Eugenia Levy Phillips (1819 – 1902). Prison diary, August 28, 1861. Philip Phillips Family Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
This day has ushered in a new era in the History of the Country one which marks the arrest and imprisonment of women, for political opinions! At eleven o clock we were notified by an officer, that my sister (a visitor) my two daughters and myself were by the orders of the Government to be taken from our house, and conveyed as prisoners to another place of confinement. We immediately prepared with courageous hearts, inspired with the thought that we were suffering in a noble cause, and determined so to bear ourselves, as not to shame our southern countrywomen. My dear husband was my chief sorrow. For ourselves, conscious we had done no wrong, we fear nothing—
This blog complements the Library of Congress exhibition, “The Civil War in America.” This series of posts chronicles the sacrifices and accomplishments of those—from both the North and South—whose lives were lost or affected by the events of 1861–1865. To learn more about the object featured in this blog entry, visit the online exhibition.