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Preface.
This “Diary” sees the light unexpectedly.
In its origin nothing of the sort was anticipated.
During its progress the writer often said, “I am keeping this for the members of the family who are too young to remember these days.”
Nothing was intended but a private record, into which friends and kindred might in coming years look with some pleasure.
They will hear much of the
War of Secession, and will take special interest in the thoughts and records of one of their own family who had passed through the wonderful scenes of this great revolution.
Subsequent circumstances have led to its publication.
Partial friends think that others might be interested by its pages.
It was kept at points of great interest in connection with the men and events of the war. There was every opportunity, and certainly every intention, to keep a true record.
Enormous as were the wrongs done us, yet we had no desire to do the slightest wrong to even the bitterest of our enemies.
We refused not to do them justice; we were not unwilling to seek for them the mercy of Heaven; to extend to them the hand of Charity; to supply their wants when captured; to attend as far as possible to their sick, and dying, and dead; and asked for nothing from them but that they would leave our borders,
