Princes of Cotton

Four Diaries of Young Men in the South, 1848-1860

Michael O'Brien, Stephen Berry

• Publisher: University of Georgia Press
• Year: 2010
• Print ISBN: 9780820344263, 9780820328843
• eBook ISBN: 9780820336701
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Historical Biographies
• Index: History

A rogue, a megalomaniac, a plodder, and a depressive: the men whose previously unpublished diaries are collected in this volume were four very different characters. But they had much in common too. All were from the Deep South. All were young, between seventeen and twenty-five. All had a connection to cotton and slaves. Most obviously, all were diarists, enduring night upon night of cramped hands and candle bugs to write out their lives.

Down the furrows of their fathers' farms, through the thickets of their local woods, past the familiar haunts of their youth, Harry Dixon, Henry Hughes, John Coleman, and Henry Craft arrive at manhood via journeys they narrate themselves. All would be swept into the Confederate Army, and one would die in its service. But if their manhood was tested in the war, it was formed in the years before, when they emerged from their swimming holes, sopping with boyhood, determined to become princes among men.

Few books exist about the inner lives of southern males, especially those in adolescence and early adulthood. Princes of Cotton begins to remedy this shortage. These diaries, along with Stephen Berry's introduction, address some of the central questions in the study of southern manhood: how masculine ideals in the Old South were constructed and maintained; how males of different ages and regions resisted, modified, or flouted those ideals; how those ideals could be expressed differently in public and private; and how the Civil War provoked a seismic shift in southern masculinity.

THE DIARIES

Harry St. John Dixon

We talked loud, laughed loud, danced loud and kept “racket” in most every form. Who will make old fogies of “Young Americans”? Go it while you are young for when you get old you can’t go! … Is happiness a crime? Then let the fiends of hell reign in your sullen heaven. —August 2, 1860

Sunday, January 1, 1860

Clear and cold—ground frozen all day. Attended church in the forenoon—read and wrote in the afternoon. Just before sundown I went down to Judge Rucks’s¹ for a music book of Miss Ella Brown’s,² and after she came into the parlor to get it for me, I found it extremely difficult to tear myself away from such a fair and interesting lady. She is undoubtedly one of the nicest ladies I ever knew.

Before going down I copied a piece of poetry called “Medora” but put the name “Ella” in its place and quietly put it on the keyboard before she came in and before I left asked her to play a certain piece for me at 11 o’clk tomorrow which she promised. At the close of the piece I wrote, “From one whose friendship is as pure as the sunbeams are clear that are now shining upon this page” and something more in hieroglyphics³ and signed my name in them so that it might puzzle her.

Monday, January 2, 1860

No change in the weather. I repaired to the schoolhouse this morning with the determination to entirely stop visiting the ladies and to deny myself the pleasure of their company in toto and occupy myself exclusively with my books.

Tuesday, January 3, 1860

Weather the same. School. Yesterday Miss Ella and Miss Marian⁴ stopped in a few minutes but did not get off. I took Miss Ella’s book back yesterday evening about sundown. After coming from school I was just practising my music lesson when my dear old friend Hal⁵ rode up to bid me goodby before he left for Oxford. Our parting was truly painful—at least it was to me. I cannot tell whether it was to him or not. Poor fellow! I can pity him. He leaves behind his love, his angel as he calls her, Miss <Mary Wingate>.⁶

Mrs. James Yerger⁷ having come to see Ma about dark, I went home with her as an escort—we met Miss Dellie⁸ and Miss Jenny.⁹

Wednesday, January 4, 1860

Cool and somewhat cloudy. School.

A boy came from Maj. Lee’s¹⁰ about dusk to invite me down there to tea. Pa¹¹ at first said not go, but Ma¹² having just returned from Greenville told me to go as there would be but few gentlemen. It is well I did for including myself there were but four and only four ladies. We first had a pleasant chat and then a little dance—supper—again a dance—and in about one hour and a half had wines, &c. after which we had a little chat and soon retired to our respective homesteads.

Thursday, January 5, 1860

Clear and cool. School. Read after coming from school. I omitted to say in my last entry that during a conversation I had with Miss Ella [I] asked her if her curiosity had lately been excited (referring to the poetry and hieroglyphics). She looked very knowing and said yes, and she believed I could gratify it by translating to her some hieroglyphical writing lately addressed to her in a very mischievous manner. She earnestly entreated me to give her an alphabet, which I of course refused, alleging as an excuse that my honor was pledged not to.

Friday, January 6, 1860

Cold, cloudy, and drizzly. School. Read after coming from school. My journal suffers woefully for some substance or something to feed on as Uncle Jack¹³ would say.

Saturday, January 7, 1860

Clear and pleasant. Little or no fire needed. I took my music lesson late and was sitting in the parlor reading when Miss Ella and Miss Dellie rode up and Ma had welcomed them in before I saw them but met them at the door and exercised my conversational powers to entertain Miss Dellie.

They invited us all down to a private theatrical play at Judge Rucks’s tonight. The young ladies were to be the actors. The evening occupied in making a sword for Miss Ella. I sent it down in the dark.

As they were about to depart they kissed Ma, and I remarked, “Miss Ella, do you believe a kiss is a sin?” She answered, “No.” I said, “do you think it does any good?” “No.” I then said, “then if it does no good it must do harm, so you will admit it is a slight iniquity.” She reluctantly agreed with me, and I said, “as long, Miss Ella, as it is an iniquity and as long as a matter of course you believe in the Bible, it says that the iniquities of the parents shall be visited upon their children to the third and fourth generation and I think that this one at least should descend to the first—so Miss Ella, I am at your service.” She blushed beautifully and with not a little embarrassment playfully struck me over the shoulders with her riding whip. I then helped her on her horse and she rode off.

I went down to see the play and liked it much better than I expected. It was the Lady of Lyons.¹⁴ The hugging part was acted admirably. I wish I had been in either Miss Ella’s place or Miss Marian’s. After they got through we danced til 12 o’clk.

Sunday, January 8, 1860

Partially clear and pleasantly warm. Morning was occupied at church. I walked home with Miss Dellie and took a ride with her in the evening.

Monday, January 9, 1860

Cloudy and cool. Read and took a walk after coming to school.

Tuesday, January 10, 1860

Cloudy and rainy, ground perfectly saturated with water. School.

Wednesday, January 11, 1860

Cold, rainy and disagreeable all day. No school. Read and studied all day.

Thursday, January 12, 1860

Cold, rainy and wet. School.

Friday, January 13, 1860

Cold, cloudy, and rainy. School was dismissed earlier than usual on account of our speeches not being memorised.

Saturday, January 14, 1860

Weather the same. Staid in doors all day reading and studying.

Sunday, January 15, 1860

Clear and pleasant day. As usual I arose late this morning and in due course of time attended church for the last time to hear Miss Ella’s sweet voice mingle in the Holy chanting.

Studied my lessons after dinner and then went down to Judge Rucks’s about four o’clk to call on Miss Lou¹⁵ and Miss Jenny. They being absent I pursued my original design of going to see Miss Dellie. I did so, and she was absent. It was then nearly dark. I started back when I met Mr. Hal Rucks¹⁶ and stood talking in the road and while there I saw her (Miss Lou and Miss Jenny being with her) coming. I rode back and helped Miss Dellie out of the carriage and staid til after supper. Miss Jenny and Miss Lou did not get out. The principal topic of conversation was what I had said about having such a nice flirting with her when I went to Nashville. She most generously forgave me the foolish remark I had made.

As I came back I thought I would then call in and see Miss Jennie and Miss Lou. Miss Lou did not appear on account of a headache, but I found Miss Marian and Miss Jenny in the parlor with Andrew Carson.¹⁷ They attacked me furiously about the poetry, and nothing I could say would do any good—they declared I did it. Miss Marian and myself had a private little quarrel about it while we were sitting on the sofa and while Andrew was talking to Miss Jenny. I told them if they could by any means prove that I did it then I would acknowledge it but not without. It had no signature to it and that of course favored me. I went home about 11 o’clk and got a scolding from the old folks for my late hours.

Monday, January 16, 1860

Clear and cool. School. I rode from school this evening.

Tuesday, January 17, 1860

Clear and cool. School. Read after coming from school this evening.

Wednesday, January 18, 1860

Clear and pleasantly cool. Left school at 12 to get ready to attend a party to be given at Mr. Bowen’s out on Bl’k Bayou tonight. Uncle Jack, Bill Yerger, and George,¹⁸ and myself got there about dark and in “little or no time had on our dudds” ready for the galls. The gayety commenced unusually early. I was among the first in the parlor and engaged to dance with every lady in the room except Miss Kate Lee¹⁹ on account of a remark she made to me at a party at Maj. Lee’s during Christmas week. I tore her dress accidentally and she turned very primly round and said something to this effect (as I was afterwards informed by Bill who was dancing with her: “Go to the place where it is hot.” I did not hear it but thought it was some thing very harsh. If I had heard it I should have said, “If I do Miss Kate it is more than probable that I shall renew your acquaintance.”

Oh I had such a splendid time! We danced til broad daylight. The fancy dances seemed to be more popular (as Major Jones Courtship²⁰ would say) than usual. I danced many times with Miss Ella (the fancy dances) as well as with the other ladies, but particularly with her. I was obliged to dance with Miss Lee—she asked me and I felt a delicacy in refusing so I put my paw around her and whirled away. She does not dance like Miss Ella—not near so good—she laid <…. >.²¹ I do think Miss Ella waltzed nicer than any lady I ever had the pleasure of waltzing with!

We retired at daylight. The young ladies did not go to sleep but serenaded a set of “tight” gallants with their sweet voices. Bill and Valliant spoiled it all by calling up two drunken fiddlers with their crazy violins to return the compliment but only spoiled all my pleasure. I had come into the hall next to the ladies room in my stocking feet to listen to it and felt like knocking them down when they came up.

I did not start home till about 8 o’clk on account of my horse being loose. I saw them once more when I went to start and gave their sweet little hands a parting squeeze. John McCutchen rode with me as far as his house. I took breakfast with him about 10 o’clk on

Thursday, January 19, 1860

Which was as clear as a bell but as cold as an iceburg. I got home about 12 o’clk. By this time I suppose the young ladies are puffing down the “mighty river” at the rate of ten miles an hour.

Read some and went to Dr. Percy’s²² in the evening to carry some notes for Mr. Herbert and wrote a long letter to Nat²³ who is in Oxford with Hal.

Friday, January 20, 1860

Clear and cool. School. Times very dull. Read after coming from school.

Saturday, January 21, 1860

Clear and pleasant day. After taking my music lesson I dug some holes about in the yard for Ma so that she might plant some cedars. The old folks have taken up the idea that I don’t take enough exercise and now won’t let me read half an hour scarcely without either telling me about taking exercise or telling me to go and do something. Read and studied in the evening.

Sunday, January 22, 1860

I arose late this morning. A beautiful day. I attended church, the singing was not near so good as usual because Miss Ella’s sweet voice was absent, but she seems to have civilized our singing a little. Studied, read, and exercised the balance of the day.

Monday, January 23, 1860

Clear and pleasantly cool. School. Worked in the garden after coming from school and took my usual walk.

Tuesday, January 24, 1860

Clear and cool. School. After coming from school (which but half an hour before sundown) I read and then took my walk.

Wednesday, January 25, 1860

Weather the same. School. Took my usual walk.

Thursday, January 26, 1860

Little cooler but clear. Went to school but came home about 10 o’clk on account of having a chill. Sick the balance of the day.

Friday, January 27, 1860

Clear and cool. School. Read and exercised after coming from school.

Saturday, January 28, 1860

Clear and pretty day. Indoors all day taking quinine and in spite of it had a chill.

Sunday, January 29, 1860

Pretty and cool day. Went to church in the morning and played ball in the evening. Much better today.

Monday, January 30, 1860

Weather the same. Layed in bed till 2 o’clk taking quinine and missed my chill. Balance of the day occupied in reading.

Tuesday, January 31, 1860

Cloudy and rainy in the morning and warm. Turned colder in the evening and at dusk the water in the edges of the gallery was frozen. School.

Wednesday, February 1, 1860

Clear and very cold. I did not attend school today on account of Ma’s, Louly’s and the little baby’s leaving for New Orleans. May God bless them!

Thursday, February 2, 1860

Clear and cool. School. After coming from school practiced with my rifle.

Friday, February 3, 1860

Clear and cool. Just before school was dismissed John Byrne came in and after dismissal went home with me when I practiced my music lesson til 4 o’clk when we put on a clean shirt and went down to Maj. Lee’s to see the young ladies.

We had not been there long, I mean I thought Harry Percy would ask us into the parlor, not dreaming that he supposed I came for any thing else, but we sat for some time before he asked us in the parlor. Probably half an hour before he said a word about going and after Maj. Lee had come in and gone out with Cab Green, an acquaintance. I thought at first that as Dr. Percy’s family was there that the two waited to converse together privately but that Maj. Lee would invite me in after a while. I picked up a book and commenced reading and forgot all about it. I thought that we would go into the parlor after supper, but low and behold after a while here all the gentlemen (except Bill and Valliant who I afterwards found out were there) came into Nat’s room picking their teeth. Maj. Lee remarked, “Why don’t you come in to supper we blew horns and many bells.” I did not hear them if they were and I did not like the way in which it was said. He then said, “John, won’t you and Harry go in and take some supper?” I said, “No sir, I do not care about eating at all” in as ironical a tone as I could in the mean time putting on my overcoat, and then told John to order his horse which he did and as I went out of the door I said as politely as my emotions would allow me, “Good evening gentlemen” and went home. It was all I could do to keep my tongue in my mouth. I know my manner show’d my feelings. I must say candidly that it is the worst treatment I ever received from any person, and I don’t intend to give an opportunity of its being repeated again soon. If my feelings are the same in the future that they are now I shall not go again til Nat comes home, and then only to see him. Not that I believe I am in any way annoying them, but that I believe it is my duty to myself. I believe I have been treated badly and I intend to let it be seen that I think so and am not such a fool as to think otherwise. I regret this thing exceedingly, more on Nat’s account than on any other.

Saturday, February 4, 1860

Cloudy and drizzly—rain in the evening. Most of the morning occupied in practicing with my rifle. Mr. Wm. Percy²⁴ was here and we had a good deal of fun with Jimmy²⁵ and his shooting. He shoots very well. John Byrne left this morning. Read and studied all evening. I find that I am getting along very easy in Caesar now.

Sunday, February 5, 1860

Slightly cloudy. No church. Read and studied all day.

Monday, February 6, 1860

Clear and cool. School. Read and practised my music lesson after coming from school.

Tuesday, February 7, 1860

Clear and cool. School. My regular routine observed. My poo...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Preface
• Introduction
• Editorial Note
• The Diaries
• Epilogue
• Notes
• Index