July 1862

The morning dawns with the promise of life 
renewed.  It is so peaceful here sometimes 
that one tends to forget that there is a 
terrible War raging all around us.  So much 
has happened in the other States of the 
Confederacy through the Spring and Summer.  

After the fall of Nashville and the Fort’s 
Henry and Donelson in February, so much has 
happened. I hear tell of a Naval engagement 
in Hampton Roads, Virginia.  Between two 
Iron clad vessels.  The Monitor, which was 
the Union gunboat and the Merrimack, our 
gallant ship.  It was renamed to the CSS 
Virginia, but some folks still call her the 
Merrimack.  It was a horrendous battle.  The 
CSS Virginia had gone into Hampton Roads and 
managed to destroy the US frigate Congress 
and the sloop of war Cumberland also 
inflecting severe damage on the USS Minnesota.  
The Monitor was sent in to protect what was 
left of the US Fleet and accomplished this goal 
by fighting to a draw with the CSS Virginia, 
with the Virginia with drawing leaving the 
Monitor in control of the Bay.  

There have been small skirmishes around the 
State here, nothing like the Battles that rage 
elsewhere.  Bowling Green, KY was evacuated in 
February by the Confederate troops, Clarksville, 
TN was occupied by Federal troops on the 19th 
of February.  The State Capital was moved by 
our Governor to Memphis on the 20th.  
Chattanooga was occupied by our Boys in March 
under General John B. Floyd.  I hear tell also 
that the Commander of the Army of the Potomac 
for the Union, George B. McCellan was relived 
of command on March 11th.  The Union has a 
General fighting here in the West by the name 
of Ulysses S. Grant.  He seems to be a valiant 
and tireless Commander.  I believe he is a Major
 General.  I am get so confused with the 
formalities of War.  Our Forts along the Mighty 
Mississippi are falling one at a time to this 
General Grant.  

In April of this year there was a terrible Battle 
right here in our own State.  The Battle of Shiloh 
or as the Yankees called it Pittsburgh Landing.  
It was a terrible battle with about 23,500 
casualties on both sides.  Many a brave lad on 
both sides, gave the ultimate price for their 
beliefs that day.  Our own Commanding General, 
Albert Sidney Johnston, falls mortally wounded.  
A musket ball having severed his femoral artery 
in his leg, and bleeds to death, refusing to 
summon his own Confederate Doctors who are 
busy tending to the Federal wounded that day.  
What a brave and gallant Commander to our Army 
he was.  General U.S. Grant was in command that 
day of the forces for the Union Army.  I fear he 
will be a Commander to be reckoned with.

In May of this year, Williamsburg, VA was 
occupied by Federal forces.  There was also a 
Battle near Richmond, the Capital of the 
Confederacy in June.  The Battle of the Seven 
Days I believe it was called.  Our Commanding 
General Robert E. Lee, saved Richmond from 
certain capture.  It seems that most of this 
War is taking place in the East, which is 
fine with me.  I know that must be a 
disheartening and cruel thing to say, but 
things around here are bad enough as is.  

The lack of the basic necessities of life, the 
things you took for granted, like salt and 
sugar, even the price of flour has gone up so 
much that even those with money will not pay 
the price for it.  We are fairly self 
sufficient here.  We have gone back to the 
basics of milling our own wheat for flour and 
we have taken to not using the money of the 
Confederacy but dealing in gold and silver.  
What little of that we have.  

My husband Enoch, has freed all the slaves that 
we have here on the Farm.  Some have stayed as 
it is the only home they have ever known, but 
others have left to find there place in the 
world elsewhere, far away from this War that 
rages all around us.  It was always our intent 
to do this, free what slaves we owned.  Some 
folks around here think hard of us because of 
what Enoch has done.  Said that is has caused 
some unrest among the slaves that are still 
owned by others in Putnam County.  Even Uncle 
Abraham has not freed any of his slaves. But 
that is his choice to make, no one can make it 
for you.  I wonder how much longer this War will 
rage on.