Mrs. Preston was offended by the story of Buck's performance
at the Ive's. General Breckinridge told her “it was the most beautifully
unconscious act he ever saw.'” The General was leaning against the wall, Buck
standing guard by him “on her two feet.” The crowd surged that way, and she
held out her arm to protect him from the rush. After they had all passed she
handed him his crutches, and they, too, moved slowly away. Mrs. Davis said: “Any
woman in Richmond would have done the same joyfully, but few could do it so
gracefully. Buck is made so conspicuous by her beauty, whatever she does can not
fail to attract attention.'”
Johnny stayed at home only one day; then went to his
plantation, got several thousand Confederate dollars, and in the afternoon
drove out with Mrs. K–––. At the Bee Store he spent a thousand of his money;
bought us gloves and linen. Well, one can do without gloves, but linen is next
to life itself.
Yesterday the President walked home from church with me. He
said he was so glad to see my husband at church; had never seen him there
before; remarked on how well he looked, etc. I replied that he looked so well “because
you have never before seen him in the part of ‘the right man in the right
place.’” My husband has no fancy for being planted in pews, but he is utterly
Christian in his creed.
SOURCE: Mary Boykin Chesnut, Edited by Isabella D. Martin
and Myrta Lockett Avary, A Diary From Dixie, p. 291-2
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