Mary Beckley Bristow
1863 continued: The armies of heaven
July 5th 63.
Took our little Nannie1 with me to meeting today. I have no doubt Br Lassing preached well from the 12 Chp. of Hebrews, 26th & 27th verses, but I was so much afraid something would befall my babie, I could not hear to profit. My brother & family left us this evening. Bettie is still in very poor health. O, that the Lord would heal [her], if it be his will. I ask in the name of Jesus.
July 6 63.
Brother Lassing, Bettie Stansifer, Sarah Jane Dickerson, & Huldah Conn spent the day with us. Bettie was more unwell than usual. We had quite a pleasant day.
July 9th.
Have spent the greater part of the day in replying to Brother Dudley's good letter. I could not bear that his kindness should go unacknowledged, though my letter is but a poor return for his. Heard sad news from the Southern Army today.2 I know assuredly that the God of heaven and earth will do right, yet my heart is deeply sad. . . .
July 11th 63.
Started early this morning to Sister Wilson's3 to pay the last respect in my power to my old friend Nancy Wilson. How great a change since I saw her a little over a week ago. Then she was suffering great pain, tossing from side to side with fever. To day all was calm, perfect peace in the poor emaciated clay tabernacle. The spirit had flown to God from hence it came. While standing at her feet the words of the Poet rolled through my mind, "Ah, lovely appearance of death, What sight upon earth is so fair. . . ."
July 16th 63.
|
| Yanks besiege Vicksburg |
My heart is deeply sad, O Lord,
No ray of light doth penetrate the gloom,
No promised sweet from Thy blessed word,
My dungeon's depths illume.
My heart is sad; O give me faith
To trust in thee, my gracious God,
O, turn my heart to what "Thou saith"
Teach me to bear Thy rod.
Teach my sad heart to trust Thee still
Though heaven & earth should shaken be.
Teach me to know and do Thy will
And cast my care, O Lord, on Thee.
July 17th 63.
There is no doubt but Vicksburg has been given up by the Confederates, and surely no human heart ever contained more rebellion, more entire irreconciliation to God's holy and righteous will than mine did last night. . . .
July 26th 63.
Came from Reuben's today. Have been there nearly a week. Went over to be a comfort to my brother & sister, if I could. Knew, judging them by myself, that my presence would be gladly welcomed. My Sister is in deep distress. What can satisfy a Mother's heart when the fate of a darling child is uncertain? General Morgan, with upwards of two thousand of his command are prisoners,5 but we cannot hear that our dear boy is with him, & most sincerely hope he is not, though the most of our neighbors' sons are prisoners. But though the fate of my dear nephew is not yet known, I hope I can say with truth I do feel more resigned to the will of God. I took with me the last No. of the Signs for my brother & sister to read the Warwick Circular.6 Surely I never read anything better calculated to help the helpless to trust in God. . . .
August 6th 1863.
Have heard our boy is not a prisoner. Sent Calvin7 over to let his Mother know it. Have no doubt but it will prove a cordial8 to her aching heart. Although he was left behind because of sickness,9 we would prefer that to seeing his enemies triumph over him and feel disposed to sing with the poet —
Trust him, ye saints, in all your ways,
Pour out your hearts before his face.
When helpers fail and foes invade,
God is our all sufficient aid.
September 4th 63.
. . . Last Friday morning (that is a week ago today) got in my buggy to meet my Sister Statira according to previous arrangement at the turnpike gate to take her on to the Association. It was a cold, disagreeable morning, and I sometimes on the road almost hoped she would disappoint me. But found her waiting. We soon got to the Association and found a much larger congregation there than is common on Fridays. . . . I went with my Sister home for the night. She & I concluded as we were on the road that we had been well paid for going. The next morning we again set off, my Brother & their eldest daughter accompanying us, I having Bettie in my buggy. They went in their own carriage. Old Brother Wilson Thompson10 preached a powerful sermon. . . . But it was the coldest day I ever experienced in August, & we came home after intermission. Br Beeman11 was preaching when we left. I was truly sorry to leave but was really suffering from cold. Got home a little before sun-down. Had a warm fire, a hot cup of coffee. . . . Went to bed, slept soundly under His guardian care, and awoke with determination to get off to meeting as early as possible, though there was a frost that greatly injured persons' crops. My cousin Huldah Conn came in to accompany me and we set off alone. Had to stop and get a kind neighbor to put a shoe on my buggy nag, though it was Sunday. Br Jackson12 was again preaching when we got there, & the crowd was so great we could not get very near the stand, but close enough to hear. . . .
Sept 5th [1863].
I went to meeting today at Sardis but was too unwell to enjoy anything much. Br Lassing read & spoke a little on the third Chapter of Titus. The letter to the Association was read and adopted. There being no further business we came home. Three men with Br Lassing & five women & one little girl made the congregation. Hope the brethren & Sisters may be able to give good excuses for not attending their church meeting. Sister Stansifer begged me hard to spend the evening with her and Bettie, but I felt too poorly; thought I would come home and go to bed. After I had taken a cup of tea I felt so much better, was sorry I did not stay, as Bettie was not well enough to go to meeting. Felt disappointed my brother's family did not come over as usual to our meeting, for it is disheartening to see the members neglecting their meeting.
When any turn from Zion's ways,
Alas, what numbers do,
Methinks I hear my Saviour say
Wilt thou forsake me, too?
Ah, Lord, with such a heart as mine
Unless Thou hold me fast
I feel I must, I shall, decline
And prove like them at last.
Sept 6th 63.
We had a rain last night and until nearly nine o'clock this morning. I was quite unwell, I thought too much so, to ride on horseback, and it was too muddy for the buggy, so I did not go to meeting. Had some serious doubts whether my excuses would pass with the Searcher of hearts. Sister Angeline Wilson,13 Bettie Smith14 & James Wilson15 came home with Anselm from meeting. We spent quite a pleasant evening.
Sept 7th 1863.
Have passed quite a busy day, looking over my fruits, pickles, & preserves, cleaning up, &c, &c. "How oft am I like Martha, vexed, impatient, harried, and perplexed."16 . . .
Sept 16th 1863.
Have passed a very busy day. After breakfast cleaned up my room, then Bittie & I peeled peaches to make an old fashioned pie for dinner.17 Then prepared the fruit & Mat and I put up eleven cans peaches.18 Before we got through, my brother, his wife and daughters came in. Soon General Stephens & Uncle Billy Stephens came.19 Not long after, Harriet Stephens and her little daughter came.20 My nephew Julius Bristow & his wife did not get there until nearly twelve o'clock. Willie & Bittie had been with us all night.21 We spent a very pleasant social day, but very often the thought would intrude [that] this time last year my Mother was here to welcome and enjoy the society of our friends, and the unbidden tear would start, and sadness creep into my heart. . . .
|
| Julius Lucien Bristow |
Sept 18th 1863.
Have been busy about many things to day, but one subject is on my mind and in my heart almost forever when awake, let me be doing what I may or saying what I may. It is the cause of my country. The South has had many reverses and to me, a short sighted worm of the dust, those late reverses look almost irreparable. Yet I know in the hands of an Omnipotent God those very things that make my heart sink and flesh cringe may ultimately prove the best things that could have happened for the cause I deeply & devotedly cling to. I have also been anxious, O, so very anxious, to hear from our darling boy far away in the Confederate army. The last news we had he was sick, and I know I felt thankful when I heard it, for that sickness alone prevented him from being a prisoner with the brave General Morgan. Now I feel so anxious to know how that sickness terminated, where he is, & what he is doing. O, would it please God to guard & guide our loved one, shield him from disease & death in battle, and bring him safely home to us at the right time, if it be His sovereign will. And if it be decreed that we should see that manly form and dear face no more on earth, may it be Thy will we should meet in that bright, glorious world, where wars cannot come, where sickness and sorrow, pain nor death are felt nor heard no more. . . .
September 19th 1863.
This has been cold, dark day. There has been a considerable frost last night /this morning/. Having turned to the first page of this Record, I find I commenced writing in it nearly six years ago, January 1858, and shall this night finish the last page. When I commenced I fully intended to record faithfully the occurrences of each day. I find by looking back that I kept my promise for nearly a [missing]. Pretty well for such a forgetful, changeable creature as I. But soon left off, and I see often forgot my record for months. Very many promises to be more punctual were broken. And now when I am nearly at the bottom of the last page, I am not sure it has been paper, ink, and (what is more precious) time thrown away. True, I have recorded many things and incidents that I should otherwise probably have forgotten. I know many times I have written in great pain, and often I have wondered why I should sit writing when suffering. Would it ever prove one particle of benefit to any human being? Then for a moment I felt like putting the book aside and never touching it again, but something would happen that I wished to record, and I would get my book again. In some instances I know I have striven with all my power at times to write something in praise of my God and Saviour, but how little, how very little, I have written in comparison to my indebtedness to the Giver of all good. Some of the saddest thoughts and feelings I have ever known are penned in this book. Also some very pleasant seasons are recorded. Upon the whole, I am truly glad I have persevered in keeping up my book through the six past years, the three last the most eventful of the fifty-five (nearly) I have been in the world. And when I have passed away, some of my loved ones may take pleasure in looking over it. If their [sic] is anything good in it, unto God be all the praise, now, henceforth, and forever more, world without end. Amen. Mary B Bristow
September 21st, 1863.24
Have concluded to write in this book occasionally on any subject that may be impressed on my mind. The occurrences of the day, if of any importance, shall also find a place. Have heard some cheering news, but know not how much credence to give anything I find in a newspaper. O, Lord, have mercy on the downtrodden South. If it be thy will, suffer not the oppressor to go any farther on Southern soil. . . .
Sept 24th, 63.
Have been reading Newton's Messiah sermon.25 . . .
[ Next - Table of Contents ]
Notes:
[Click on footnote number to return to text.]
1 Anselm and Mat's eldest, who would have been almost two years old.
2 Probably Lee's repulse at Gettysburg, 1-3 July. Possibly combined with news from Vicksburg.
3 Probably Martha's mother, Maria Kendrick Wilson.
4 On the 4th of July, a date chosen for its patriotic sentiment, John Pemberton surrendered the Vicksburg garrison to U. S. Grant, effectively cutting the Confederacy in two.
5 John Hunt Morgan (1825-1864), one of the most romantic figures of the war, whose dashing exploits with his Kentucky cavalry units delighted Southerners and infuriated Northerners. After forays in Kentucky, Morgan's troopers had crossed the Ohio River into Indiana on the 8th July. Although the raid inflicted little material injury on the Union, it did spread panic and consternation throughout the midwest. Most of his troops were captured when they were unable to recross the Ohio near Buffington's Island on the 19th. Morgan and the remnants of his command were captured a week later in eastern Ohio, near the Pennsylvania line. Much to their indignation, Morgan and his oficers were confined in the Ohio State Penetentiary at Columbus as if they were common criminals. Morgan added to his legend by escaping from the prison, passing through the Union neighborhood on his way to Confederate lines. He remains a hero in the Bluegrass. An accessible modern biography is James A. Ramage, Rebel Raider: the Life of General John Hunt Morgan.
A detailed, day-by-day — almost hour-by-hour — history of the Great Raid can be found in Lester V. Horwitz' excellent new book, The Longest Raid of the Civil War.
For a firsthand account, see Tom Coombs' Civil War Diaries, also on this site.
6 A "round-robin" letter, likely from another Baptist Association, location unknown.
7 A ten year old slave, born to Celia on 31 Jan 1853.
8 Literally (and redundantly) heart medicine, typically a fortified fruit wine or brandy.
9 One authority estimated that a Confedrate soldier was three times as likely to die of disease as of combat wounds. The average soldier was laid up six times during the war, once for a wound and five times for sickness. Dysentery and diarrhea, malaria and typhoid fevers were major causes of death. [Bell Irvin Wiley, The Life of Johnny Reb, 244 ff.]
10 Wilson Thompson (1788-1866) was a noted preacher from Connersville, Indiana, about fifty miles northwest of Cincinnati. A sketch appeared in History of the Miami Baptist Association by A. H. Dunlevy. [Transcript at J. R. Duvall's Baptist History Homepage.] Elder Thompson is the author of an autobiography published after his death.
11 Brother Beeman not identified.
12 Brother Jackson not identified.
13 The wife of Cumberland Wilson, Angeline Putman (1818-1888).
14 Martha's elder sister, Maria Elizabeth Wilson (1827-1900), who had married George B. Smith 21 Dec 1847 in Boone County. They had a daughter, Ann Maria (1848-1850). Bettie had been a widow since 1850, and in 1860 and 1870 she was living with her unmarried siblings.
15 Probably Martha's elder brother, James G. Wilson (1824?-1866).
16 See Luke 10: 40-42. The source of the quote is not known.
17 Recipes of the time were often handed down by word of mouth. Even the ones that made it into print were — to modern cooks used to definitve directions from Craig Claiborne and Jeff Smith — rather casual. The following is from Marion Cabell Tyree's Housekeeping in Old Virginia, published in 1879, but following traditional Southern practice:
- Pare and stew the peaches till nearly done. Sweeten and boil a little longer. Set aside and when nearly cool, pour into deep pie-plates, lined with paste. Put bits of butter over the top, dredge with flour, then cover with a top crust, and bake.— Mrs. T.
18 Before Nicolas Appert won a prize from the Napoleonic government in 1809 for his invention of a method to preserve food in glass containers, fruits and vegetables had to be dried or salted to last beyond the harvest season.
19 William Stephens (1782-1873) lived in Monroe County, Missouri, but made several visits to his kin in northern Kentucky. He saved letters from his youngest brother, Leonard, which provide interesting glimpses of life in and near Beech Woods, and have been quoted herein. The letters are posted on another section of this site.
20 Statira's sister-in-law, Harriett Riddell (1826-1888), wife of Lucien Bonaparte Stephens. (See below, 22 Oct 1865.) The daughter was probably Lucy Waller Stephens, who would have been eight years old. Her older sister, Kate, was in her teens.
21 The young couple were expecting their first child, who was born November 12th. He was named Jerome Bristow Respess for his uncle, away from home in the Confederate Army. "Rome" (1863-1939) became a successful horse breeder, owning the winner of the 1903 Kentucky Derby, Wintergreen.
22 Georgia Ann Conde Corlis (1840-1867) married Julius Lucien Bristow (1838-1894) in 1857. She was the niece of Doctor John Corlis and the cousin of William Corlis Respess. (See above, 29 Mar 1859.) See my sketch of Julius and his life.
23 A note from Jim Duvall informs me that the preacher from Indiana was J. Cell of the Laughery Association.
24 This and later entries were made in the book in which Mary had transcribed her letters to her father and other writings, some of which appear in the earlier pages of this publication. I have presented the writings in chronological order for the sake of clarity.
25 Although Sir Isaac Newton (1643-1727) did leave some religious writings, he was far from a Biblical literalist. A more likely author is John Newton (1725-1807), an evangelical writer who also penned several of Mary's favorite hymns.
