Reading SC History: “A Diary from Dixie” by Mary Boykin Chesnut

By Ryan Lowery

When South Carolina is brought up in discussion, it does not take long before someone brings up secession and the American civil war. Regardless of your stance on the event, it is impossible to deny that it is a a part of the history of the state, and it could easily be argued that no event has had a greater effect on South Carolina. Not only did the war start at Fort Sumter in Charleston’s harbor, but it brought about the freeing of slaves, the burning of Columbia, and even modern issues such as the controversy of the Confederate battle flag on the state house grounds. The effects of the American civil war have had such a long-lasting influence on the state, including its literature. I discussed the account of the burning of Columbia by William Gilmore Simms recently, but I felt it to be irresponsible of me to not mention the diary of Mary Boykin Chesnut.

Born in 1823 in Stateburg, South Carolina, Chesnut was the daughter of a U.S. representative that would go on to be the governor of South Carolina and eventually a U.S. senator. Her family relocated to Charleston when she was young, and it was here that she received and excellent education. Her family would move to Mississippi, but Chesnut stayed behind in Charleston to continue school, occasionally visiting when she had breaks. She would go on to marry a lawyer and politician from Charleston that would go on to be a high ranking official in the Confederacy.

The importance of diaries in understanding history is immeasurable. The one that first comes to mind is the diary of Anne Frank. It gave the world insight into her family’s plight in Nazi-controlled Europe. It showed the grueling life of those living in fear of the fascist regime. The world became enamored by the words written in a young girl’s diary. Chesnut’s diary should be viewed with the same respect. While the situations are fairly different, it is impossible to overstate the importance of A Diary from Dixie. Mary Chesnut was witness to events in Richmond and the the happenings of the Provisional Congress of the C.S.A, the movements of generals and their armies, and the ups and downs of the Confederacy during the war.

Most importantly, A Diary from Dixie reveals the life of women during the 1860s. The book allows the reader to glimpse into the mind of Mary Chesnut, revealing her internal battles over the issue of slavery and her thoughts on the role of women in that society. It really is a window through time, revealing the facts of her everyday life.

Reading through Mary Chesnut’s diary is a journey filled with information, tales of battles, stories of relationships with slaves, and the inner thoughts of an incredible woman.While she may not be as literarily gifted as many wordsmiths, her diary is no less important in understand the goings on of the South in the 19th century.