The NEW BERN
PUBLISHED WEEKLY
IN THE MB—-
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NEW BERN, N. C., FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1961
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When Marsha Somers, a New Bern
High school freshman, decided to
enter the United Daughters of the
Confederacy contest here for the best
composition by a student on a Civil
War theme, she created a fictional
diary, the “Diary of Laura Coley.”
It won for her a cash award pro
vided by Mrs. John R. Taylor as a
tribute to her own father, who wore
the gray of the Confederacy in what
has been so aptly described as the
Lost Cause. Printed below is Mar
sha’s winning entry, and we might
add that we feel it is a privilege to
publish it.
DIARY OF LAURA COLEY
This is the diary kept by a young
girl, Laura Coley, living in the blue-
grass naountains of Kentucky during
the Civil War.
April 14, 1861.
Dear Diary, -
Today as I gazed across the golden
fields of wheat, I dreamed of days to
come and of tonight’s party celebrat
ing the victory over Fort Sumter.
Papa says those Yankees are really
cowards and won’t give us much
trouble. Mama looks worried but still
proud of our victory. The party was
a success. All the important people
were here — the governor and his
lady, and many more state people
and their wives. I feel so tired that
I must close for tonight. Goodnight.
Because of chores and fascinating
events, Laura Coley had no time to
write. The next entry was made two
months later.
June 30,1861
Dear Diary,
- Today as I write in you, my eyes
greet a scene of suffering and juin.
The wheat fields now lie trodden and
burned by passing troops. The Yan
kees have moyed~;into the area
around'our ;plittttatioh an^ pur
of our L
mest Negroes have run off to seek
freedom in Northern camps. Mama
is beginning to show the strain and
worry. Her hair grows gray too
quickly, and eyes seem deep m
thoui^t and worry. Now her worry
is greater, for Papa and Matthew
have gone off to fight wtith the Con
federates. I am overburdened with
work, for with only ten Negroes, Ma
ma and me, the work is a great
burden. ,, . ,
;At the first the neighbors helped,
but with passing events they have
turned to the North for support and
refuse to help us. But oh, how inuch
worse it must be on the battlefield
with the scene of death and dying.
Even as I write to you, I can hear
the rumble of cannons and the whis
■ tie of flying bullets.
• They seem so near — they are
— only 53 miles away. All our neigh-
- bors cheer each Yankee victory but
we orily stand silent and wait for
Southern victory. With tired eyes
and heart, I close. Goodnight.
Several days later Laura and her
mother received a letter from Papa
telling the surroundings and suffer
ings of the fighting men.
July 5, 1861.
Dear Diary,
Yesterday we celebrated the
Fourth of July with the cannons and
bullets of the near fighting trooP®-
From my window I see a land full
of beautiful things. But upon closer
inspection I see bleak, burned and
trodden fields lying untended. Glanc
ing back into my room, I see peeling
walls, torn dresses, or rather a (toess,
for I have not had a new dress in al
most a year.
Yesterday a group of drunken
Yankee soldiers came to our house
demanding supplies. Our danger is
gathering as darkness when twilight
approaches. Now at night instead ot
lullabies I fall asleep listening to the
screams of dying men, of funerm
prayers, and of firing cannons and
guns. Mama is sick now because all
the duties and responsibilities have
worn her out.
Today we received a letter trom
(Continued on Pago 6)
SPREADING OUT^NeW Be?n’si wpwth
tmfv’RF starting now—Ceramics classes for adults
IS srttog unto way at the New Bern BecreaUon Center,
and^it looks Uke another successful year, ftctarrf here,
with a display of her own work, is Melba ColUns ot Cary,
who has been a big help to local followers »*
hobbv She visits our town frequently, inere are
Jksses Monday and Wednesday, and mormng classes Tues-
day and Thursday.—^Photo by John R. Baxter.
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