Another Year Finds Me in Texas: The Civil War Diary of Lucy Pier Stevens

On Christmas Day in 1859, Lucy Pier Stevens began a visit to her aunts family near Bellville, Texas. However, the outbreak of the Civil War on April 4, 1861, made returning home impossible, stranding her in enemy territory for the duration of the war. Her diary offers a unique perspective on daily life at the fringes of the conflict, revealing how her love for her Texas family and Confederate soldier boys blurred her loyalties.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 382 pages
Publication date: 05 October 2021
Publisher: University of Texas Press

On Christmas Day in 1859, Lucy Pier Stevens embarked on a visit to her aunt's family near Bellville, Texas. Little did she know that her life would take a drastic turn on April 4, 1861, when the outbreak of the Civil War made it impossible for her to return home. Stranded in enemy territory for the duration of the war, Stevens faced the challenge of reconciling her Northern upbringing with the Southern sentiments surrounding her.

Lucy Stevens's diary stands as a remarkable testament to the experiences of women during the Civil War era in Texas. As one of the few womens diaries from that time and the only one written by a Northerner, it offers a unique perspective on daily life at the fringes of America's bloodiest conflict. Stevens was an articulate, educated, and keen observer, taking note of seemingly every aspect of her surroundings—from the weather to illnesses, food shortages, parties, church attendance, chores, schools, childbirth, death, the family's slaves, and political and military news.

In her private thoughts, Stevens unwittingly revealed how her love for her Texas family and the Confederate soldier boys she came to care for blurred her loyalties, even as she continued to long for her home in Ohio. Through her diary, she demonstrated how the ties of heritage, kinship, friendship, and community transcended the sharpest division in US history.

Vicki Adams Tongate's insightful historical commentary on Stevens's diary provides a wealth of information on womens history, Texas history, and Civil War history. The diary offers a glimpse into the lives of ordinary women who were caught up in the tumultuous events of the Civil War, and Tongate's analysis sheds light on their experiences and struggles.

Overall, Lucy Pier Stevens's diary is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of the Civil War era and the role of women in shaping American history. It provides a unique perspective on a period of profound change and challenges, and it serves as a reminder of the enduring power of human connections and the resilience of the human spirit.

Dimension: 229 x 152 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781477324677