02 - Confederate Girls Diary by Sarah Morgan Dawson

Follow the life of Sarah Morgan Dawson, a 20-year-old woman from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as she documents her experiences during the American Civil War in this compelling diary. As war unfolds, she finds herself in the heart of the conflict, her familys allegiances split between the North and South. Despite her fathers disapproval of secession, he sides with the South when Louisiana secedes from the Union. Her elder brother, however, supports the Union, but refuses to fight against his fellow Southerners. Sarah, a determined Confederate, chronicles her daily life, from mundane household chores to romantic escapades, against the backdrop of war. Her self-taught prose vividly captures her experiences; fleeing Baton Rouge during a bombardment, suffering a debilitating spinal injury without access to proper medical care, witnessing the looting of her home by Northern soldiers, enduring life under General Butlers rule in New Orleans, and grappling with the harsh realities of war. Through her words, we gain invaluable insight into the experiences of those living behind the lines during this bitter conflict. Sarahs diary is a testament to her time, offering a raw and honest perspective of a region ravaged by war.