any diary, the reader has to remember the period of history the diary represents. As with most Civil War Diaries by women, it was the wealthier women who had the time, education and resources to write personal accounts and that is very true of Judith McGuire's diary. It is an excellent look at the Southern, female viewpoint during the Civil War but not quite as detailed as Mary Chestnut's or Sarah Morgan's diaries.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting perspective of the Civil War viewed through the diary of an upper class woman. I did have to keep reminding myself to put the viewpoint she writes through in the context of the 1860's. Although, I think it goes along way toward explaining some of the troubling viewpoints coming from the South in this era of political turmoil.