Torn by War: The Civil War Journal of Mary Adelia Byers

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Synopsis
The Civil War divided the nation, communities, and families. The town of Batesville, Arkansas, found itself occupied three times by the Union army. This compelling book gives a unique perspective on the war’s western edge through the diary of Mary Adelia Byers (1847-1918), who began recording her thoughts and observations during the Union occupation of Batesville in 1862. Only fifteen when she starts her diary, Mary is beyond her years in maturity, as revealed by her acute observations of the world around her. At the same time, she appears very much a child of her era. Having lost her father at a young age, she and her family depend on the financial support of her Uncle William, a slave owner and Confederate sympathizer. Through Mary’s eyes, we are given surprising insights into local society during a national crisis. On the one hand, we see her flirting with Confederate soldiers m the Batesville town square and, on the other, facing the grim reality of war by “setting up” through the night with dying soldiers. Her journal ends in March 1865, shortly before the war comes to a close. Enhanced by extensive photographs, maps, and informative annotation by Samuel R. Phillips, Torn by War is a valuable contribution to the growing body of literature on civilian life during the Civil War. Samuel R. Phillips was raised near Batesville and is a descendant of Mary Adelia Byers. A graduate of Brooks School and the California Institute of Technology, he is a mechanical engineer and manufacturing consultant. George E. Lankford is Emeritus Professor of Folklore at Lyon College, Batesville. He is the editor of Bearing Witness: Memories of Arkansas Slavery and author of many articles on Independence history.
Copyright:
2013

Book Details

Book Quality:
Excellent
Book Size:
211 Pages
ISBN-13:
9780806143958
Publisher:
University of Oklahoma Press
Date of Addition:
Copyrighted By:
University of Oklahoma Press
Adult content:
No
Language:
English
Has Image Descriptions:
No
Categories:
History, Nonfiction, Biographies and Memoirs
Submitted By:
Richard James
Proofread By:
Dmitry Neronov
Usage Restrictions:
This is a copyrighted book.

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