Back to Basics

Blogging is a lot of fun and I’m not going to give it up but I’ve come to the realization that I’m losing track of things. I feel that having several blogs/journals is not working for me. I don’t want to compartmentalize my online life.

So from now on, everything I used to post in my book blog, my Civil War blog and my Hannover blog as well as other stuff can be found here:

http://marny-h96.dreamwidth.org

A feed for the blog can be found here:

http://marny-h96.dreamdwidth.org/data/rss

I have enabled comments for everybody but please remember that those of you who don’t have a Dreamwidth account or an Open ID are technically “anonymous” commenters so please leave a name with your comment. I’d like to know who’s commenting. Thank you!

Adelicia Hayes

Adelicia Hayes was born on March 15, 1817 in Nashville, Tenn., to Sarah Clements Hightower and Oliver Bliss Hayes. She attended the Nashville Female Academy.

When Adelicia was 22, she married for the first time. Her husband Isaac Franklin, was a wealthy businessman and planter, 28 years her senior. Adelicia and Isaac were married for seven years and had four children (who all died young) but in 1846, Isaac died. He left his wife a fortune: 8,700 acres of cotton plantations in Louisiana; a 2000 acre farm in Tennessee; 38,000 acres in Texas; stocks, bonds and 750 slaves. The estate valued one million dollars, making Adelicia the richest woman in Tennessee.

Joseph Acklen of Huntsville, Alabama, became Adelicia's second husband in 1849. Joseph was an attorney and a veteran of the Texas Revolution. Two days before their marriage, Adelicia asked him to sign a prenuptial agreement, stating that she would be the sole owner of all the properties she brought into the marriage.

Soon after their marriage, the Acklens began building Belmont which was finished in 1853. It was built in the style of an Italian villa with an elaborate garden, an art gallery, gazebos, a bowling alley, a bear house and a zoo. Mrs. Acklen opened the estate to the citizens of Nashville because there was no public park available.

Joseph died in 1863 during the Civil War. The Acklens were married for fourteen years and had six children together. After Joseph's death, Adelicia traveled to Louisiana to save the almost 3,000 bales of cotton left behind on the Acklen's plantation. Adelicia Acklen negotiated with both Union and Confederate authorities and somehow managed to get the cotton to New Orleans and then to Liverpool. The deal earned her one million dollars.

Four years after Joseph's death, Adelicia Hayes Acklen married for a third time. Her new husband was Dr. William Archer Cheatham, a Nashville physician. Their marriage lasted for twenty years although they separated in 1884. Adelicia moved to Washington, D. C. She died in New York City on May 4, 1887 while on a buying trip for her new home.

Adelicia Hayes Franklin Acklen Cheatham was buried in Nashville with her first two husbands and nine of her ten children. Belmont, the Acklen's summer house, later became part of Belmont College and still stands on the campus.

Hannah Anderson Ropes

Hannah Anderson was born in Maine (New Gloucester) into a family of early New England settlers. When she was twenty-five, she married William H. Ropes with whom she had four children. The family lived in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Raising her children on her own after her husband left her, Hannah bloomed in a new found self reliance. In 1855, her then eighteen-year-old son moved to Kansas as a homesteader and Hannah (together with her daughter) followed him. Hannah Ropes had become interested in the abolitionist movement and one of the reasons she moved to Kansas was her wish to strengthen the anti-slavery forces there. But the political turmoil eventually forced her to move back to Massachusetts.

Hannah, becoming more and more politcally active, wrote a novel (Cranston House) and published a book about her experiences in Kansas (Six Months in Kansas). Mrs. Ropes, who had read Florence Nightingale's Notes on Nursing, decided to serve in a military hospital as a nurse when the war broke out. She travelled to Washington, D. C., and was hired by Dorothea Dix.

In July 1862, Hannah Ropes became supervisor of the Union Hotel Hospital. There she met Louisa May Alcott, who mentions her in her book Hospital Sketches. Like many other nurses, Hannah was shocked by the conditions in the hospital. In October 1862, she wrote the following letter to her daughter:

"Dear Alice,
I literally have no time to myself and write at a running pace.
Today we sent off 50 men. Not half of them are able to go, but that is of no account to one head surgeon, who cares no more for a private than for a dog... We have upon the whole goodish men to rule over us. Still, between surgeons, stewards, nurses, and waiters, the poor men in the hospitals barely escape with life or clothes or money.
The wars on James River are nothing compared with the fights I have with the stewards. We now have our fourth, as big a villain as ever walked. I have entered a complaint to the Surgeon General but don't suppose it will do any good... The men have not had enough to eat for a week - this morning, one slice of bread to each men!
Your mother"

Her complaint, as she expected, led to nothing and Hannah went directly to Secretary of War Stanton who ordered an investigation after which the surgeon and his assistant were arrested for abusing their patients. Hannah continued to make improvements in the hospital until she contracted typhoid fever.

Hannah Anderson Ropes died in 1863 at the age of 54. Her diary, which she wrote between June 26, 1862 and January 27, 1863 is published as "Civil War Nurse: The diary and letters of Hannah Ropes".

Tryphena Blanche Holder Fox

A Northern Woman in the Plantation South, a collection of 81 letters, tells about the life of Tryphena Blanche Holder Fox and her family. The original letters, written by Tryphena to her mother, can be found in the archives in Jackson, Mississippi.

Tryphena Blanche Holder was born in Massachusetts in 1834 and received her education at Maplewood Young Ladies Institute in Pittsfield. In 1852, she moved to Vicksburg, Mississippi, where she worked as the tutor for the daughter of planter George Messinger.

While visiting Woodburne Plantation which was owned by Rev. James Fox, Tryphena met his son, David Raymond. David, who had attended the University of Louisiana, was a medical doctor and later served as surgeon for the Confederate Army. On June 3, 1856, David and Tryphena married at Baconham Plantation. Rev. James Fox performed the ceremony.

The newlyweds lived at Hygiene Plantation, the home David had built in Plaquemines Parish sometime before 1852, and Tryphena performed her duties as plantation mistress and physician’s wife. Between 1858 and 1878, Tryphena and David had ten children: Fannie, Ann, Edward, George, Frank, Blanche, John, Bert, Emma and James.

Although a Northerner by birth, Tryphena quickly adopted the customs and prejudices of her new home. She was convinced the Confederacy would win the war because, as she wrote to her mother, “one Southerner can whip 10 Yankees”. Before the fall of New Orleans, the family moved to Woodburne Plantation, the home of her father-in-law. Northern soldiers later ravaged her husband’s childhood home which increased Tryphena’s hatred.

In 1857, Dr. Fox purchased a slave woman named Susan and her two children, Adelaide and Margaret. Susan, described by Tryphena as “as a lazy mother”, had three more children and there’s evidence that her mulatto son, born in 1860, was the son of Dr. Fox. After being punished for disobedience, Susan ran away and subsequently, Dr. Fox sent her to Woodburne Plantation, separating her from her children. Tryphena Fox commented the incident with a simple “Adelaide is old enough to take care of herself.”

When the war ended, Mrs. Holder Fox could hardly cope with the outcome. According to her, the “South was not subdued, only overpowered”. Hygiene Plantation, the family’s home, burnt down in 1866 but was rebuilt a year later. After her husband’s death in 1893, Tryphena Blanche continued to live on Hygiene Plantation, although a part of it was leased to her son, Dr. George Fox. Tryphena Blanche Holder Fox passed away in 1911.

Frances Dallam Peter

Frances Dallam Peter was born in Lexington, Kentucky, on January 28, 1843, the fourth of the eleven children of Dr. Robert Peter and Frances Paca Dallam. Her father was a prominent physician and the dean of the medical school of Transylvania University. Her mother was a descendant of the Henry, Preston and Breckinridge families. The Peter family was a leader in Lexington’s community.

Frank, as she was called by her family, received a good education but being an epileptic, she spent most of her time at home drawing and writing. A staunch Unionist, she kept a diary from January 1862 to April 1864. It was later published under the title “Window on the War" respectively "A Union Woman in Civil War Kentucky". The loyalties of her family, however, were as divided as Kentucky and Peter notes in her diary:

“My brother, who came in this day hearing that they were going to draft, rode straight home & started on foot to join the union forces.” (After the fall of Lexington)

“My hopeful secesh uncle-in-law, Mr. Robb, who lives near Georgetown on the Cincinnati road, is also gone to the Southern part of the State ostensibly to buy cattle but I would not be surprised if it was to help the rebels”. (1864)

Although fund-raising and Soldiers’ Aid Societies played an important role, social events during the Civil War were not limited to fund-raising and a group of women in Lexington formed the Sociable Club for “dancing and amusement”.

Frances describes the Club in her diary:

“None but the ladies can be members but each member has the privilege of inviting & bringing with her any gentlemen whom she may chose, always providing that it is not one whose society is disagreeable to any of the other members. The refreshments are limited to three kinds to be left to the choice of the member at whose house the club happens to meet. Ladies are not allowed to come in evening or party dresses, but must wear promenade or ‘at home’ vilettes. No music to be engaged, but dancing is allowed if there is a piano. The Club met at our house tonight.”

When military forces occupied a town, dancing was the main diversion for soldiers. The balls, given by military officers or citizens, were sometimes adorned with symbols of militarism. A ball given by General Wilcox in Lexington is mentioned in Frances’ diary:

“Gen. Wilcox’s hop came off last night and was universally acknowledged to have been one of the most pleasant parties given in Lexington. My sisters describe the rooms as being beautifully adorned. Long flags curtained the windows and stands of colors mixed with sabres, guns, pistols etc were grouped as trophies on the walls.”

But Frances Peter didn’t only comment on ‘fun’ activities, she left descriptions of soldiers as well. Apart from sympathizing occasionally with individual southern soldiers, she had only disrespect for them which is shown in her diary entries:

“Morgan’s character was always that of a gambler and libertine, and before this war no gentleman in Lexington would associate with him.” (About General John Hunt Morgan)

“They are the tag, rag & bobtail of the earth” and “apparently hadn’t been near water since Fort Sumter fell.” (About General Kirby Smith’s men)

Her opinion on Union troops is much better and she considered Missourians, Ohioans, Indianans, Pennsylvanians and Rhode Islanders to be friendly. However, “the men belonging to the Michigan regiment are not near as nice…There are so many mean fellows among them and more Abolitionists than in all the Ohio & Indiana regiments put together. In fact, I have never seen an Ohio Abolitionist yet.”

Frances Dallam Peter’s diary provides insight into people’s daily life in a border state during the Civil War. Unfortunately, she lost the battle with epilepsy, dying of a seizure on August 5, 1864.

Mary Smith Kelsey Peake

Mary Smith Kelsey was born in Norfolk, Virginia, sometime in 1823. Mary’s mother Sarah was a free black woman and her father a white Englishman (Lewis Lockwood, 1863.) Other sources state that Mary’s mother was a mulatto and her father a Frenchman (Butchart, 1996).

In 1829, Mary was sent to Alexandria (then part of the District of Columbia) to attend school. There, she lived with her aunt and uncle, Mary and John Paine. For nearly ten years, she received a “good English education” (Lockwood) as well as skills in dressmaking and needlework. When a new law was passed, making it illegal to teach non-whites, Mary returned home to Norfolk. Back home, Mary earned her living with dressmaking and became very active in the First Baptist Church. Furthermore she began illegally teaching African Americans – both free and slaves – to read and write.

Mary and her mother moved to Hampton but there are different reports about when and why. One story says that Mary’s mother married a man named Thompson Walker and all three moved to Hampton together in 1847. Another states that Mary married Thomas Peake around 1850-51 and moved with him and her mother to Hampton.

In Hampton Mary founded a charitable organization called the Daughters of Zion which cared for sick and poor African-Americans, distributing food and clothes and later arranged shelter for African-American fugitives arriving in Hampton. She continued her teaching which was tolerated in Hampton if conducted discreetly. Sometime around this time, prior to the Civil War, Mary contracted tuberculosis.

Hampton was occupied by Union troops in July 1861 who encamped at Fort Monroe but unfortunately, they were forced to give up the fort when the soldiers were reassigned. Confederate troops, aware of the large number of black refugees in Fort Monroe and Hampton, decided to raze the town instead of occupying it.

Mary’s house was burned and the family moved into an old house known as the Red Cottage. When people began to rebuild Hampton for its black citizens, Lewis Lockwood, a missionary of the AMA (American Missionary Association), heard of Mrs. Peake. Local children asked for Mary to start teaching them again and Lockwood visited her, watching her teaching. Most likely because of Lewis Lockwood’s help Mary opened a one-room day school in her house and became the first teacher paid by a northern freedmen’s aid society.

After meeting Mary Smith Peake, Lockwood wrote to the AMA:

“I have just visited the school of Mrs. Peake (the colored teacher). The school numbers forty-five children and others are expected. She offers to teach a school for adults in the afternoon. She has several classes that spell well in the book and out of it. She is also teaching writing and the elements of arithmetic with encouraging success. She intersperses the Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, catechismical exercises, singing etc. She surely deserves compensation, though she began without any such expectation feeling that she should be fully rewarded in having the privilege of doing good.”

Sadly, Mary’s health deteriorated although she continued to teach children and adults. In a letter in January 1862 she writes:

“I hope this may find you and your family well. My health is about the same as it was when you were here. Dear Brother I am happy to inform you that the School is still improving. I have lost 2 scholars by Death since you left. I have now 53 in the day school and 20 in the night. The Sisters and Brethren and the children send their love to you and also their thanks to your Committee…”

A short time after this letter, Lewis Lockwood tells the AMA:
“Mrs. Peake is very sick and perhaps will not live a week. Dear good woman! How we shall miss her! Must she die and leave her precious charge? Dear Lord, thou knowest what is best-but joy in our tears. We would not murmur, as she does not, but feel with her thankful for what she has been permitted to do in her weakness & answered that though she doest all things will….”

Mary Smith Kelsey Peake died of tuberculosis on February 22, 1862. Lewis Lockwood wrote a booklet about her, titled “Mary S. Peake, The Colored Teacher of Fortress Monroe”.

Rose Quinn Rooney

Rose Rooney enlisted on June 8, 1861 in New Orleans with the Crescent Blues Volunteers (which became Company K of the 15th Louisiana Infantry). She served as laundress, cook and nurse for four years and was still with her regiment when it surrendered at Appomattox. At the First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run) she ran through the battlefield amidst heavy fire and tore down a fence which made it possible for a Confederate artillery battery to march through in time to stop the Union charge. Here are her own words about what happened after the surrender at Appomattox:

“Sure, the Yankees took me prisoner along with the rest. The next day, when they were changing the camps to fix up for the wounded, I asked them what would they do with me. They tould me to 'go to the divil.' I tould them, 'I've been long enough in his company; I'd choose something better.' I then asked them where any Confederates lived. They tould me about three miles through the woods. On my way I met some Yankees. They asked me, 'What have you in that bag?' I said, 'Some rags of my own.' I had a lot of rags on the top, but six new dresses at the bottom; and sure I got off with them all. Then they asked me if I had any money. I said no; but in my stocking I had two hundred dollars in Confederate money. One of the Yankees, a poor devil of a private soldier, handed to me three twenty-five cents of Yankee money. I said to him, 'Sure, you must be an Irishman.' 'Yes,' said he.

I then went on till I got to the house. Mrs. Crump and her sister were in the yard, and about twenty negro women--no men. I had not a bite for two days, nor any water, so I began to cry from weakness. Mrs. Crump said, 'Don't cry, you are among friends.' She then gave me plenty to eat,--hot hoe-cake and buttermilk. I stayed there fifteen days, superintending the cooking for the sick and wounded men. One-half of the house was full of Confederates, and the other of Yankees. They then brought us to Burkesville, where all the Yankees were gathered together. There was an ould doctor there, and he began to curse me, and to talk about all we had done to their prisoners. I tould him, 'And what have you to say to what you done to our poor fellows?' He tould me to shut up, and sure I did. They asked me fifty questions after, and I never opened me mouth.

The next day was the day when all the Confederate flags came to Petersburg. I had some papers in my pocket that would have done harrum to some people, so I chewed them all up and ate them, but I wouldn't take the oath, and I never did take it. The flags were brought in on dirt-cars, and as they passed the Federal camps them Yankees would unfurl them and shake them about to show them. My journey from Burkesville to Petersburg was from eleven in the morning till eleven at night, and I sitting on my bundle all the way. The Yankee soldiers in the car were cursing me, and calling me a damn rebel, and more ugly talk. I said, 'Mabbe some of you has got a mother or wife; if so, you'll show some respect for me.' Then they were quiet.

I had to walk three miles to Captain Buckner's headquarters. The family were in a house near the battle-ground, but the door was shut, and I didn't know who was inside, and I couldn't see any light. I sat down on the porch, and thought I would have to stay there all night. After a while I saw a light coming from under the door, and so I knocked; when the door was opened and they saw who it was, they were all delighted to see me, because they were afraid I was dead. I wanted to go to Richmond, but would not go on a Yankee transportation. When the brigade came down, I cried me heart out because I was not let go on with them. I stayed three months with Mrs. Cloyd, and then Mayor Rawle sent me forty dollars and fifty more if I needed it, and that brought me home to New Orleans."

Mrs. Rooney spent the rest of her life as the matron at Camp Nicholls, a home for Confederate veterans in New Orleans. She received a monthly salary of six dollars.