DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | George C. Burmeister diary, 1863

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1863-12-26

Saturday 26  I made my headquarters at a log house, which was quite open, but it had a good fireplace, and therefore it did better than none.  This place has a good many women, but they are very ignorant.  I bet a dollar with sergeant Upham that I could make one beauty enter into a conversation with me,  I tried my very best to make her do so, but all she said was yes sir, no sir hem hem &co. this constituted her entire conversation and I lost the dollar.  This country is celebrated for large families of children, wonder whether it is because the women here ar so ignorant?  One man and woman were married here a few days ago, for three years or during the war.  I saw the woman and I suppose the man is like her, it is said they made them believe that the provost marshal could not marry them for a longer period.  O, tempo, O mores!  What will become of this people if they do not receive a better mental and moral culture?  The most of the people live from day to day here, without knowing what is going on in their immediate vicinity.  The majority can scarcely read and write.

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Saturday 26 I made my headquarters at a log house, which was quite open, but it had a good fireplace, and therefore it did better than none. This place has a good many women, but they are very ignorant. I bet a dollar with sergeant Upham that I could make one beauty enter into a conversation with me, I tried my very best to make her do so, but all she said was yes sir, no sir hem hem &co. this constituted her entire conversation and I lost the dollar. This country is celebrated for large families of children, wonder whether it is because the women here ar so ignorant? One man and woman were married here a few days ago, for three years or during the war. I saw the woman and I suppose the man is like her, it is said they made them believe that the provost marshal could not marry them for a longer period. O, tempo, O mores! What will become of this people if they do not receive a better mental and moral culture? The most of the people live from day to day here, without knowing what is going on in their immediate vicinity. The majority can scarcely read and write.