The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 60, July 1956 - April, 1957 Page: 184
616 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Southwestern Historical Quarterly
began his movement against Vicksburg and Louisiana was oc-
cupied by Federal troops. Even while engaged in burning stored
cotton valued at twenty thousand dollars, Kate took time out
to hurl verbal anathema upon Butler, the "Nero" of New Or-
leans. As the war continued, bringing with it shortages, doubts,
and more often than not, defeat, Kate's attitude became one of
dogged determination; a determination that remained unshaken
in spite of her flight from home before an advancing enemy
army, enforced exile for two and a half years in strange sur-
roundings, and the loss of three brothers. Then, finally, as the
Confederacy crumbled, she gave way to the bleak bitterness of
defeat: "Conquered, Submission, Subjugation, are words that
burn into my heart. ... " "I cannot bear to hear them talk of
defeat," she wrote, as she lashed out against those who were mak-
ing their adjustment to unpleasant reality. The abrasive pain of
defeat brought out a streak of vindictiveness. When the news
of Lincoln's assassination reached her, she made the following
notation: "We are glad he is not alive to rejoice in our humilia-
tion and insult us with his jokes," and added, defiantly, "All
honor to J. Wilkes Booth." From the depths of her despair, she
wrote with Faulkneresque resignation: "Nothing is left but to
endure."
Of particular interest is Kate's description of her two-year
exile in "the wildest most remote section of civilization," East
Texas, which she found abominable for its tolerance of Unionism
and its prejudice against "unfortunate refugees." She complained
of boredom ("No visitors, no books, no letters, no anything."),
the weather ("The New Year came wailing in, borne on the
wings of a freezing norther"), and even the "mean whiskey,"
("It smacked of Texas"). She condemned the natives for their
callousness to violence and their scheming natures: ("These wily
Texans want to bind one with all kinds of written documents,
unintelligible but terrible in my eyes"). By time of her departure,
however, she confided to her diary that she would look back
on the last year as the happiest of her entire life: a sentiment
which can easily be understood when one realizes that during
the "last year" she met the man whom she eventually married.
Like all worthwhile diaries, this one tells a good deal morex84
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 60, July 1956 - April, 1957, periodical, 1957; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101163/m1/205/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.