The Diary of Anna Hasell Thomas (July 1864 - May 1865)

The Diary of Anna Hasell Thomas (July 1864 - May 1865)

“December 26, 1864-May 31, 1865. Charleston, South Carolina, and Vicinity. The proud but defeated port city as observed by a native Carolinian who had been living in New York City and came back to visit her home area. Mrs. Thomas traveled from New York City to Ridgeway, SC, to visit her mother. The apprehension and devastation created by Sherman's march through South Carolina were evident. Throughout South Carolina rumors of the impending crisis and the atrocities committed by the Yankees were rampant. Before the Federal troops entered her mother's estate, the family had the slaves bury the eatables and silverware. During the week of February 20-26, 1865, the ransacking troops found nearly everything of value, however, and enticed some black girls and all the men to desert. Thomas and the remaining slaves were left with few provisions when the soldiers moved on. As the Thomas family traveled back to Charleston to return to New York, she observed the effects of further pillaging by the Yankees, as well as by the Confederate "scouts."

Anna Hasell Thomas

Charles E. Thomas

1973

Journal Article

Anna Hasell Thomas

Charles E. Thomas

The Diary of Anna Hasell Thomas (July 1864 - May 1865)

The South Carolina Historical Magazine

74

3

1973

128-143

JSTOR

Journal Article

0038-3082

2019-10-28 22:12:29

JSTOR