Civil War in Rapides Parish, Louisiana

I love history, but war history has never been an interest of mine.  That has all changed! 

While researching my Robert Graham family in Louisiana I came across the Civil War military records of Robert’s son William Jackson Graham and some of Robert’s sons-in laws, which gave me insight into the military lives of these soldiers.  What I really want to know is how did the rest of the family survive and endure the war.  

While browsing online, I came across a communication, dated 21 Sept 1864 from Abraham Lincoln to General Canby in Louisiana. The gist of the letter says that the loyal Union people of Rapides Parish were “in great destitution---almost absolute starvation”.  Since most had taken the oath of allegiance General Baily was asking for permission to take donated food to them from New Orleans. For a complete and a more graphic account of their circumstances, see. To Edward R. S. Canby (Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln)

While these documents apply only to Union sympathizers, it does illustrate the dire circumstances of those who were living behind the Confederate lines in Rapides Parish, LA.

WOW! 

What an eye opener. This was my first official glimpse into the plight of my own ancestors who were living in Rapides Parish, LA during the Civil War.  They were going hungry, maybe even starving!

This one document spiked my curiosity about the lives of my ancestors living in the south during and after the Civil War.   I am now reading Brokenburn: The Journal of Kate Stone 1861 - 1868. Kate, a young woman in her early 20s at the outbreak of war, chronicles the day to day lives of her family members throughout the Civil War and its aftermath. Although I am not yet done reading it, I am completely captivated by her diaries. I am particularly looking forward to reading about her family’s escape to eastern Texas and their lives as war refugees. 

Family lore says that my own Graham ancestors also fled to Texas during the Civil War. I am hoping Kate’s descriptions of life there will give me insight into my own ancestor’s plight, their flight to Texas, and life as refugees.

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Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 8. Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865. (accessed 7 Jan 2013) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/l/lincoln/lincoln8/1:34?rgn=div1;view=fulltext  2006 .