Diary of Malvina S. Waring, February 9, 1865

Finished Les Miserables, Victor Hugo's grand work. What munificence of power! What eloquence! What strength! How sublime even its absurdities! A waggish acquaintance of mine calls it Lee's miserables. I must write a little note to James Wood Davidson and thank him for this treat. He is ever kind to think of me when it comes to a literary tid-bit.

SOURCE: South Carolina State Committee United Daughters of the Confederacy, South Carolina Women in the Confederacy, Vol. 1, “A Confederate Girl's Diary,” p. 273

Diary Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes: Saturday Evening, January 17, 1863

The two wintriest days yet, yesterday and today. Snowed and blowed yesterday all day. My open shake roof let the snow through in clouds; felt like sitting by my fire with an umbrella over me. Read Victor Hugo's new book, "Les Miserables." Good, very.

Kanawha river rose fast — about three feet yesterday, all from the Gauley. New River doesn't rise until Gauley runs out.

Lieutenant Hastings and some of the new lieutenants, viz., Abbott, Seamans, and part of the sergeants, returned today. They tell of strong "Secesh" feeling and talk in Ohio. The blunder at Vicksburg, the wretched discords at the North, and the alarming financial troubles give things a gloomy appearance tonight. But Lucy and the boys are coming! That will be a happiness.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 390-1

Diary of Sergeant Major Luman Harris Tenney: May 18, 1863

Got Victor Hugo and finished it. An interesting and profitable work, a few exceptions. Capt. Hayes and A. B. called a little while. Gave them some pickles and H. bread and butter. In the evening wrote to Fannie. A delightful day. What a blessing, such weather and good health. Thede has a troublesome boil.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 70

Diary of Sergeant Major Luman Harris Tenney: May 15, 1863

Theodore brought over a letter from Melissa. Good. Reported this morning for duty. I am glad we can be together. We now belong to the 1st Cav. Brig. 4th Div. 23rd Army Corps. Another beautiful day. Morgan expected. Thede and Dod got two beef creatures and butchered. Wrote a letter to Minnie. Read some in Victor Hugo.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 69

Diary of Sergeant Major Luman Harris Tenney: May 14, 1863

Went down to H Co. after morning work and played chess. Beat Capt. N. three times and John Devlin four times. Cleaned up my revolvers. Col. Abbey appointed acting Brigade Com. Says Thede can be detailed here. Good. He has been sick with diarrhoea. Getting a little better. In evening read in “Les Miserables.” Has been a pleasant day. Girl of McGuire's buried today. Alarmed last night. Morgan coming.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 69

Diary of Sergeant Major Luman Harris Tenney: May 9, 1863

Killed beef for Sunday. Read considerably in “Les Miserables.” Reviewed “Fantine.” Never read a book which contained so much truth and sense on every page. Rob and I took a good bath and changed our clothes. Wrote home.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 69

Diary of Sergeant Major Luman Harris Tenney: April 25, 1863

Played chess with Chester. One game ahead. Was down to see Charlie, writing to Will Hudson. Mr. Brown preached in the evening at the church. Read Fantine in “Les Miserables.” Much more interested than at first. Splendid. In the evening wrote to Delos. This is his birthday, “B. F.” anniversary.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 67

Diary of Sergeant Major Luman Harris Tenney: March 30, 1863

After issuing the bread and beef went to Columbus with Chester. It was a delightful ride, the air so mild and warm. Went to the Blind Asylum to see about a collar. Went to a bookstore and bought “Les Miserables.” Got back about 5. Studied and recited lesson in evening. After recitation wrote to Lucy Randall. I pity the poor girl. She has the dark side of life.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 61

Diary of Sergeant Major Luman Harris Tenney: April 1, 1863

After breakfast and morning work, issued rations. Then cleaned up nicely. Practiced my horse some at jumping. Is learning nicely. Read some in Gail Hamilton and “Les Miserables.” In the evening attended class at Co. H and wrote to Fred Allen.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 61

Diary of Sergeant Major Luman Harris Tenney: Saturday January 24, 1863

Spent a portion of the afternoon at Fannie's. F. Henderson was there and we had a good time. Got home early and read in “Fantine” and visited with Ma. Read some in the February Atlantic.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 54

John Hay to Miss Mary Ridgely, January 22, 1863

Executive Mansion,

Washington, Jan. 22, 1863.

MY DEAR MISS MARY:

I suppose you have long before this decided that I was never again to be believed or trusted, it has been so long since you kindly gave me permission to send you these books. But I am not so much to blame as you would think. I have made myself a nuisance at the book-stores asking for them ever since I returned. The demand for them, Mr. Philp informs me, has been so great that the supply was temporarily exhausted and I have been compelled to wait until now for a complete set.

I have just finished reading the entire work. I think nothing approaching it in sustained excellence has been written in our day. It is a great novel, a splendid historical monogram, a brilliant theological disquisition, and a profound treatise of political philosophy. No man in our day has thought it worth while to use the vehicle of fiction for the transmission of such weighty and portentous truths. No philosopher or statesman has had sufficient grace and vigor of imagination to envelope his ideas in a garb so attractive, and no novelist has been gifted with that strength and scope of intellect which would enable him to grasp with so firm a hand the gravest problems of society and progress. In delicacy and fervor of fancy and depth of pathos, in sustained and unflagging power, and in absolute mastery of the machinery of artistic construction, I have read nothing that can even be brought into comparison with it.¹

Of course there will be many things in it which you will not approve, and many which you will not understand fully until you have finished the book; and even then if you are dissatisfied, it is not with the author but with society and the great social wrongs against which he is a crusader.

I envy you heartily, Miss Mary, the leisure which you are to devote to this wonderful book. I deeply regretted the quiet and “the tranquil mind,” with which I should have read it in Springfield a year or two ago.

Very truly your friend as then and there.

[JOHN HAY.]

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¹ The French edition of “Les Miserables.”

SOURCES: Clara B. Hay, Letters of John Hay and Extracts from Diary, Volume 1, p. 70-2;  Michael Burlingame, Editor, At Lincoln’s Side: John Hay’s Civil War Correspondence and Selected Writings, p. 30-1.

Diary of Mary Boykin Chesnut: December 14, 1863

Drove out with Mrs. Davis. She had a watch in her hand which some poor dead soldier wanted to have sent to his family. First, we went to her mantua-maker, then we drove to the Fair Grounds where the band was playing. Suddenly, she missed the watch. She remembered having it when we came out of the mantua-maker's. We drove back instantly, and there the watch was lying near the steps of the little porch in front of the house. No one had passed in, apparently; in any case, no one had seen it.

Preston Hampton went with me to see Conny Cary. The talk was frantically literary, which Preston thought hard on him. I had just brought the St. Denis number of Les Miserables.

Sunday, Christopher Hampton walked to church with me. Coming out, General Lee was seen slowly making his way down the aisle, bowing royally to right and left. I pointed him out to Christopher Hampton when General Lee happened to look our way. He bowed low, giving me a charming smile of recognition. I was ashamed of being so pleased. I blushed like a schoolgirl.

We went to the White House. They gave us tea. The President said he had been on the way to our house, coming with all the Davis family, to see me, but the children became so troublesome they turned back. Just then, little Joe rushed in and insisted on saying his prayers at his father's knee, then and there. He was in his night-clothes.

SOURCE: Mary Boykin Chesnut, Edited by Isabella D. Martin and Myrta Lockett Avary, A Diary From Dixie, p. 264

Diary of Salmon P. Chase: Friday August 15, 1862

p. and r. un peu de Marius.¹ Saw in "Republican" account of interview invited by President with colored people, and his talk to them on Colonization. How much better would be a manly protest against prejudice, against color! and a wise effort to give Freemen homes in America! A military Order, emancipating at least the slaves of South Carolina, Georgia, and the Gulf States, would do more to terminate the war and ensure an early restoration of solid peace and prosperity than anything else that can be devised.

Commissioner Boutwell breakfasted with me. After breakfast took up the appointments in Indiana and Ohio, and arranged both substantially to my satisfaction, and I hope, of all concerned. President sent for me about the Connecticut appointments. Found there Collector Babcock, State Senator Pratt (or Piatt) and Secy. Welles. Arranged the business. The State Senator got a Mr. Wright, of Middlesex, with Mr. Welles' consent, vice Cowles. Mr. Dix, by general consent, was substituted for Hammond. — Hollister was agreed to in place of Matherson whom Burnham recommended — Howard was retained at Hartford. The President said he felt much relieved. Returned to Department and instantly engaged on other Tax appointments.

No Cabinet to-day. Went to War Department. Stanton said Halleck had sent Burnside to James River, to act as second in command — or as adviser of McClellan, in reality to control him. He thought the experiment would fail, and wished I would go and see Halleck. Went. Asked about the mission of Burnside. Halleck said he could not disclose it as it was uncertain what it would really turn out to be. Asked him what was the hostile force at Richmond? He thought 75,000 to 80,000 men. Before Pope? About 60,000.—Whole army in Virginia? About 150,000. I thought it not possible, unless Western force was much reduced. He thought a levy en masse had been made, and that it was possible for the army to bring 600,000 to 700,000 into the field. I thought the whole number could not at this time exceed 300,000 to 350,000; of which at least 180,000 to 230,000 were in the West, South-West and South-East. I enquired about East Tennessee and the Mississippi River, but got no satisfactory information on either point. He said, however, that 15,000 men had been sent from Decatur to reinforce Buell, and 15,000 from Grant to Decatur; and that Curtis was needed to prevent further inroads into Missouri. The whole interview was very satisfactory, though the General was very civil. Left with him Memoranda in behalf of Col. Carrington.

The papers show that the rebels mean to execute their threat of treating Pope's officers and soldiers as felons, and not as prisoners of war. This cannot be permitted without shameful disgrace. When will the Administration awake to its duty.

Rode out with Parsons. Judge Harris called at night when Boutwell and I were engaged on Tax appointments. I invited him to breakfast in the morning.

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¹ Probably "r." is to be interpreted as "read" and "un peu de Marius" as the part of Victor Hugo's Les Miserables which bears this name. What " p." means is not so clear.

SOURCE: Annual Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1902, Vol. 2, p. 59-60