Contents
| CHAPTER I | |
| PAGE | |
| Washington in the Fifties—Literary Society during Fillmore'sAdministration—John P. Kennedy, G. P. R. James, Mrs.Gales, and Mrs. Seaton—Anna Cora Mowatt | [3] |
| CHAPTER II | |
| President Pierce's Inauguration—The New Cabinet—Mr.Marcy prescribes Court Dress with Varying Results—JeffersonDavis—Sam Houston—General Scott—WashingtonIrving—Adelina Patti and Mrs. Glasgow—Adviceof an "Old Resident" and its Unfortunate Result | [15] |
| CHAPTER III | |
| Mr. Buchanan and his Cabinet—Roger A. Pryor's Mission toGreece—The Court of Athens—The Maid of Athens—TheBall at the Hotel de Ville—Queen Victoria's Dressand Dancing—The Countess Guiccioli—Early Housekeepingin Washington | [38] |
| CHAPTER IV | |
| The President at Church—Levee at the White House—ADinner Party at the White House—Miss Harriet Lane—Lordand Lady Napier—Ball in their Honor—Baronand Madame Stoëckle—Madame Bodisco—The FirstJapanese Embassy to the United States | [47] |
| CHAPTER V | |
| Great Names on the Rolls of the Supreme Court, Senate, andHouse of Representatives—Pen Picture of Stephen A.Douglas—Incident at a Ball—Mrs. Douglas—VanityFair, "Caps, Gowns, Petticoats, and Petty Exhibitions"—DécolletéBodices—A Society Dame's Opinion thereon | [66] |
| CHAPTER VI | |
| Beautiful Women in Washington during Mr. Buchanan's Administration—Influenceof Southern Women in Society—ConversationalTalent—Over the Demi-tasse after Dinner—Overthe Low Tea-table—Hon. John Y. Mason andthe Lady who changed her Mind—The Evening Party—BrilliantTalkers and Good Suppers | [80] |
| CHAPTER VII | |
| The Thirty-sixth Congress—Stormy Scenes in the House ofRepresentatives—Abusive and Insulting Language—Ruptureof Social Relations—Visit from General Cass atMidnight—The Midnight Conference of Southern Leaders—Nominationsfor the Presidency—The Heated Campaignand the "Unusual Course" of Stephen A. Douglas—Authorof the Memorable Words of Mr. Seward, "IrrepressibleConflict" | [93] |
| CHAPTER VIII | |
| Memorable Days in the History of the Country—A Torch-lightProcession in Virginia—An Uninvited Listener to aMidnight Speech—Wedding of Miss Parker and Mr.Bouligny—The President learns of the Secession ofSouth Carolina—Admiral Porter visits his South CarolinaFriends—The Last New Year's Day in Washington—PartingWords in Congress—The Setting Sun of aHappy Day | [107] |
| CHAPTER IX | |
| The Fall of Fort Sumter—Virginia sends "Peace Ambassadors"to Washington—Conventions in Richmond—Ordinanceof Secession—Rally of Virginians—Enthusiasmof the Women—Soldiers' Outfits | [120] |
| CHAPTER X | |
| March of the Volunteers—Sail down James River—Firingthe First Gun of the Regiment—A Peaceful Volley | [134] |
| CHAPTER XI | |
| A Virginia Tobacco Plantation—"Health, Peace, and Competence"—CountryDinners—A Negro Funeral—GeneralMcClellan and the Boys' Regiment | [146] |
| CHAPTER XII | |
| Battle of Bull Run—Life at Smithfield—General Pemberton—FirstSight of the Enemy—A Sudden Change of Base—Battleof Williamsburg—General McClellan—GeneralJoseph E. Johnston—Battle of Seven Pines—Richmondrealizes the Horrors of War | [160] |
| CHAPTER XIII | |
| The Seven Days' Battles around Richmond—Pryor's Brigadeordered to the Front—Finding a Wounded Soldier—MidnightWatch after the Fight—Work in the Hospital—Ministrationsof Virginia Women—Death of a ChristianSoldier—Colonel Brokenborough's Sufferings, Fortitude,and Death—Richmond saved | [174] |
| CHAPTER XIV | |
| Campaign in Maryland and Northern Virginia—Battles ofManassas, South Mountain, and Sharpsburg (Antietam)—WinterQuarters in Culpeper—Stories around the Campfire—Devotionto General Lee—Incidents related by hisAide, Colonel Taylor | [193] |
| CHAPTER XV | |
| The Foraging Party on the Blackwater—Incidents of CampLife—A Hazardous Experiment in "Blockade Running"—Letterfrom "Agnes"—A Colored Man's Views of hisown Place in Time of War—Fight on the Blackwater—RichmondGossip from "Agnes" | [210] |
| CHAPTER XVI | |
| The Bread Riot at Richmond, described by "Agnes"—Correspondencebetween the President, General Lee, andGeneral Pryor—A Great Victory at Chancellorsville—GeneralLee's Order upon entering Pennsylvania—Cornwallis'sOrders in 1781—Incident of Vicksburg Campaign—DreadfulDefeat at Gettysburg—Surrender ofVicksburg | [237] |
| CHAPTER XVII | |
| The Winter of 1863-1864—Personal Experiences—PatrickHenry's Granddaughter—The Spring and Summer inPetersburg—Famine, and Some of the Women who enduredit—John tells of the Averill Raid—General OrdersNo. 7—Domestic Manufactures—General Lee's Dinner—HisService of "Plate" | [251] |
| CHAPTER XVIII | |
| Siege of Petersburg—Fight at Petersburg, June 9—GeneralLee arrives at Petersburg—General Grant shells the City—Conferenceof Pierre Soulé, General D. H. Hill, GeneralLongstreet, and General Pryor—Battle at Port Walthall—AGerman Maiden and her Lover—Substitutefor Medals of Honor—A Perilous Commission—Explosionof the Mine under Confederate Fortifications | [270] |
| CHAPTER XIX | |
| August in the Besieged City—The Dead Soldier—Return toCottage Farm—General Lee makes his Headquarters nearCottage Farm—General Wilcox encamps in Yard andGarden—Picket Firing between Friendly Foes—NewUses for Champagne Glasses | [292] |
| CHAPTER XX | |
| Capture of General Pryor—John and the Negro Trader—Expedientsfor the Support of my Family—A New Usefor Ball Dresses—Capture of the Rev. Dr. Pryor | [306] |
| CHAPTER XXI | |
| Christmas at Cottage Farm—Dark Days of Famine and Desertionin the Army—The Psalm of Life—A Déjeuner à laFourchette—"Starvation Parties"—The Peace Commission—TheIrish M.P. from Donegal—General Leereveals the Desperate Condition of his Army—A Visitfrom General Lee | [319] |
| CHAPTER XXII | |
| General Pryor's Return from Captivity—Story of his Releasefrom Prison and Interview with Mr. Lincoln—April 2—Defeatat Cottage Farm—Surrender of Petersburg—Entranceof Federal Troops—Personal Experiences | [338] |
| CHAPTER XXIII | |
| Evacuation of Richmond described by "Agnes"—Mr. Lincoln'sEntrance into Richmond as related by AdmiralPorter | [354] |
| CHAPTER XXIV | |
| Arrival of Southern Prisoners of War—General Sheridan"knows how to make the terms for a house that suitshim"—"We've caught Jeff Davis"—General Sheridan'sVisit—Frank Expression of a Yankee Soldier—GeneralWarren tells us of Lee's Surrender | [361] |
| CHAPTER XXV | |
| Incidents and Events—Loyalty of Domestic Servants—TheFirst Army Ration to Destitute Women—Mrs. Hartsuff—Returnto Cottage Farm—A Scene of Desolation—TheLonely Vigil—Kindness of Negroes and Fidelity ofOld Family Servants | [372] |
| CHAPTER XXVI | |
| Tourists—The Reverend Brother and the Young People—TheArmy of Norway Rats—The "Met Bullets"—GeneralGrant—The Destruction of Fortifications andChange of Base—In the Garden at Cottage Farm—TheVoice in the Night | [390] |
| CHAPTER XXVII | |
| The First Decoration Day—The Old Church at Blandford—TheFirst Memorial Association—Covering the Soldiers'Graves with Flowers—"Until the Day Dawn" | [404] |
| CHAPTER XXVIII | |
| Virginia in the Early Days of Peace—Behavior of the Freedmen—Clara'sHome-coming and Death—The Welcometo the New Home—General Pryor removes to New YorkCity | [412] |
Illustrations
| General Robert E. Lee on "Traveller." From a photograph by Miley, Lexington, Va. | [Frontispiece] |
| FACING PAGE | |
| Appomattox, Residence of the Eppes Family. This estate at City Point on James River has been in the Eppes family since it was first patented, through a grant from Charles First to Colonel Francis Eppes in 1635 | [136] |
| Westover. Owned in 1619 by Henry West, fourth Lord Delaware | [140] |
| Lower Brandon. The estate of "Brandon" (since divided) was patented in 1617 by Captain John Martin. In 1720 it was conveyed to Nathaniel Harrison, and has remained ever since in the possession of the Harrison family | [144] |
| The Oaks | [148] |
| Malvern Hill. Named after the hills that divide the counties of Hereford and Worcester. Here one of the most sanguinary conflicts of the war took place. The old dwelling-house, a fine specimen of colonial architecture, is still standing | [188] |
| Hon. Roger A. Pryor. From a photograph, about 1870 | [218] |
| Siege Map of Petersburg. Drawn by Federal engineers, and used by the Union Army throughout the last year of the war | [350] |
| Old Blandford Church, Petersburg, Va. Built in 1734. From a photograph taken since the roof was renewed; it was not roofed in 1867 | [408] |
The author desires to acknowledge her indebtedness to President Lyon G. Tyler of William and Mary College for information regarding the colonial homes on James River. The pictures of Appomattox, Lower Brandon, and Malvern Hill are from photographs by Mr. H. P. Cook of Richmond, Va.
PEACE AND WAR
Reminiscences of Peace and War