The American Civil War, more commonly known as the Civil War, raged from 1861 to 1865. This bloody conflict was conducted to maintain the Union of the United States and prevent the formation of an independent country known as the Confederate States of America.
In 1861 the United States consisted of 34 states. Seven Southern slave states seceded from the United States to form the Confederacy. Eventually the Confederacy included eleven states, but they claimed thirteen, plus additional western territories.
The primary issue behind the southern states seceding from the Union was that of slavery. The North desired to abolish slavery, the South wanted to keep it.
April 12, 1861, marked the beginning of hostilities when Southern forces fire upon Fort Sumter, South Carolina.
After four bloody years and 600,000 Union and Confederate soldiers dead, the Confederacy surrendered and the Union was maintained.
Sadly, the battles were fought between brothers,
between fathers and sons, between families and friends. It wasn't uncommon for old friends commanding forces of the Union and Confederacy to face-off across the killing fields of various battlefields. No one knows how many fathers killed their sons, how many son's killed their fathers and how many brothers, killed their sibling. Or how many lifelong friends killed each other. It was indeed a sad and tragic episode in America history.
Interestingly, many officers serving in the Union army resigned their commission and enlisted in the Confederate Army.
That was true for General Robert E. Lee the supreme commander of the Confederate Army and it was true for Lt. Col. John Withers a graduate of the United States Military Academy who resigned his commission in the union army in March 1861 and was appointed a Captain in the Confederate Army on March 29, 1861.
His diary provides an exceptionally intimate window into his military and family life which is rarely seen in publications. His love for his family is evident and his dedication to duty comes through clearly.
At times, his diary reads similar to a novel; capturing the joy, sadness, death, destruction, horrors and mundane activities of everyday life during times of war. His entries include meeting Presidents, British Royalty and Generals of the Union and Confederacy and learning of battles in real time.
One must remember, this was his personal diary, it was never meant for public review. Yet, it is a marvelously profound work and powerful piece of history.
I opted to preserve the authenticity, flavor and intimacy of his diary by printing it in his original handwriting. This brings remarkable warmth to his story not present in a transcribed form. It allows the readers to imagine Lt. Col. Withers seated at a desk, lit by a lantern, as he put words to paper at the end of the day. Since this is a copy of his original diary, some of the words on the right side of the page were unavoidably clipped by the National Archives during processing. However, the missing letters do not distract from the work.
No matter your opinion regarding the Civil War; you will agree that after reading this magnificent diary, you will never forget Lt. Col. Withers.
Enjoy his journey.
