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Diary of Mrs. Sue Sample Crump by George Leland Summer, ONDQ Spring 2003, Vol. 12, No. 1, pg. 23-28
Miss Sue Sample had kept a diary during her lifetime. There was no explanation by George Leland Summer as to who was in possession of the diary or what years he had the privilege to abstract from it. He had read the diary and abstracted what he considered the highlights.Whether the diary still exists I do not know. The following is a copy of what George L. Summer had hand written. The punctuation and wording was left as found in the papers. Forward by George Leland Summer: Some of the notes in the diary of Mrs. Sue Sample Crump relate to this period of our Civil War. This estimable lady was born and reared at Saluda Old Town (then Edgefield and now Saluda County). The diary showed a romantic side to the courtship and marriage of Miss Sue Sample and Dr. E. L. Crump of Herndon Georgia. During her College days while attending that old classical and popular school the Cokesbury Academy, she came in contact with much of the tragedies of life through the death of a beloved member of her family; and manifested through her letters, a heart warm with love and friendliness and the spirit of a noble character. The Sample progenitors began with an Englishman who came to America when quite young and as Miss Sample states: ‘About my ancestors I know but little for I was quite young when my father died, or too young to think of questioning him on that subject, though I often heard him speak of his brother, Samuel, and sister. His sister married and his brother moved away and was never heard of since. My father was an industrious young man. I heard him say when he started out he had only one horse and little money, on which he traveled through a portion of Florida. The Indians were very hostile at that time and he came very near being scalped. After his return he married a widow with one child. He had four children by his first wife but only one lived. He was left a widower and sometime afterwards married my mother (she was only seventeen) by whom he had ten children, the youngest a babe only seven months old when he died. I will begin at the eldest and give their names: Samuel, William, Frank, Annie, Kate, Bonie, George, Nannie, and Alice. George died when he was about two years old. I was off at school and being the first time death had crossed our threshold I thought my heart would break. I had just returned from the Academy for dinner when one of my room mates (and a girl from the same neighborhood) received a letter stating his death. Not long afterwards I received a kind letter from my father. This Academy was only eight miles from Hamburgh SC and my father would call by to see me when he passed on his way to that place (Hamburgh) to sell cotton. The name of this place was Curreytown’. After her College days and Miss Sample had been home for several months, romance seemed to have played a part in her life only to be stalked by a sad tragedy for she writes: ‘I met with a young man who was handsome and fascinating, or I thought so. Need I say I loved him, you already know that by my description. I was with him after and it was not long ere he told me he loved me. I could not enjoy a dance without him. My kind indulgent father gave many parties to the young people. Time sped on and my father was declining in health (also the young man of whom I have mentioned was taken ill at this time). He had many physics but these did no good. He wrote to my brother who was now a practicing physician in Emanuel Georgia. He came bringing his bride, accompanied by a gentleman friend (Willie R.) He spent a few weeks and went back not thinking death was so near. He had not been gone long ere my father breathed his last’. Some few weeks later, continued Miss Sample, “I was sitting in the window, when a boy came to the gate and said that he had come to tell me that Mr. M. C. was dead and would be buried the next day. I did not faint as some would have done, but my heart was almost broken. I uttered not a word but went to my room and fell upon my knees. How long I remained there I know not. I do not think anyone knew of my grief. Soon after this I was sent to College in company with my sister who was now twelve years old. My health was delicate and I did not stay more than five months. About this time Abe Lincoln was elected President and brother Willie and Frank volunteered at Mount Willing under Captain D. Denny (Co. E 7th SC Regt.) Brother Sammie had married and having the arrangements of the estate did not volunteer. Brother Caleb (Dr. C. L. Sample) who was still in Georgia volunteered in a Cavalry Company, but did not remain there long for he was appointed surgeon of a Florida Regiment but did not remain with that regiment long as he was sent to a different hospital. Soon after, the regiment to which my brother belonged was ordered to Virginia where after many hard marches my brother Willie was taken with consumption. He re-enlisted in Lipscomb Cavalry and returned home to die. The day before we heard of his arrival I had such a serious feeling I could not rest. I would try to sing but my song seemed to mock me and I remarked to Annie that I felt unusually sad. That evening a boy rode up to the gate in haste saying brother Willie was at Mr. William Bouknight’s and was not able to get home. Mother ordered the carriage and sent for him and told us, Annie and myself, to have him a good supper. I thought the evening would never pass and time seemed to move on leaden wings, when my brother should come for we had not seen him since he enlisted. But the night came ere we heard the rumbling of the carriage wheels over the rocky hill just opposite the gate and then we ran to meet him. Horror! What a change; I would not have recognized my once gay brother. He was the last that has been borne out of this household and who can tell who will be the next. He was in his twenty third year. After the death of my brother Willie I was called upon to take a small school. One afternoon a soldier came home on furlough and at Church we all gathered around him with many inquiries. Brother Frank came home and he and the family treated our friend with the highest respect who continued to call. Soon it was rumored that this young man and I were engaged when nothing of the kind existed. My brother’s time expired, he went back and was there in time for the Fredericksburg fight and commanding the company bravely to which he belonged. He was then second lieutenant. I do not know where the Captain was or the first lieutenant. Our gentleman friend rejoined his company and after was killed. The war was raging with a desperate fury and many of my friends were sleeping the sleep that knows no waking. In September 1864 my sister in law from Georgia visited us and remained a few weeks. I had concluded to go home with her and was making preparations. A few days before I left I acted as bridesmaid for a friend (Miss Mincie Dozier who married Mr. E. Hurlong) and went to Augusta in the carriage in company of Mr. D. who I asked to go with us to the Savannah Depot and get a check for my trunk. The sun could just be seen over the hills when we arrived. The train did not leave until midnight. I had my trunk taken off the carriage and thought no more about it til the gentleman who promised to get the check called me to the door of the car and said he could not get a check. Being but little acquainted with traveling I thought it would go without it, but I have never seen my trunk since. It was a great loss as I had a good supply of clothing and a new silk I had not made and we could not get a yard of calico for less than $100 dollars. When I went in, the car was crowded with not one vacant seat. A paroled prisoner on his way home and on crutches offered me his seat, which I refused to take, telling him I preferred standing to have him deprived of a seat. But he procured another by some little boy and I accepted his seat. I noticed in taking his seat I was seated by a soldier who was wounded in the foot and just opposite with the seat turned facing the one we occupied was a lady with her husband. He was also wounded in the leg, making three cripples. They were all traveling together and also another soldier from Kentucky who had a furlough, could not get home and was going on with them to spend the time. The gentleman who gave me his seat was an Alabama man by the name of Frank Amos. He had been in prison two years at Fort Delaware. He was the life of the crowd. The gentleman by whom I was seated was Mr. G. N. Truss from Talladega Alabama. The lady and gentleman Mr. and Mrs. Williamson formerly of Virginia, but then resided in Alabama. The Kentuckian was Jeff Oxley who they called ‘Sallie’. We had to change at Millen and take the Mason Road where Mr. Oxley
was kind enough to look for my trunk, which he failed to find. The
station to which
we had to go was Herndon #9, Bark County but my sister in law had
relatives living at Cushingville GA and we would stop there. It was a dark drizzly night
and the train stopped, she thought, at the station and we got off but we
found it was one hundred yards above. It stopped to run out on the
switch to let the other train pass. Soon the trains whirled by and we were
left just after Mr. Oxley handed us out and gave us a hardy shake of
his hand. A gentleman stepped forward and asked permission to carry my
sister’s valise. I thanked him and thought it was Rachel’s cousin or
some acquaintance. She soon found out she was mistaken in the place and
the gentleman saw a light just on the side of the
railroad, said he would go and ask where the station was. We ate dinner and left half past eleven, took the train and were soon at our destination. No one met us and we hired a carriage from Mr. Jones and were soon at the ferry at the Ogeechee. After crossing it began to rain, night soon set in and the rain was coming down in torrents. We got drenched for the carriage top was worn out. We stayed at Mrs. Kennedy’s that night, an aunt of Rachel’s and in sight of my brother’s. My time was spent quite pleasantly and would have enjoyed it well if I had not lost my trunk. Many soldiers were home. Three young men addressed me and one of these accused me of flirting. He came by after the surrender and he is now attending lectures at the Medical College in Charleston. His cousin I was engaged to — he is at the Augusta Medical College. When I left home in October General Sherman had taken Atlanta and I little thought I would have a sight of the blue coats while on my visit. About the first of November our cavalry began to pass with its ordnance train. Still nothing was said of Sherman. Some half dozen of the soldiers had come home to procure fresh horses and I believe the whole of the Bullock Troops were sent home for that purpose. They were sent, for Rachel’s brother was detached for that purpose. They were to meet at Mrs. Kennedy’s on Tuesday night to leave on Wednesday. Lieutenant R., three Mr. Kennedys and Rachel’s brother were with us and just before tea two soldiers rode up in much haste and asked to see Sergeant B. He and I were sitting on the piazza and having learned the Yankees were in the vicinity he was a little alarmed but went to them. It proved to be a Mr. Kennedy and son, a step-son of old Mrs. Kennedy He stated that the Yankees had been to his house that day while he and his son were absent and two of our cavalry were there. One of them had gone into the house and the other remained outside. The former was captured, the latter made his escape. This was within twelve miles of us. Soon after supper Sergeant Brown and I walked down to Mrs. Kennedy’s where the other soldiers were. My sister in law was having some provisions cooked for her brother. We sat up all night, part of the time at Mrs. Kennedy’s and the other at my brother’s, being only a short distance away. About midnight a light was discovered and it was thought the Yankees were burning Mrs. Brinson’s mill. Two scouts were sent out, Kennedy and Brown. They soon returned saying they got near enough to see that something was burning and soon the rattling of tin cups, canteens, etc. told they had to leave. We were soon left alone and oh what a feeling, expecting the Yankees any moment. Two of the Misses Rountree had come with their cousins and they left for home as soon as they could see to drive, leaving us at Mrs. Kennedy’s. Two of her nieces were boarding with her, Marie and Mollie Brown, orphan girls. Persons had hid out everything, provisions, trunks of clothing and bedding, horses etc. Pete, a faithful servant of brother’s bad everything in his care, or had hid it out and not one thing was missing and he took care to keep out of the Yankees’ way. Just before breakfast Lieutenant R. and Mr. Kennedy returned with two Texans and said the alarm was false and no Yankees were within sixty miles of the place. It was the campfire of these Texans the scouts had seen. Soon, breakfast being over, Rachel and I after seeing the Texans leave went home and Lieutenant R. and Mr. Kennedy came just after us. We reached home and while waiting for the girl to unlock the door, a boy in the yard called out ‘Listen Miss Sue, what’s that?’ The sound became more distinct and I knew it was the drum. We did not wait to unlock the door but went back in a run to Mrs. Kennedy’s. It was thought they were leaving camp at Summertown, a small village about seven miles, but thought too they would keep the road near the Ogeechee and might not come our way. Being wearied and sleepy, not having slept any the night before, I proposed to Mattie for us to lie down, telling Miss Pollie Kennedy ‘If the Yanks come, to wake us’. We had not been in the room over twenty minutes when Miss Polly came to the door saying, ‘Get up, the Yanks are in the yard.’ When I got to the sitting room a Yank was at each window with a cock pistol in his hand, swearing all the time and others were searching for Rebs. Our boys had not been gone more than thirty minutes but they made their escape. The two Texans were captured not far a distance from the house. This was on Wednesday night at nine o’clock November 30 1864. I never was so frightened in my life. The yards, Negro houses and kitchen were crowded. They made Mrs. Kennedy give up her keys, ordered dinner and did not leave until they got it. It was against orders for them to take anything out of the house but one yank went in the room and stole Mattie’s gold watch and key. The watch had been her father’s. A gentleman with his likeness on it gave the key to her. That night we had little to eat and did not sleep any. Next morning, Thursday, Rachel, Mollie Brown and I sent out to her home to find out what had been done. The provisions she cooked for her brother were gone. One of the yanks ate so much cake and drank so much cream it made him sick and said he had a good mind to shoot Rachel for he believed the cream had been poisoned. He rode off sick and I do not know how he came out but if he died I suppose they would have carried out their threat. The bed stands were all chopped to pieces and bedding torn up, books stolen. Rachel fell across the bed and wept. We soon heard a powerful roaring and the infantry were surrounding the house. It was about 10 o’clock. Two yanks came first, a Dutch and a Negro, telling Rachel it would be best to turn the hogs out but she had not time before the yanks were there. They shot all the hogs in the pen. We could hear nothing but guns all day and the squeals of hogs. We begged them to leave something, but no answer. I was standing on the porch, looking at the destruction when General Smith, with one of his Aides, rode up and remarked, ‘Our men are carrying on a great destruction’. I told him it ought to be stopped, to which he made no reply. He asked me many questions about the country, to all of which I could not reply. Asked me where I lived. I told him in South Carolina. He bowed, blushed, rode off, not without asking some questions about this State. He was in command of that Force (thirty Thousand). They camped there that night and until 11 o’clock the camp was ringing with music, which made our hearts bleed. A guard was stationed around the house that night. The camp was five or six miles in length. After they left we scavenged the camp to what was left. Persons were obliged to scavenge or perish. I saw such a destruction. Only those who have marked the footsteps of the Yanks know. Here families were left without knowing where they would get their next meal. Pete, the faithful servant, had with him lard, bacon, and some other things, which he brought back. The Yanks had threatened South Carolina saying they would not leave a house standing. After they found out I was from this State they would say all they could in my presence to aggravate. I would always have an answer ready and had a quarrel with one. The week after, a friend formerly of this State (S. C.) but more recently of Swainsboro Georgia, a Dr. L. Boushell, sent for Rachel and me. We went and were there several days. The Yanks had not destroyed much of this place (Only a few having passed that way). This was Tuesday, three weeks after the Yankees had left. I was anxious to get home, for mother had not heard from me in some time and I thought she might be uneasy. I left Dr. Boushell’s on Wednesday December 2lst, set out with Rev. James Boushell in a buggy for Waynesboro, Burk County to take the train for Augusta, the railroad having been torn up to that place. We arrived in Waynesboro on Thursday, late in the evening and put up at the hotel, had nothing to eat but corn bread and bacon, the Yanks having taken everything. I took the train Friday about eleven and here the Rev. Boushell left me and went back to Swainsboro. I went to Augusta and on the train beard that Savannah had fallen. Gen. Sherman had reached that place (he was indeed — a triumphant march). I stopped at the Augusta Hotel. Next morning the boy failed to awaken me in time for the train but fortunately two gentlemen were going up and they took charge of me. One was a Mason, as I soon found out and he took special care of me. He was Captain Cuff of Griffin Georgia. The other was from Tennessee. They treated me with the greatest respect and kindness. When we arrived in Branchville we had to change cars. Arriving in Columbia I stopped at the Congaree Hotel. Several ladies and gentlemen were in the parlor, refugees from Virginia and they were very inquisitive about Sherman’s Army and its movements. The next day the Virginia ladies sent for me and we spent a sociable evening in the parlor. All were thinking of Sherman, he being expected almost anytime. Left early Monday December 26, 1864 for Newberry. Went to a relative’s (Lula Abney) to await the carriage, knowing that mother would send for me as soon as news reached her of my arrival. Well, Old Jake came for me on December 30. Oh My! What a blessing to get home again and had it not been for the dread of Sherman we all would have been happy. April 24 1865 — spent the night at Mrs. Tabitha Abney’s, sent carriage home and walked home next day. Being invited to a wedding in Newberry I hurried home to make preparations for that. My sister was to act as a bridesmaid. Brother Frank and wife (She was Miss Emma Blease and a relative of the bride) not being invited would provide no way for us to go. We were disappointed but bore it with indifference. Much disappointment has come to us this year that we think little of it and live quite a secluded life; and I sometimes wish we lived in the wilderness where no one could be seen, no sound save the owl and the whippoorwill. For their shrill notes solemn as they are, seem more in accordance with my feelings and seem more sympathetic than human. How often we see friends forsake us, we know not whom to trust. ‘Love all, Trust few’ maybe a true saying. September 28 1899 — had a letter from Dr. E. L. Crump. He will soon finish his studies at the Medical College in Charleston. I do not know but that it is he and not his cousin Dr. B. F. Kirkland. My brother Caleb (Dr. C. L. Sample of Swainsboro Georgia) writes often and insists on my making them another visit. I do believe he wishes to know my true feelings about those two than to have me with them, but he says his wife is failing in health. Maybe the Negroes do not work as well as when they felt an interest in all our home life. Bless dear old Mary, when brother Sammie told her she was free she asked ‘How much land do we get?” He tried to explain he must pay her for labor or that she could go to others if she wished and could do better. Well do I remember how with her straightforward way of doing things she stiffed out from all the others (Only Aunt Millie stood by her) — (Aunt Millie was mother of 19 children. She always said ‘Yes maam, mostly boys and girls, nineteen of urn). Big Mary stood straight and tall then folded her arms — ‘Nears I called that mighty poor freedom. I’s here to stay’. October 1, 1866 — well because father had bought a scholarship at Cokesbury, Anna and I have decided to go. Dr. Johnson being president with good teachers we hope to make much of one year there (Cokesbury being under the management of the M. E. Conference of S. C.) Mother sent for Rinas, Rhoda Berry, who lives with her brother Joe half mile away. Well, have heard nothing from Dr. Kirkland since writing him. Guess he knows how things seem to be. We are not the blame, neither Dr. Crump nor myself. The darkies are holding a meeting in a little cabin they bought, Mount Moriah. We can hear them singing in their soft weird way. ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’. It is so near that on a still night we can hear some of their praying. Nothing can be made of their sermons. It seems they all try to preach or join in when the preacher starts. They are a peculiar race and although being born and reared up with them so much of their nature is still blank with me. Big Mary is still with us yet and she is so true and kind. One Negro girl has a baby. Mother and I took her some food and mother said ‘Why, how is this? Ben left you about two years ago?’ ‘Yes Miss Nancy, but he writ me, yes maam, he writ me lots of times’. Oh the race left on us is so ignorant. Life is changing so fast. How our dear indulgent father is missed and deep seems the dark waters through which we are passing. Clouds gather where it only seems the sky was bright. We can only pray, as brother Mark Boyd begged us, to hope and pray. We have lots to be thankful for even as things are now. My other three brothers survived the war without being wounded. Bud Doe is in Georgia and has one child. Brother Sammie was captured at Petersburg Virginia but got home to his wife and two little boys. Since the surrender brother Frank has married and lives just in sight. The war has passed and with it many brave souls. Who can paint the sufferings of those four years of blood shed? The memory of those loved ones who laid down their lives are fresh and we can never forget them. We are now viled by a despotic foe but may these times of darkness pass and bright days be in store for us.’ Closing by George Leland Summer:
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