Raleigh+Story-+Ron+Olson

Ron Olson ECI 435 Raleigh Story Dr. John Lee September 28th, 2010

The diary of Mary Cameron

Date: April 14th, 1865

Stomping and thrashing around...I can hear them outside on New Bern Avenue. It is a frightful thing, knowing that our beloved city has been encamped by the enemy soldiers. I dare say that we have surrendered, but who should keep fighting at this point? Surely not my father, or two elder brothers. I have seen too much pain yet, and do not care to lose dear members of my family. I know that there are a few in this city who are happy for this event to come; yes, it signals a near end to a vile and nightmarish war, and I can think of none who are not distraught and weary of the South’s struggle for solidarity. However, all of this does not equate to being happy for Sherman’s army to come marching in and taking residence. It is quite the opposite in fact! I am rather afraid of what is to come, both to my personal life and to Raleigh. What if Sherman and Kilpatrick set fire to our city, like they have done almost everywhere else? I imagine the whispers I hear now of relief would quickly become cries of horror and screams of torment. Yes, the future remains much unsettled. General Sherman himself could barge in here right now and kill my family easily! What am I to make of that thought? It’s just ridiculous to think that some could be happy about the events unfolding in the city. It is getting late now...tomorrow might be a real day of action. I hope we are spared...I have prayed much to the Lord for it. The...the Union soldiers are right outside now! No more writing for tonight; this candle must be darkened.

Date: April 16th, 1865

The city has been completely taken by hostiles now. No damage has been done, praise God, but that does not mean the gates of Hell haven’t opened up yet. Many in Raleigh are bemused by the Union’s show of mercy, and I myself am cautious as to why the siege hasn’t been more violent or grotesque. Maybe they are planning for some extraordinary show of might? In contrast, maybe they realize the vast hole that this war has left on the country’s soul, and no more blood should be shed in disregard. I hope with all hope that the Union soldiers know this, for they, as much as anyone here in the South, are responsible for this war and all of its unforgiving destruction. God hate them...I know that all they have done was not necessary or in humane spirit. The Union may very well win this affair, but I swear America as a whole has been shattered because of their grievous demands and actions. And that President Lincoln! What to make of him and his obvious disdain for Southern life? I wish him a most painful death...may he...may he...

...well I should stop that right now. Writing in my journal daily is just as much for thinking as it is for venting, and I have done more than enough of that for now. My family now remains calm about the events ongoing in the city; my father, who works as a clerk in the courthouse downtown, is most bothered by the Union’s actions though. Secretly, I believe he is trying to gather up a protest group to confront the Union’s command post around Fayetteville street. I wish he would not do this, for what good can it possibly have? And the repercussions of such a thing, if it is discovered by the soldiers! Losing my father would surely equate to stabbing myself in the heart, which I would rather have done than watch him be taken by the Union. Oh! I just do not know what is to become of us all...worry has me by the throat. Here I am, a fourteen year old girl, with no resolve or means to make things better. I am so upset now...too much to keep writing for today.

Date: April 19th, 1865

My father! My father was taken late last night on his return from the courthouse! The soldiers must have found out about his underground doings! I am desolate now...my mother is wretched with despair. My brothers have gone out to see what can be done...but what that means I do not know. My tears are getting this page wet...my tears are too much to bear. My father means the world to me...oh God please no more pain. Let him be kept well in the soldiers’ hands. And if harm comes to him...I will...I will...take my own life and a Union yankee with me! God would not stop me. God would not stop me!

Date: April 20th, 1865

No news to report on my father...I am still very much upset. This world weighs too heavy right now on my shoulders. It is terribly tiring. My mind races with what is happening now. All I care is for my father at this point. Everything else bears no significance. Most certainly not the war. Enough of it all I say. Taking people hostage is insane. Just insane! I am too upset now. It’s all I have been of late. Too distressed to carry on. My father keeps me up though...I pray he is alright. Please God...please. I ask for nothing else. Do you hear? Nothing else.

Date: April 23rd, 1865

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">He is strong! They have him at the very same courthouse downtown that he works in, my father that is. Imagine the luck! It has been four days now since he was taken by force from this very house that I write from. Not much has been revealed so far, other than the Yanks believing my father to be a rioter, and someone to be shut up. Remarkable that they would think such a thing...my brothers have been furious at this whole ordeal, as have my mother and I as well. They want to try and set him free, but my mother will not hear a word of it. It’s bad enough losing father, but to think of losing Mark and Theo too! I would not be able to face another day. There has been some talk in the town about getting father free with the help of fellow Southern rebels, but even that involves great risk of angering the Union soldiers watching guard. What an embarrassment it would be though! Mother is shouting for help with dinner...oh it is all in good nature though now! My father is fine and well, and the city itself seems innocent in the eyes of the North. Maybe we will all escape this mess with our hearts still intact. I hear that the war has settled over, officially. Bless us if God so has made it true.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Date: April 24th, 1865

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">It is just after midnight...I can hardly breathe now. My father has escaped the courthouse jail, with the help of friends, and we are soon to be on the move. The soldiers are in a fuss father said, and they are coming for him...all of us actually, and the other known Southern sympathizers. I should be joyous now...I was for a second I figure, until this sudden journey began. Father said fires will be set to certain homes, ours one of them, if he is not found. Thus, we must get going quickly. My life is in such shambles these days...I do not know what to make of it all. But father is home...and with him I would walk into scalding fire. So we will travel, travel to where I do not know. Maybe to some place where folks get along and the war hasn’t been so damning. Does it exist? My heart hopes so, yearns so. I just want to be settled. I...it it time to go father says. I feel that I will not be writing anytime soon again. I am praying for us, for the city and the South. Oh my friends! I cannot start crying. Not now. I shall just pray. Pray.


 * __<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Instructional Extension: __**

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">In terms of what I would want my students to know about the stories topic, I think that the main classroom focus would rest on the history of the Civil War, and how the Union did set themselves up in Raleigh for a time in 1865. I would want my students to get a glimpse into how one young person's life could be affected by a large-scale war, and how maybe they would feel if they were in Mary's shoes. Beyond the personal view, students would need to look at and understand what the city of Raleigh went through during the Civil War, and how it changed after the war. The war greatly affected the country as a whole of course, and the South especially, but what about North Carolina? And the triangle area? This is what I would want students to know, or want to know, from reading the story.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">As for facilitating the students' learning, we would, as a class, go over the different viewpoints of the war and together investigate the history. As the teacher, I would read some real-life accounts of the war from both Northern and Southern perspectives, so that students could get a personal feel for how things were during the Civil War era in American history. I would hope that students would become interested in the topic after hearing some primary, first-hand accounts. The expected product for students to do for this topic would be a response letter to one of Mary Cameron's diary entries, and as a teacher I would want to see a creative, yet accurate, response to what Mary is saying and feeling. Students would be allowed to write to Mary as anyone they want to, from President Lincoln to one of Mary's own brothers. Again, I would determine student learning based on an appropriate and realistic diary response.