FromFrom Mary Chestnut’s Civil Mary Chestnut’s Civil WarWar

By Mary Boykin Miller By Mary Boykin Miller ChestnutChestnut

About Mary ChestnutAbout Mary Chestnut

Born in 1823Born in 1823

Daughter of US Senator from South Daughter of US Senator from South Carolina Stephen Miller and Mary Carolina Stephen Miller and Mary BoykinBoykin

Well educatedWell educated

Grew up in Charleston, South Grew up in Charleston, South CarolinaCarolina

Married James Chestnut, Jr. in April Married James Chestnut, Jr. in April of 1840of 1840

Husband elected to the US SenateHusband elected to the US Senate

Chestnut became very close friends Chestnut became very close friends of Varina and Jefferson Davis as well of Varina and Jefferson Davis as well as many congressional members who as many congressional members who later became key members of the later became key members of the Confederate governmentConfederate government

James Chestnut became a General James Chestnut became a General and Aide-de-Camp to P.T. and Aide-de-Camp to P.T. Beauregard. Beauregard.

Historical SignificanceHistorical Significance

Doubts about slavery, fears for the future Doubts about slavery, fears for the future of the south and intelligent insights made of the south and intelligent insights made her diary an important chronicle of the war.her diary an important chronicle of the war.

Close friendships with the Confederate Close friendships with the Confederate Government leaders (Means and Government leaders (Means and Manning), gave her rare insight to the Manning), gave her rare insight to the political workings of a warpolitical workings of a war

About the storyAbout the story

Diaries written between February of Diaries written between February of 1861 and July of 18651861 and July of 1865Written in First Person point of view Written in First Person point of view Since this is a Diary she wrote Since this is a Diary she wrote informally because she did not expect informally because she did not expect her entries to get publishedher entries to get publishedDiaries were left to Isabella D. Martin Diaries were left to Isabella D. Martin a close frienda close friend

The diaries were first published in The diaries were first published in 1905 in a heavily edited edition 1905 in a heavily edited edition known as known as A Diary from DixieA Diary from Dixie

In 1949 an annotated edition of In 1949 an annotated edition of A A diary from Dixie diary from Dixie was published was published

Mary Chestnut’s Civil WarMary Chestnut’s Civil War was was published in its current form in 1981published in its current form in 1981

Chestnut was present at many significant Chestnut was present at many significant sites of the civil war including:sites of the civil war including:– MontgomeryMontgomery– RichmondRichmond– CharlestonCharleston

Mary Chestnut’s Civil War Mary Chestnut’s Civil War won the won the Pulitzer Prize in 1982.Pulitzer Prize in 1982.

Selections from the book are featured in Selections from the book are featured in Ken Burns’ Documentary, Ken Burns’ Documentary, The Civil WarThe Civil War

Point of ViewPoint of View

Saw the inside workings of Saw the inside workings of government politicsgovernment politics

Had a close up view of the Had a close up view of the confederate government confederate government

Was effectively an outside observer in Was effectively an outside observer in the middle of everythingthe middle of everything

Difference in point of views?Difference in point of views?

Wouldn’t have known what was going on if Wouldn’t have known what was going on if she was a lower class confederateshe was a lower class confederate

Less accurate account of eventsLess accurate account of events

If she was a northerner she might not have If she was a northerner she might not have even known who was in charge of making even known who was in charge of making the decisionsthe decisions

Literary StyleLiterary Style

JournalJournal

Written informally with personal Written informally with personal thoughtsthoughts

Generally journals are not meant to Generally journals are not meant to be publishedbe published