Lot #401

Civil War Diary

Description

Year long Civil War diary of Hattie Smith mentioning many important events including Lee’s surrender and Lincoln’s assassination

Diary from 1865, 3.5 x 5, bearing a presentation on the first page, 'Presented to Hattie Smith as a Christmas present from her Father, December 25, 1864.' Smith makes entries on an almost daily basis, mostly reflecting on the weather and her personal life. As the Civil War approaches its conclusion, she proudly adds the important news in her entries. Entries include Tuesday April 5, 1865, 'Petersburg ours! Petersburg ours!,' Friday April 7, 1865 'Richmond ours, Richmond ours!,' Monday April 10, 1865 'Good news. Lee and his Army have all surrendered to Gen. Grant,' Thursday, April 13, 1865 'Pres. Lincoln dead, Abraham Lincoln dead.' Accompanying the diary are 48 cabinet photos and tintypes, presumably of her family and friends, with most identified on the reverse and many mentioned in the diary. In very good condition, with some scattered soiling to diary pages, small but legible text and some light wear to photos. RRAuction COA. An interesting research project for the patient person.

Auction Info

• Auction Title:
• Dates: #283 - Ended March 17, 2004