A diary with reminiscences of the war and refugee life in the Shenandoah valley, 1860-1865

Cornelia Peake McDonald kept a diary during the Civil War (1861- 1865) at her husband's request, but some entries were written between the lines of printed books due to a shortage of paper and other entries were lost. In 1875, she assembled her scattered notes and records of the war period into a blank book to leave to her children. This combination diary and memoir was annotated and supplemented with further biographical material about the family by her son, Hunter McDonald. The diary entries describe civilian life in Winchester, Va., occupation by Confederate troops prior to the 1st Manassas, her husband's war experiences, the Valley campaigns and occupation of Winchester and her home by Union troops, the death of her baby girl, the family's "refugee life" in Lexington, reports of battles elsewhere, and news of family and friends in the army. Appendices contain further accounts of Angus McDonald's early life and war experiences, including mistreatment in prison.