A Confederate Girl's Diary

by Sarah Morgan Dawson

A Confederate Girl's Diary
Documented during the American Civil War, A Confederate Girl’s Diary provides a thorough account of civilian life in Louisiana during and after the war through the diary entries of Sarah Morgan Dawson, who used her diary to record her thoughts and experiences from 1862 to 1865.
Unwittingly, Dawson’s revelations about the Confederacy and her role as a refugee woman in a Union-occupied Louisiana have become imperative in our understanding wartime conditions in the South. Although she initially intended to have the writings destroyed after her death, Dawson’s six-volume diary survived to be published by her son in 1913.
A Philadelphian had been talking with my mother of North and South, and had alluded to the engagement between the Essex and the Arkansas, on the Mississippi, as a brilliant victory for the Federal navy. My mother protested, at once; said that she and her sister Miriam, and several friends, had been witnesses, from the levee, to the fact that the Confederates had fired and abandoned their own ship when the machinery broke down, after two shots had been exchanged: the Federals, cautiously turning the point, had then captured but a smoking hulk. The Philadelphian gravely corrected her; history, it appeared, had consecrated, on the strength of an official report, the version more agreeable to Northern pride.
"But I wrote a description of the whole, just a few hours after it occurred!" my mother insisted. "Early in the war I began to keep a diary, and continued until the very end; I had to find some vent for my feelings, and I would not make an exhibition of myself by talking, as so many women did. I have written while resting to recover breath in the midst of a stampede; I have even written with shells bursting over the house in which I sat, ready to flee but waiting for my mother and sisters to finish their preparations."
"If that record still existed, it would be invaluable," said the Philadelphian. "We Northerners are sincerely anxious to know what Southern women did and thought at that time, but the difficulty is to find authentic contemporaneous evidence. All that I, for one, have seen, has been marred by improvement in the light of subsequent events."
At our home in Charleston, on her return, she unstitched with trembling hands a linen-bound parcel always kept in her tall, cedar-lined wardrobe of curled walnut. On it was scratched in ink "To be burned unread after my death"; it contained, she had once told me, a record of no interest save to her who had written it and lacked the courage to re-read it; a narrative of days she had lived, of joys she had lost; of griefs accepted, of vain hopes cherished.
From the linen, as the stitches were cut, fell five blank books of different sizes. Two, of convenient dimensions, might have been intended for diaries; the other three, somewhat unwieldy, were partly used ledgers from Judge P. H. Morgan's office. They were closely written in a clear, firm hand; the ink, of poor quality, had faded in many places to a pale brown scarcely darker than the deep yellow to which time had burned the paper. The effort to read under such conditions, and the tears shed over the scenes evoked, might well have cost my mother her sight; but she toiled for many weeks, copying out the essential portions of the voluminous record for the benefit of the Northerner who really wished to know.

Genres: History, Civil War, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Historical, Biography Memoir

Kindle Edition

Published March 25, 2019

About the author

Nineteenth-century Louisiana writer Sarah Morgan Dawson is best known for the diary she kept during the Civil War. From March 1862 until April 1865, Dawson chronicled her thoughts and experiences, providing one of the most detailed accounts of civilian life in wartime Louisiana. A gifted storyteller, Dawson recorded her feelings about the Confederacy, war, politics, refugee life, and women’s place in society against the backdrop of Louisiana’s invasion and occupation by Union troops.

Though Dawson originally asked that her six-volume diary be destroyed upon her death, she later willed it to her son Warrington. In 1913, he arranged to have the first four volumes published as A Confederate Girl’s Diary. The diary was later edited by Charles East and published in its entirety in 1991. Dawson’s correspondence with her future husband, Francis Warrington Dawson, has also been published.

Citation:
Roberts, Giselle. "Sarah Morgan Dawson," KnowLA Encyclopedia of Louisiana. Ed. David Johnson. 24 Jun. 2012. Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. 01 Jun. 2011

Reviews

[Thom Swennes]

A Confederate Girl’s Diary (published in 1913, by her daughter) by Sarah Morgan Dawson (1842-1919)is a remarkable work. It paints the civilian life during the Civil War in Louisiana. If one considers that Sarah had but a scant 10 months of formal education, it says much for home and self education that many southern girls of the time were forced to follow. Her diary wasn’t just informative but she succeeds in making mundane daily life on the home front interesting. Her personal views of the war and the northern enemy changes constantly, giving the reader the feeling that she never cared about the political side or the military horrors that afflicted people (especially the soldiers) of both sides. The first couple of books (1862) clothes and other trifles seem to take up most of her thoughts. Once her family home was looted by Union troops, she soon accepted the loss and her concerns take on another light. It is interesting to note the rumors that circulated far from the front lines and the effect it has on the populace. The later books see her again as a true confederate patriot and her small efforts to care and comfort soldiers for both sides. I have read similar diaries of soldiers fighting on both sides but this is one of the few by a non-combatant woman. Her home in Baton Rouge was occupied fairly soon after the commencement of the war so many of the sketches are those of Yankee occupation. A Confederate Girl’s Diary gives a good insight in southern civilian life during that great American struggle and should interest anyone fascinated with that period of history.

[PC2022]

A fascinating diary account of the civil war, seen through the eyes of a 20 year old woman, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Her diary really instills the sense of despair as the Confederacy's opposition becomes increasingly futile. The entries which dont relate to the war are also very interesting, depicting everyday life in the 1860's Deep South.

The diary is incredibly colorful and heartfelt. She was extremely intelligent and I believe she later carved out a very successful career as an author and journalist, which doesn't surprise me one bit.

This was the first book I fully read from Project Gutenburg, and also the first book on my Sony reader.
Its also probably one of the most interesting historical accounts I've ever read.

[Kim]

It would have been such a shame had this journal/diary been burnt as Sarah had intended upon her death. Thankfully her daughter persuaded her to share her life during this period of history with others. The fact that she wrote this so well with only 10 months of formal education was almost unbelievable it was one of the better penned journals from this period I have read to date.

It was a little difficult to follow in the beginning not knowing who all those she wrote of were just by names because she didn’t pen this with any intention of others reading it therefore there were no introductions as you would get in a novel or biography. Soon enough as she wrote of their struggles it didn’t matter who was who once I got into her writings. Sarah was quite a spitfire in her writings, she might have been too much of a Southern lady to voice her thoughts and opinions in the manner she wrote them but I have a feeling had she donned the breeches as she wished to fight with the men she would have given them hell.

Her family, like many, was split in this war. Also like many they didn’t all agree with the secession due to feeling that the Union would never allow their independence peacefully however they wanted their independence. She had brothers on both sides to worry over while her, with her mother, sisters, and friends were on their own during the war due to the death of her father prior to the invasion.

Sarah wrote of the tyrannical behavior of Lincoln and many of his men, including General Butler and his mistreatment of many civilians. She also made mention of how they were prone to arrest civilians including women off the streets and only being released upon swearing that oath, essentially to Lincoln. As Sarah stated “so much for a free country” with the suppression of the press, the subjugation of citizens during (and after) the invasion, and confiscation of civilian property along with the destruction of it. She also spoke of the many Union soldiers who were not despots and how she was torn about the fact that they were treated poorly by the women when they didn’t deserve it. She was quite the trooper when it came to not conforming to the gossiping old bitties. Sarah had no issues with helping a dying/injured man no matter what side he was on even if she wished they would simply leave them in peace.

However Sarah seemed to have a rather spoiled side as well that came through in her writings, in the beginning. She was rather preoccupied about her dresses and other material things at times when many were simply worried about when they might get their next meal. I suppose that is the difference in the classes back then as reading accounts from the poorer or even the privates in the Confederate army, there were many that went days without food…yet here was Sarah concerned with the Yankees taking her dresses. Of course the Yankees finally did in fact destroy everything in their home and steal anything of value just for the sake of doing it, leaving them homeless after occupying their home…like they did to civilians all over the South. I’m sure some of this was due to Sarah’s age and sheltered life up until this point and she did seem to mature as her writing continued, especially once they too had to worry about having food in order to not starve, lost their home to the Yankees, and she was severely injured. They ended up being no better off than the other civilians the Yankees robbed of everything they had….and her attitude towards them changed as well, can’t say as I blame her after all subjugation is reprehensible in a “free” country, regardless the excuses perpetuated to carry it out.

[Jessica Steiner]

This diary was not at all what I expected. The title conjured up images of a naive child's impressions of the Civil War. Instead I was privileged to read about the experiences of Sarah Morgan's family, friends and herself as they bravely and patriotically endure war. This young woman had a remarkably mature command of the English language as well as many additional anecdotes in French. Of course the Civil War had to be fought, and of course the Union was destined to win for Providence had determined what was right, but we see the hurt which war causes and the sacrifices made for their cause by a family who had much to lose. Through Sarah Morgan's depiction there is much to learn about how those living through war survived and how their hardships accumulated. We see how this family and other families were ripped apart (both Confederate and Union loyalists). No matter her loyalties there is much to admire of Sarah and her family. I am by no means sympathetic towards the cause they fought for, but Sarah's diary reminds us what even Union soldiers and their families sacrificed- much blood and upset to win a war which settled by overwhelming death and destruction the matter of slavery and the course of the Union. Sarah is bright, fashionable, witty, conscientious and an ideal Southern Belle from a family of means and distinction; but she is not weak willed. We see how she intentionally uses her diary to express those feelings and opinions which women were not freely able to vocalize without shocking others or judged as being vulgar. Strong feeling or emotion was kept to one's self. Sarah Morgan describes many incredible wartime experiences- it is compelling that she felt obligated to record for posterity, and provides insight into battles, soldier's camps, the condition and descriptions of the type of injuries as well as how she, her mother and sisters were treated by Union occupying soldiers.
A lot of insight into how people of this era interacted regarding etiquette, chivalry, men and women's roles, roles between parents and adult children, interaction between siblings, cousins, neighbors and how those whom chose not to fight or who could not support the war efforts for whatever reason were viewed and treated. Sarah is charming- not because she is a confederate girl but because she longs to be faithful in spite of hardship and truly hopes for peace. I was touched by her sincere care for people despite what 'side' they were on because she believed that God saw all and expected compassionate dignity to be upheld.
A fascinating read which aptly illustrates what our country suffered and lost during the Civil War; and how a southern young lady, Sarah Morgan grew into her own and transitioned into a refined woman of character despite her desperate circumstances.

[Erin]

This book is reportedly a diary that was kept by Sarah Morgan Dawson, a young lady in Louisiana at the time of the Civil War, which was published by her son in the early 20th century. Dawson became a published author in her own right long before this diary came to light, and she did have a flair for dramatic storytelling. There has been speculation that this diary was written as events unfolded, or if it was written after the fact. Regardless of the time of writing and the exact veracity of the history, this is an interesting perspective from the Confederate side of the Civil War. Everyday activities, the communication of various rumors and news, and the feelings of members of families that were torn between the Confederate States and the Union were thought-provoking. I can understand the accusation that this diary was written many years after the end of the war, and only passed off as being contemporary with the war. A good number of very famous moments were accounted for, especially toward the end; I would have like to know what else in life Sarah Morgan Dawson was occupied with that would change her almost daily writing into a quarterly account. I was surprised at the apparent nonchalance with which the members of the army seemed to wander about the countryside calling on various acquaintances - either the army was very lax about leave accounting, or the feeling of embellishment may be more truthful than the publisher would like to admit. Frankly, I have to say that most of my dislike of this diary stems from the fact that a huge amount of it is dedicated to social protocol. I understand that it was an important part of life then, that it was how news traveled and help was gained for survival. Having said that, I simply don't enjoy reading about who visited whom with what gossip, regardless of the time period. Recommended for: history buffs, civil war aficionados, and possibly soap opera lovers.

[Barbara]

Interesting book. Although it may have been editied before being published it is still an informative document. It relates the attitudes of people during the Civil War. It is also a good description of what life was like in the South at that time.

Sarah was a young girl living in Baton Rouge LA at the beginning of the Civil War. Sarah relates all the hardships and frustrations of living in a war zone in the late 1800's. Reliable news was almost nonexistant. Rumors ran rampant and were almost never accurate. The difficulties of travel at that period of time combined with the fact that one could never be absolutely sure when, or if, evacuation was necessary. The family packed up a number of times, left for a short time, then would return, never knowing for sure if the house was burned or looted. Eventually, they had to leave for good, almost everything of value having been looted and a Yankee officer and his wife were occupying the home.

This book is very much worth reading, especially if you have any interest in Civil War history at all.

[Violet]

Just think what it is like to read somebodies diary. There personal thoughts which were written for themselves now to be read by the world. It sheds some light on what happened in her life during the four years of this time period in he life and how she felt. Some of the language that she used are not familiar to us now. Such as when she talks about getting on the cars, I know she is not talking about autos, I believe she was talking about railroad cars. The way of life was different then.

[Jennifer Zartman]

Sarah Morgan’s diary gives us a unique look at the Civil War, and an opportunity to understand the social values of the day and how it affected women. The first book I’ve read from the Confederate point of view, it helps me understand the resentment that still lingers in parts of the South today. Sarah considered it shameful for a woman to state strong opinions in public, so she filled the pages of her diary with her thoughts and emotions, venting them so that she could maintain a proper demeanor. She never intended anyone else to read what she wrote so sometimes it’s a little confusing, but overall it flows well and gives an incredible look into life in Louisiana during the war. Sometimes venomous, sometimes frivolous, the book gives an honest reflection of the mental and emotional turmoil of a young woman who faced danger, deprivation, and the loss of her home, family members, and her whole way of life.

Sarah wrote well and proved herself to be intelligent and well educated despite having little formal education. This was not uncommon; many people of her day, including Abraham Lincoln, educated themselves through reading and grasping every opportunity to better themselves. She held herself to high standards, even refusing physical help from men she did not know after an accident that injured her spine because of the impropriety of it. I noticed that her family’s slaves refused to leave their mistress when offered their freedom—a fact which speaks volumes of her family’s graciousness.

A great companion to this book is Leander Stillwell’s The Story of a Common Soldier of Army Life in the Civil War, 1861-1865. Just a year younger than Sarah, Stillwell was born and raised in a log cabin in Illinois. He cherished the same sort of devotion to the union that she held for the confederacy and with such differing backgrounds and viewpoints his book provides an interesting counterpoint to hers.

[NDH]

This edition I’ve read seems to be the kindle ‘copy’ of a 1913 volume with an Introduction by the son of Sarah Morgan Dawson, and although I have no particular reason to doubt what he has to say about it, I regret not having purchased a proper ‘scholarly’ edition of same which would, I trust, include some commentary regarding the original manuscripts and this edition’s fidelity thereto. I find it hard to believe that this hasn’t been doctored and polished to some extent. Frankly, the writing style is almost too perfect to be that which a 19-year-old would have used in a document which she may or may not have envisioned being read by anyone else some day. I think, by way of comparison, of Mary Chesnut’s ‘diary/memoire’ and of her incomplete sentences, half-formed thoughts, dashes and other unorthodox punctuation. This text just doesn’t feel like an un-edited un-polished “Diary”.

But who knows.

In any case, I continue to wonder how the Civil War ever happened. It seems such a stupid war. No rational person could have ever believed that the South had any serious chance of winning. Yet SMD insists on the rightness of the southern cause (I actually agree on one level) and eagerly does her bit to encourage her male friends and family to go off and fight for southern rights Hurrah! And even at the end with the miserable deaths of two of her brothers sick in Yankee prisons, she never seems to think that this war was a Bad Idea.

I guess she got what she asked for.

In any case, SMD is not Mary Chesnut. They’re very different personalities. I prefer MC’s recollections, but SMD casts a valuable light on the times and on her own distinct personality. A worthy read for the student of history.

[James Crawford]

This is a very interesting diary started when Sarah Moran was 21. It covers her life before the war, during the war and shortly after the end of the war.

A couple of things really stood out for me. Although she was a 'true' Southerner and hoped for a Southern victory she still could treat Union people decently, even though they were the enemy.

The ransacking of her house and the houses of others reminded me of what happened during Sherman's march to Atlanta but this was way earlier. To me it was basically a barbaric act but in war such actions are not at all uncommon.

There were a lot of rumors flying around during the time, most of them proving wrong. One of the rumors was that England had come over to the Confederate side.

She was pretty badly injured in an accident and it took a long time for her to recover.

Their flight from their home was done in a lot of stages where they would travel for a bit, stay somewhere and then repeat, much as if a person was driving cross country today.

It's good to see how an average person in the South at that time who was not involved in the actual fighting tried to deal with what was going on, especially as things continued to get steadily worse.

[Karen]

When you think of the Civil War you automatically think of the soldiers, battles and death. Have you ever wondered how the women and families of these brave men handled the situation? This is the Diary of a teen aged young woman who lived in Louisiana during the conflict. It is her view of the struggle, her feelings bout the men on both sides and her activities along with friends and family as they struggle to keep life as normal as possible.

They find it exciting to walk or ride horses to the area near a fight, lay out a picnic lunch and watch as the cannon balls explode, and men struggle for their freedom. While a true daughter of the Confederacy, she also has a respect for the Union Soldiers who treat her family decently, even caring for the wounded if they are near.

I had never thought of this side of the war and I must admit it opened my eyes to a whole different world. I have more respect for those who lived and fought for the south now and compassion for all on both sides who died or lost loved ones.

History buffs, and anyone who enjoyed Ann Franks diary would really enjoy this book. It will have you giggling, smiling and even crying in places.

[David Sprague]

Before reading I had hoped to get an understanding of a typical civilian experience in the South. I learned a few new things. I had not thought much about how much these civilians would be uprooted and how often they had to move. News about the war was not frequent and many times incorrect.

I would have liked more detail on the mundane tasks of everyday life. I would have liked more opinions of the politics of the time. A historian would have put their experiences in better context with the overall military objectives.

These Southern women seemed to be treated quite well by Yankee officers. I attribute much of this due to the ladies being young and most likely attractive.

I thought the writer did quite well being she was not a professional writer. I read this book many times being sleepy and soon falling asleep. I might have been happier with the book if I had been able to give it better consideration.

Because of my interest in Civil War history I would take a chance again and read another similar book. I was glad I read it but most books I read I enjoy more.

[Tony Parsons]

Sarah Fowler nee Morgan relives her life in Charleston, SC from 3/1862-4/1865.

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A fairly well written Civil War personal diary (book). It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. It was just OK for me so I will only rate it at 3/5 stars.

Thank you for the free author; Madison & Adams Press; eBookDaily; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[Ava Abbott]

Most agreeable

Because it is a personal diary it is confusing at first trying to figure out who is who. I found it didn't take long to get into though. Sarah was a wonderful writer. Puts any diary I've kept to shame, embarrassing amounts of shame! I found her extremely brave, with a feisty spirit. You can see within her a feminist spirit, she must live like a lady but her strong patriotic spirit has her secretly expressing her desire to fight along side the men. The hardships of the south come alive in the words of those that lived it. So hard to imagine and so incredibly sad. I was furious at the yankees right along with her. What you get from this is an idea of what life would have been like for those at home, or on the run in their own homeland during the invasion and a look at the lives of women in this period in history.

[Maryclaire]

This is a dairy that was saved from the Civil War. It contains the daily life of a family whose one son is loyal to the north and the others are fighting for the south. In the dairy Sarah describes their running, hearing the cannons and guns near by, taking with them in their running bags their papers and few needs. The diary is very educational as to the life of the everyday person in the south. It tells how they intermingled with the soldiers and obtained passes to travel about, what they ate and wore. The books also tells of the slaves of the area. nook edition

[Crystal Rafuse]

This first-hand account of the life of a Confederate girl is both interesting and a very informative source of historical facts. As a "Yankee" myself, I have tended to hear mostly "Northern" accounts of the way certain battles were fought and either won or lost. This book actually gave me a chance to see things from the other side of the conflict. Miss Sarah is a most eloquently spoken Southern Belle, and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to read her diaries, thank Heavens they were never burned, as she originally intended for them!

[Dana]

I found this diary to be a very enjoyable read. Sarah Morgan is an engaging writer and a spirited girl, and her personality shines through in her diary 150 years later. Because of her proximity to Civil War events (beginning with her home in Baton Rouge), this diary contains more action than a reader usually expects from a diary. Sarah's entries sometimes highlight the terrible situations she and her family were placed in, and sometimes allow her youthful optimism and playfulness (and appreciation of a fine officer) to surface.

[Fernanda]

I'm surprised at Sarah's ability to write so much, and remember so many facts, conversations and details. Her journal is quite illustrative of a troublesome time for the USA, from the perspective of a young well-to-do girl from the South. We learnt about all heroic deeds of the War, about Lincoln, about Gettysburgh, but not from the people "behind the scene" and their opinions. Quite informative.

[Barbara Williford]

Sarah was a young lady living in Baton Rouge during the Civil War. Her father was dead and her brothers were off fighting for the confederacy. All that was left at home were her, her mother and her sister. This diary records her life before, during and after the war. Her life in a prominent Baton Rouge family. Her life during the Battle of Baton Rouge and how her family’s home was confiscated and destroyed by the Union soldiers and her life and she was fleeing the war around her.

[Marilyn Lagier]

This book was OK. I read it because two other ladies in my UDC group had read it and I need to read "Southern" books for our reports due in July. While I think it's admirable that the author was able to write so much during the war time, and under such extenuating circumstances, I felt that she did a lot of whining and there was definitely an "air" about her of being better than others.

[Sidney Weber]

Interesting story of wartime civilians

Sarah Morgan was an upper-class 20-year-old caught in a war zone of the Civil War. Her diary expresses her feelings as extraordinary events shaped her existence.

One problem with the book is the reader's lack of familiarity with the people and places encountered.

[BrandyD]

DNF at 16%. Quite boring and a little confusing, with so many names and people to keep track of. Parts of it were very interesting and educational. This is a book that might be better if read in small bits at a time. Not for me.

[Elizabeth]

Excellent true story of a young women living through the war between the states.

[Dusti]

So interesting and it turns out the diarist lives in Baton Rouge.

[Bonnie]

Very interesting read. An "inside" look at what it was like for this young woman and the people around her.

[SheLove2Read]

so full of formatting errors it was almost impossible to read. dnf.

[Denise Kearney]

Pat loaned it to me-a wonderful read

[James]

Not really readable as literature but an interesting look into life then. Impressive because the author had only 10 months of formal education.

[Chapter]

Ebook from Gutenberg.org very insightful as to day-to-day living during Civil War

[Rachel]

Very interesting