The Secret Eye

The Journal of Ella Gertrude Clanton Thomas, 1848-1889

Ella Gertrude Clanton Thomas, Virginia I. Burr

• Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN: 9780807842737, 9780807818978
• eBook ISBN: 9781469620794
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Historical Biographies
• Index: History

The journal of Ella Gertrude Clanton Thomas, spanning the years from 1848 to 1889, is rare for its treatment of both the Civil War and postbellum years and for its candor and detail in treating these eras. Thomas, who was born to wealth and privilege and reared in the tradition of the southern belle, tells of the hard days of war and the poverty brought on by emancipation and Reconstruction. Her entries illuminate experiences shared with thousands of other southern women.

Part I: 1848–1859

1. The Young Journalist

I sent for this paper to form a journal.
—September 29, 1848

Rochester,¹ September 29, 1848 Well I have written an account of yesterday’s proceedings and as I sent for this paper to form a journal I will write what happened on Monday Tuesday & Wednesday.

At Home, September 25, 1848 I expected to write at the plantation today but the pen proved so bad that I could scarcely make a mark with it, and then I had very little ink. I had quite an unpleasant ride today. … I got out at the plantation wishing to come home with Pa² in the buggy. He was at the Tubman³ place and I waited there three or four hours for him I never was as tired of a place in my life. I had no dinner but had two sweet potatoes roasted and an egg boiled besides a cup of butter milk. Billy Anthony⁴ and a Mr Gamett were there. The latter wished to be employed as an overseer.

Well Amanda has just come upp in my room and has began a description of the people and the times so I will stop as it is an interresting subject—

Tuesday, September 26, 1848 I can scarcely tell how today has been passed. I have done little or nothing but arrange my room and the contents of my port folio. I had so many things in the latter and they were in such hurly burly and disorder that it took me some time to arrange them. The different packages of envelopes and the note paper &c.

I have just finished a hearty supper. I ate a good many preserves and nothing else. This morning I indulged in my old habit of lying in bed late so I did not take breakfast untill all the rest had partaken of theirs. Pa went to the Cummings⁵ plantation and did not get home to dinner. I carried my coloured silk apron down stairs this morning after breakfast where I turned it and Ma⁶ made it over again. I took a short nap before dinner which refreshed me a good deal. . . .

Wednesday, September 27, 1848 . . . I have been writing letters all the forenoon. I wrote two letters one to Mary Frazier and one to Isabella [Morrison] and a note to Martha Phinizy. The envelope in which Mary’s letter was enclosed was the rather singular one Dr Neeson gave to me. The motto Nothing else to do. Isabella’s was in a plain envelope and the motto Rather die than change. I sealed Martha Phinizy’s note with a blue transparent wafer. Just then Sis Anne⁷ came upp and wanted the candle in her room so I will stop writing. She also wishes my pen and ink to write to Mrs Luthringer for some steel beads and fringe besides tassells for a purse she is kniting. [Undated note at bottom of page: “Our Piney Woods place was named Rochester by me just after having read Jane Eyre. It was changed very often afterwards.”]

Rochester, September 28, 1848 Last night Edmund returned from Augusta with a good many papers and Sis Anne received several Ladies papers. I was so busy reading that I forgot to write in my journal. I slept in this room last night as Pa did not return. Ma slept upp here in Sis Anne’s room.

The latter went down to the Sand Hills⁸ to Aunt Meiggs⁹ to-day. She wrote to Cousin Emily and Eliza¹⁰ yesterday and I expect they will come upp home with her this evening. Yesterday after breakfast Mary¹¹ and I went over to Mrs Berry’s to spend the day. We took Amanda with us as a protectress. I gathered some Horse and whortle berrys on the road (sparkleberrys I meant). I wore my eternal tissue silk and black silk cape. We had a lunch of cordial and cake ham and biscuit—and apples besides cheese. Mrs Berry and I were weighing cotton (By the by I never done it before). While I was adding upp the weights Mrs Griffin rode upp and took dinner. I expected to meet Ma there and did so. . . .

Friday, September 29, 1848 I have just left them in the parlour talking and laughing while I have stolen away to write the occurrences of today— Late this evening Sis Anne came back accompanied by Cousin Eliza and George Mitchell [Emily’s son]. Cousin Emily has not altered much. Still I do not think I would have known her its having been so long since she was out here last— I have been busy writing and indulging in my usual day dreams. As I have no books to read I expect my time now will be spent rather lonely and dull but I hope Cousin Emily’s and Eliza’s presence and company will enliven us a little— This evening after dinner I dressed again and fixed my hair. I then walked in the garden a while and gathered some flowers to dress the pots. I see I have passed this day occupied in writing this journal over. When I came home last Monday night I wrote on the leaf that I had used at Grandma’s. The next night I wrote in an old copy book which I use for scribbling. The next night the same and so on. As I wished it all connected I coppied the writing off. Cousin Emily brought out Cousin Berry’s dagaureotype.¹² He is taken in regimentals and looks quite handsome. I wish I could see him. . . .

October 1, 1848 I am writing later than usual tonight for Ma had my pen and ink down stairs and Cousin Eliza Anthony has just gone out. I was very late for breakfast this morning. After that was over we all began to get ready for church. Ma did not go this morning. Cousin Emily and Eliza besides Sis Anne went in the carriage. … When I got home I heard that Miss Purtenice Ramsey (or Mrs Mohorn I should say) had twins. I pity her. After dinner I had a suspicion that Mudge Merriweather and Josh Griffin would come over so I did not undress. Sis Anne and Cousin Eliza did. Sure enough they came and then they had to dress again. I went down stairs and done my best at entertaining Mr Merriweather. Pa assisted me untill the girls came in. The gentleman staid untill dark. I was very pleasantly entertained myself. . . .

October 2, 1848 This morning I was again late for breakfast and Ma was sick with bad cold and headache. She arose after breakfast and one of Mrs Griffin’s servants brought us some chenkepins.¹³ Uncle Ben came down with a note from Aunt Lamkin¹⁴ informing us that Grand Ma¹⁵ was quite sick. Pa went to Augusta this morning and Edmund had started also. Uncle Ben went after and overtook him. Ma promised to send for us tonight if she was any worse. She has not done so, so I trust Grand Ma is better. I wrote a note to Mrs Berry requesting her to loan me the nos. of Graham’s magazine for September and October and to write me all the news. . . .

October 3, 1848 This morning Cousin Emily and George her little son rose and were dressed some time before I got upp so of course I was late for breakfast again. After that was over I came upp and was busy fixing my hair. I first fixed it in the way I saw Virginia Warren wear hers. I did not like it. Took it down and plaited down my back in two plaits and have worn it so all day but find it very unpleasant. Don’t think I will wear it so again soon. … Pa brought home a letter for Sis Anne from Fanny Morrison and I received one from Mary Frazier. A very welcome one by the by. He brought home one of the Ladies newspapers and some candy but not the book I wrote for. Well I did not expect it much. He says he did not have time to get it. I have finished the magazines Mrs Berry loaned me. She says she has several novels at home, one The Traducer¹⁶ which I have read before and two others the names she did not know. I intend writing to her tomorrow and sending for them. She has no pen to answer it she says. I will have to send her one which I will do wright willingly to get a note from her. I like to hear from Mrs Berry. She generally writes notes with news in them. [Undated note: “I was only fourteen when I was corresponding with Mrs Berry”]

Monday, October 9, 1848 I have just finished reading a letter Pa received from Jimmy Anthony.¹⁷ It was written before his mother left Alabama for Georgia. This morning I came upp stairs after breakfast and arranged my room in some kind of order. Then I went in the garden and gathered some roses and put the leaves upp to dry. I also gathered some wild flowers and found one beautiful little flower, a perfect little gem. I have read seven of those Graham’s magazines and have been reading some of the pieces in the January No. of 1846. One of the pieces I have just finished. It is “Grace Fleming.” I was indulging in the habit I have formed of building castles in the air. Oh how delightful it is and the persons that I dream of. Oh it is very delightful. But then when awakened by the cold realities of life. . . .

October 13, 1848 The time draws near for us to leave this dear dear place. Oh with how much regret will I leave it. This place has been the scene for the [illegible] of some of my happiest hours. And this summer will be a remarkable epoch in my life—. . .

November 13, 1848 More than two weeks have elapsed since I last wrote in this book. I expected to go to Augusta the next morning and with that intention went to writing a note to Rebecca Gardner. I slept in the room above the parlour that night and in the night a note was brought from Aunt Lamkin telling us that Grand Ma was quite sick so we went up there the next morning. We found Aunt Lamkin and her children. Aunt Gracey Harden and Mrs Wheat and her little girl Nell together with cousin Jane Chapler and Susan Anne Toole. They all went away in the afternoon. … On Saturday Jimmy Lamkin¹⁸ came home. I think he has improved very much both in manners and appearance. On that evening Lizzie Lamkin was taken sick and in the morning it turned out to be the sore throat. … Pa and Ma, Sis Anne and I received invitations to Miss Mary Robinson’s wedding yesterday. The invitation was written beautifully and it was very neat. Pa was so much afraid that we would take the sore throat that we came home. We found Cousin Emily and George, Mr Chitt and cousin Matilda [Reid] besides Cousin Eliza had been here ever since Saturday night. . . .

Our ride today was rendered rather unpleasant by its raining yesterday and making it sloppy. Cousin Emma [Lamkin] and I pounded upp some charcoal Saturday morning. Well I feel as though I had accomplished a task and now I will rest a little. I was not able to bring all my hickrinuts and walnuts and gave some to cousin Emma, Josey and Savanah—

Thursday, November 16, 1848 I was interrupted on Tuesday night while writing by Amanda’s telling me that Grand Mother was dead. Cousin Matilda’s Bram brought the news from Mrs Darby. Pa instantly sent Edmund there for a letter. I was sick before and crying gave me such a headache that I was forced to go to bed. I found that I had caught the sore throat. Sis Anne heated some camphor and rubbed it on a flannel and put it around my neck. When Edmund came back he brought a note Mrs Oakman had left at Mrs Darby’s. She said that Grand Ma was a little better. … I was studying some miscelaneous questions on Robins’ outlines of English History. I studied several pages and read a good deal in Olney’s history.¹⁹ I have no novels to read. I wish that it were possible for me to refrain from reading one for six months or a year. I am confident I could study much better. If I could form the habit I would get along very well. It comes just as natural for me [to] write in this journal as it does for me to eat a meal.

How I wish I could wander o’er these old woods again. How much pleasure it would afford me. But I must not indulge in such sad reflections. If I go to Macon to school this winter I do not suppose I will be here the ensuing summer as the vacation is in May and December and neither months are spent here. I cannot stir out of this room but I must stop and pack upp my little articles. [Pencilled note: “I was mistaken with regard to the vacation at Macon. It always commences about the 12 of July and lasts till the 1st Monday in October.”]

Augusta,²⁰ November 18, 1848 We got in town yesterday about two oclock before any of the waggons. Mary and Buddy²¹ came in the buggy with Pa. Sis Anne Amanda and I came in the carriage. I was lying down on the front seat all the time. I went to sleep just this side of Mr Skinner’s shop and did not wake upp again untill we got very near Mr Coleman’s. I bore the fatigues of the ride pretty well. Our dinner was quite a simple one yesterday. I sent Amanda soon after with 10 cents for some apples. She brought me nine very fine ones. I have two of them now. … I would have written last night but this journal was in the carriage under the front seat and I could not get it very well. I will stop writing and make me some hair greese.

Saturday, November 25, 1848 Here I am again in the country at Grand Mother’s. Yesterday morning I arose quite late and dressed. After breakfast I felt quite badly. Sick at my stomach. I however went to school although twas after nine oclock. Susan Knight said the Philosophy lesson and in Rhetoric Mr Hard²² first asked Mary Jane McEntee and then Isabel who was not prepared to answer his questions and then he asked Virginia Whatley. I was afraid he would question me for I had not looked at the lesson. I had studied the parsing in Thomson’s Seasons.²³ When Mr Hard told me someone wished to see me I went down and found Amanda and Mary at the door. They told me to come home as Grand Mother was very ill and not expected to live. I...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• The Secret Eye
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Gertrude Thomas
• Preface
• Editor’s Note
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction: The Journal of Ella Gertrude Clanton Thomas: An Educated White Woman in the Eras of Slavery, War, and Reconstruction
• Part I: 1848–1859
• Part II: 1861–1866
• Part III: 1868–1871
• Part IV: 1878–1889
• Epilogue
• Index