2005-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2005
A truly touching war-date Confederate home-front 5 1/2" x 3 3/4" leather bound dairy begun in 1861 by a raw Southern recruit, then used by his mother to describe events in Georgia during Sherman's Atlanta campaign through the end of the war. Her son, Private Reuben F. Schumpert enlisted in July 1861, at age 19, in the Sumter Light Georgia Artillery intended to use the diary and penciled his name on the inside front cover while adding his first entry reading, in full: "I joined Capt. Cutts Company. The Sumter Flying Artillery July 22, 1861 under A. N. Bruce recruiting officer and stared for our company stationed at Manassas Junction, Va., July 30, 1861…". After this, his first and only entry, he died on Sept. 2, 1861 of typhoid fever at Manassas. Then his grieving mother, needing a keepsake from her fallen soldier son, keep the diary and penciled this touching epitaph, reading, in part: "…Alas! The heart that conceived and the hand that penned these lines are now cold in death's icy embrace. That warm hopeful heart has ceased its throbbing and that ready to strike for his country's liberties is chilled and motionless…first in the fight and first in the arms of the white winged angel of glory…". During July 1864, war once again touched the Schumpert family at Americus, Georgia. Now, the grief stricken woman shifted her concerns to her husband who was forced into the Georgia militia during Sherman's drive upon Atlanta. On 44 pages she chronicled her thoughts from his absence during Sherman's Atlanta campaign, the March to the Sea, and of fleeing before advancing Union soldiers after Lee surrender in 1865, reading, in very small part: "…[July 31, 1864]…on the 19th of this month my dear husband left me to enter the state service according to the order of the governor's office…I bade him goodbye with an almost breaking heart…it was like tearing out my very heart strings…the thought that he may never return almost kills me…[Sept. 5]…my darling husband…has spent five days at home…and I have spent two with him while at Anderson where they were guarding the Yankee prisoners…[Sept. 11]…this morning I started Jerry to Griffin, [Ga.,] at the request of my husband. I am glad he made the request for I know he needs a servant…if I could penetrate the vail that hides the future from mortal sight how gladly would I do it…we 'do not know what a day will bring forth.' We may be stripped of all worthy goods…the enemy may be at our doors tomorrow. They may leave us without a morsel to eat. Oh! what dreadful times…a just God will not allow us to be conquered…[Sept. 19]…on the 13th of this month my dear husband returned…the militia was disbanded for a month at…which time all under fifty will return to the army. As Mr. S. ___is exempt I hope he will not have to return although he under fifty…Oh! I do hope he will never leave me again…[Dec. 26]…my loved one again left me to join the army…he has quite a safe position…that of commissary…all I fear is his being taken prisoner…there was a danger of his being captured…[Jan. 1, 1865]…the year 1864 is numbered with the past…Oh! many a soldier, brave and true has poured out his life blood for his country. The sun shines bright and beautiful today but it shines on many a soldiers newly made grave…to me only brings sadness. I never knew sorrow until last year…[Jan. 29]…many cheering reports have come to our ears…it is reported that England, France & Spain will recognize our independence by the fifth of March provided we emancipate our slaves in the course of fifty years…[Mar. 3]…my darling one came home on a twenty day furlough…I scarcely knew him…[April 22]…on the 15th April the militia were again ordered out. Their place of rendezvous to be at Columbus. The enemy was marching rapidly at that time and on the 17th they took possession of the city. The militia was then ordered to Macon. On the…18th Mr. S. & I started…Mr. S. had no boots or shoes…and was compelled to…get some before he could go to Macon. We got one mile from home and met a man coming at full speed [who] told us the Yankees were marching on Americus. We went on about half mile farther and met a number of people…they all told us to turn back…as Mr. S. would be captured. Great excitement prevailed throughout the country…the farmers run off their stock…yesterday…reports that Lee had surrendered…many say we are whipped but I will never believe that…the enemy have taken Macon and have not cut the rail road…they destroy no private property…it is my honest conviction that Gov. Brown has sold the state. I can't account for the change in the enemy in any other way. They went through South Carolina…destroying everything…private or public, insulting women…robbing them of their jewelry…committing every depredations the fiends could conceive…while in Georgia they won't even cut the railroad…the militia that all went to Macon were all captured…Mr. S. has gone to town to see if he can find out the truth of it all…[April 23]…we are as much in the dark as ever. An armistice has been declared by the generals…if Lee has not surrendered (and I don't believe he has)…we will [not] be taken into the Union on good terms…[April 25]…how miraculous it seems just as the enemy was at our doors, just as we were about to be ruined…the armistice was declared and the enemy stopped…[May 8]…a great many of our poor…battle seasoned soldiers have returned home…our great, good, brave Gen. Lee has surrendered. He had only ten thousand…Gen. Grant had two hundred thousand. Grant though our enemy acted nobly. When Lee gave up his sword he handed it back…and told him…that he (Lee) was not whipped he was only overpowered…the surrender was made under an apple tree. The soldiers dug it up…Johnson has disbanded his soldiers…Lincoln…has been shot and Seward…assassinated…Lincoln was shot…by Mr. Booth the actor…Andy Johnson…refusing to ratify a treaty that Grant, Sherman, Lee, and Johnson had made was also assassinated…on his being assassinated they appointed some one. I have forgotten the name…president pro tem…it is believed by many. We are truly living in eventful times…". Much, much more touching content on her love for her husband and thoughts of the war. Light soiling and wear, else very good.
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