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Mary Chesnut, April 1861, Charleston Harbor, 10.2009, ink and gouache on paper |
"I do not pretend to go to sleep. How can I? If Anderson does not accept terms–at four–the orders are–he shall be fired upon.
I count four–St Michael chimes. I begin to hope. At half-past four, the heavy booming of a cannon.
I sprang out of bed. And on my knees–prostrate–I prayed as I never prayed before.
There was a sound of stir all over the house–pattering of feet in the corridor–all seemed hurrying one way. I put on my double gown and a shawl and went, too. It was to the housetop."
--Mary Chesnut, diary entry; Charleston, South Carolina; April 12, 1861
