Item description: Diary entry, 16 May 1862, written during the Union occupation of Murfreesboro, Tenn.

More about this item: Kate S. Carney was the daughter of a merchant of Murfreesboro, Tenn. The collection is a Diary (chiefy 1859-1862) of Kate S. Carney describing antebellum life in Murfreesboro, Tenn.; travel in the Southeast, Northeast, Midwest, and Canada; schooling in Philadelphia; a stay with her sister in Yazoo County, Miss.; and life in Murfreesboro during the Civil War while the city was under U.S. army occupation.

Item citation: From the Kate S. Carney Diary #139-z, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Item transcription:

Today was the Fast day appointed by Jeff Davis, and we kept it until dinner, though we had no service in our churches. It seems hard that we are not permitted to pray to God, when and how we want to. Ma received a letter from Sister Mary today, written about a month ago, by an “underground railroad” as they term it, & we were delighted to learn they were so well. Haven’t been very well today, slept a little during the day consequently did not rest well tonight. Mr. Crossman returned from Nashville today, failing to see any of Mrs. Wilson family, I didn’t get an answer to my letter. Several Yankees came into Ma’s yard & she gave them flowers. Ma & Cousin Ann went up to the hospital to take our prisoners some nice things to eat, & Capt. Round’s commanded them to come no more. He is a villain, “clothed with a little brief authority: he flatters his little soul he is somebody, but did he but know we have heard he was only a drummer.” Martha Duffer spent the night with Rosa.