I was asked to the Tognos’ tea, so refused a drive with Mary
Preston. As I sat at my solitary casemate, waiting for the time to come for the
Tognos, saw Mrs. Preston's landau pass, and Mr. Venable making Mary laugh at
some of his army stories, as only Mr. Venable can. Already I felt that I had
paid too much for my whistle — that is, the Togno tea. The Gibbeses, Trenholms,
Edmund Rhett, there. Edmund Rhett has very fine eyes and makes fearful play
with them. He sits silent and motionless, with his hands on his knees, his head
bent forward, and his eyes fixed upon you. I could think of nothing like it but
a setter and a covey of partridges.
As to President Davis, he sank to profounder deeps of abuse
of him than even Gonzales. I quoted Yancey: “crew may not like their captain,
but if they are mad enough to mutiny while a storm is raging, all hands are
bound to go to the bottom.” After that I contented myself with a mild shake of
the head when I disagreed with him, and at last I began to shake so
persistently it amounted to incipient palsy. “Jeff Davis,” he said, “is conceited,
wrong-headed, wranglesome, obstinate — a traitor.” “Now I have borne much in
silence,” said I at last, “but that is pernicious nonsense. Do not let us waste
any more time listening to your quotations from the Mercury.”
He very good-naturedly changed the subject, which was easy
just then, for a delicious supper was on the table ready for us. But Doctor
Gibbes began anew the fighting. He helped me to some pâté — “Not foie
gras,” said Madame
Togno, “pâté perdreaux.” Doctor
Gibbes, however, gave it a flavor of his own. “Eat it,” said he, “it is good
for you; rich and wholesome; healthy as cod-liver oil.”
A queer thing happened. At the post-office a man saw a small
boy open with a key the box of the Governor and the Council, take the contents
of the box and run for his life. Of course, this man called to the urchin to
stop. The urchin did not heed, but seeing himself pursued, began tearing up the
letters and papers. He was caught and the fragments were picked up. Finding
himself a prisoner, he pointed out the negro who gave him the key. The negro
was arrested.
Governor Pickens called to see me to-day. We began with Fort
Sumter. For an hour did we hammer at that fortress. We took it, gun by gun. He
was very pleasant and friendly in his manner.
James Chesnut has been so nice this winter; so reasonable
and considerate — that is, for a man. The night I came from Madame Togno's,
instead of making a row about the lateness of the hour, he said he was, “so
wide awake and so hungry.” I put on my dressing-gown and scrambled some eggs,
etc., there on our own fire. And with our feet on the fender and the small
supper-table between us, we enjoyed the supper and glorious gossip. Rather a
pleasant state of things when one's own husband is in good humor and cleverer
than all the men outside.
This afternoon, the entente cordiale still subsisting,
Maum Mary beckoned me out mysteriously, but Mr. Chesnut said: “Speak out, old
woman; nobody here but myself.” “Mars Nathum Davis wants to speak to her,” said
she. So I hurried off to the drawing-room, Mama Mary flapping her
down-at-the-heels shoes in my wake. “He's gwine bekase somebody done stole his
boots. How could he stay bedout boots?” So Nathan said good-by. Then we met
General Gist, Maum Mary still hovering near, and I congratulated him on being
promoted. He is now a brigadier. This he received with modest complaisance. “I
knowed he was a general,” said Maum Mary as he passed on,” he told me as soon
as he got in his room befo’ his boy put down his trunks.”
As Nathan, the unlucky, said good-by, he informed me that a
Mr. Reed from Montgomery was in the drawing-room and wanted to see me. Mr. Reed
had traveled with our foreign envoy, Yancey. I was keen for news from abroad.
Mr. Reed settled that summarily, “Mr. Yancey says we need not have one jot of
hope. He could bowstring Mallory for not buying arms in time. The very best
citizens wanted to depose the State government and take things into their own
hands, the powers that be being inefficient. Western men are hurrying to the
front, bestirring themselves. In two more months we shall be ready.” What could
I do but laugh? I do hope the enemy will be considerate and charitable enough
to wait for us.
Mr. Reed's calm faith in the power of Mr. Yancey's eloquence
was beautiful to see. He asked for Mr. Chesnut. I went back to our rooms,
swelling with news like a pouter pigeon. Mr. Chesnut said: “Well! four hours — a
call from Nathan Davis of four hours!” Men are too absurd! So I bear the honors
of my forty years gallantly. I can but laugh. “Mr. Nathan Davis went by the
five-o'clock train,” I said; “it is now about six or seven, maybe eight. I have
had so many visitors. Mr. Reed, of Alabama, is asking for you out there.” He
went without a word, but I doubt if he went to see Mr. Reed, my laughing had
made him so angry.
At last Lincoln threatens us with a proclamation abolishing
slavery1 — here in the free Southern Confederacy; and they say
McClellan is deposed. They want more fighting — I mean the government, whose
skins are safe, they want more fighting, and trust to luck for the skill of the
new generals.
_______________
1 The Emancipation Proclamation was not actually issued
until September 22, 1862, when it was a notice to the Confederates to return to
the Union, emancipation being proclaimed as a result of their failure to do so.
The real proclamation, freeing the slaves, was delayed until January 1,1863,
when it was put forth as a war measure Mrs. Chesnut's reference is doubtless to
President Lincoln's Message to Congress, March 6, 1862, in which he made recommendations
regarding the abolition of slavery.
SOURCE: Mary Boykin Chesnut, Edited by Isabella D. Martin
and Myrta Lockett Avary, A Diary From Dixie, p. 150-3
