Reminiscences Of Peace And War

Sara Agnes Rice Pryor (1830 - 1912) was a writer who published two memoirs in the early twentieth century of the mesmerizing times in which she lived. The first few chapters contain Mrs. Pryor's recall of the years she spent in Washington society before the "Civil War." Her husband, Roger Atkinson Pryor (1828-1919) was an able lawyer who was appointed by President Franklin Pierce as a special United States Minister to Greece in 1854. In 1859, after Virginia Congressman William O. Goode died in office, Roger Pryor won his vacant seat in the United States Congress. Of these years, Mrs. Pryor describes the prominent politicians (and their wives) that she met in addition to many well-known foreign dignitaries. She remembers the Southern power presence of those halcyon days: "When the Marine band would play on the veranda of the White House," and the lavish White House parties with "ices in every form from a pair of turtle doves to a pillared temple." Students of fashion history and especially re-enactors will benefit from her careful descriptions of the attire of era, "Our white gloves were short and were finished at the wrist with a fall of lace three or four inches wide, and a band of ribbon and rosette," etc. Of the war privations she writes, "Pins became scarce. People walked about with downcast eyes; they were looking for pins! Thorns were gathered and dried to use as pins. Dentists' gold soon disappeared. The generation succeeding the war period had not good teeth. Anesthetics -- morphine, chloroform, opium--were contraband of war. This was our great grief. Our soldier boys, who had done nothing to bring the war upon the country, must suffer every pang that followed the disasters of battle." Mrs. Pryor's detailed memoirs of the war have been important sources for historians doing research on southern society during and after the Civil War. Incidentally, the author, Sara Agnes Rice Pryor, was one of the founders of the National Daughters of the Revolution.

Excerpt from Reminiscences of Peace and War It will be obvious to the reader that this book affects neither the "dignity of history" nor the authority of political instruction. The causes which precipitated the conflict between the sections and the momentous events which attended the struggle have been recounted by writers competent to the task. But descriptions of battles and civil convulsions do not exhibit the full condition of the South in the crisis. To complete the picture, social characteristics and incidents of private life are indispensable lineaments. It occurs to the author that a plain and unambitious narrative of her recollections of Washington society during the calm which preceded the storm, and of Virginia under the afflictions and sorrows of the fratricidal strife, will not be without interest in the retrospect of that memorable era. The present volume recalls that era in the aspect in which it appeared to a woman rather than as it appeared to a statesman or a philosopher. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Published in 1904, these are the memoirs of Mrs. Roger A. Pryor, who was the wife of once Confederate General Roger Pryor. Includes her time in Washington during the 1850s and memories of the War Between the States. Includes an interesting look into everyday life off the battlefield in the Southern states.

Reminiscences of Peace and War is a book based on author's journals which is intended to contribute to public discourse about the Civil War. In this book Mrs. Pryor wrote about antebellum society but also defended the Confederacy, as did fellow writers Virginia Clay-Clopton and Louise Wigfall Wright; the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) recommended the works of these three for serious studies by other women.

Madison & Adams Press presents the Civil War Memories Series. This meticulous selection of the firsthand accounts, memoirs and diaries is specially comprised for Civil War enthusiasts and all people curious about the personal accounts and true life stories of the unknown soldiers, the well known commanders, politicians, nurses and civilians amidst the war. "Reminiscences of Peace and War" is a book based on author's journals which is intended to contribute to public discourse about the Civil War. In this book Mrs. Pryor wrote about antebellum society but also defended the Confederacy, as did fellow writers Virginia Clay-Clopton and Louise Wigfall Wright; the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) recommended the works of these three for serious studies by other women.

Excerpt from Reminiscences of Peace and War Washington in the Fifties - Literary Society during Fillmore's Administration - John P. Kennedy, G. P. R. James, Mrs. Gales, and Mrs. Seaton - Anna Cora Mowatt. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.