DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | George C. Burmeister diary, 1864

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1864-01-08

Friday 8th  Last night I made the rounds and visited a certain house a short distance from the lines where a number of our soldiers were having a grand dance. I found about fifty soldiers and eight girls present, they were enjoying themselves hugely. I was invited to take supper with them and found the supper very good. The Tennessee girls seem to be very fond of parties, they attend them wherever they can, and allow the men a great many privileges. They can out dance any men I ever saw, they scarcely ever go home from a party until after sun rise the next morning. A few days ago there was a party at Middleton Tenn. given by the officers of the left wing of our regiment, some thirty ladies attended it. They danced till three o'clock in the morning having commenced in the afternoon of the previous day. Not satisfied with this they went out of the lines and organized a party of their own at a neighbor's house, where they danced the entire forenoon. This is certainly carrying dancing to the extreme. It is also reported that but few ladies are to be found in this part of the state who do not indulge in the use of tobacco in some shape, they either chew, smoke, dip, or practice all. O, give me a girl of the free North. It is bad enough to see men use the filthy tobacco but it is awful to see a lady use it. I received an order from Major John commanding our regiment to take command of the left wing of our reg't and the Port of Middleton Tenn.

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Friday 8th Last night I made the rounds and visited a certain house a short distance from the lines where a number of our soldiers were having a grand dance. I found about fifty soldiers and eight girls present, they were enjoying themselves hugely. I was invited to take supper with them and found the supper very good. The Tennessee girls seem to be very fond of parties, they attend them wherever they can, and allow the men a great many privileges. They can out dance any men I ever saw, they scarcely ever go home from a party until after sun rise the next morning. A few days ago there was a party at Middleton Tenn. given by the officers of the left wing of our regiment, some thirty ladies attended it. They danced till three o'clock in the morning having commenced in the afternoon of the previous day. Not satisfied with this they went out of the lines and organized a party of their own at a neighbor's house, where they danced the entire forenoon. This is certainly carrying dancing to the extreme. It is also reported that but few ladies are to be found in this part of the state who do not indulge in the use of tobacco in some shape, they either chew, smoke, dip, or practice all. O, give me a girl of the free North. It is bad enough to see men use the filthy tobacco but it is awful to see a lady use it. I received an order from Major John commanding our regiment to take command of the left wing of our reg't and the Port of Middleton Tenn.