Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum

The City of Harrogate and the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area present

Homefront Tennessee: Young People in the Civil War

Written by Natalie Sweet

The Chorus opens the program by singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” by Sir Francis Scott Key.

Narrator: It is a dark time in the country’s history. Not too long ago, on March 4, 1861, Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as president of the United States, but the country is not united anymore. The Southern states have left the Union. Tennessee, the last state to leave, is divided between loyalty to the North or South. Many in Western and Middle Tennessee are for the Confederacy. The people in East Tennessee are loyal to the Union, although there are several there who are for the Confederacy, too. The divided loyalties make it a scary time to live in, and friendships and families are torn apart.

Sarah: June 5, 1861; Dear Diary,

Today Papa left for war. Who knows when he will be back? Mama will be doing his work now, and I’m supposed to take over watching the baby since I’m the oldest girl. I hate this war! I don’t even know why Papa is fighting since he said he didn’t believe in fighting against the country he was born in. But he said loyalty to his state meant more to him and since Tennessee left the Union, he would follow the state. I am worried about our family. My uncle Jed is fighting for the Union and my best friend isn’t allowed to speak to me because Papa is fighting for the Confederacy. What will happen to our families? I wish they were back home again; I can here Mama singing Dixie in the kitchen. Your friend, Sarah.

I wish I was in the land of cotton,
Old times there are not forgotten,
Look away, look away, look away, Dixie land.

In Dixie land where I was born in, early on a frosty mornin’,

Look away, look away, look away, Dixie land.

Then I wish I was in Dixie, hooray! Hooray!

In Dixie land I’ll take my stand, to live and die in Dixie;

Away, away, away down south in Dixie,

Away, away, away down south in Dixie.

Narrator: Young people stay at home with their mothers to pick up the work that the men have left behind. It is a very hard time. Food begins to run low, and there are thieves in the countryside stealing from homes that are too far away from towns to be noticed. Still, kids during the Civil War find ways to do their part.

Nancy: December 23, 1862,

Dear Esther, This is our second Christmas without brother and father. I miss them so much more each day that goes by, especially with the deserted soldiers roaming the hills looking for things to steal. Our neighbor woke up this morning to find his last chicken missing, and they were going to cook it for Christmas dinner! Instead, they are now going to share a meal of wild rabbit with us that my brother Ned shot last night. Mama has told him that he will be a better shot than father when he comes back from war, and Ned is only twelve!

I helped Momma make a rag doll for Lucy this evening; I think she will like it a lot. We barely had the scraps to make it; we don’t have even enough cloth for a new dress for me. You can see May Ellen’s ankles because her dress is too short, and she is close to seventeen! She is very embarrassed about this, but I believe Mama added a strip of lace around the edges of her best church dress as a Christmas present to her.

I hope your family is doing as well as ours. Sending you Christmas love, and hope for peace in 1863, Nancy.

Narrator: When Abraham Lincoln released the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, slaves in Tennessee were not promised their freedom, and those in other Southern states who were declared free were under the control of the Confederacy. Although Lincoln’s proclamation did not officially give anyone their freedom, it did give them hope for the future, especially the slaves in Tennessee who were some of the first slaves to hear about the news.

Ezekiel: Master came back from Nashville today as mad as a hornet. At first I thought it was because he found out some of us had learned to read and write, and I shook with fear even though we’re better off than some slaves on other plantations. Turns out there is news of freedom from that Abe Linckum everybody keeps cursing. Could it be true? Papa says not to think about it, but I can’t help but wonder if maybe someday I’ll be free and get to go to school like I see Master’s children doing.

People are saying Lincoln ain’t giving freedom to us slaves in Tennessee, but we’ll have it if we go to the North. I heard Moses down two cabins from us singing about crossing the river Jordan. That means people are running tonight. Maybe someday I’ll run, too, but if what people are saying is right, maybe I won’t have to. –Ezekiel.

Narrator: While some worked hard at home and others dreamed of freedom and education, a few young people found ways to take part in the war. If a boy could find a way into the army, he would sometimes be adopted as a mascot, helper, or drummer boy.

Nathan: Dear Mama,

Please don’t worry about me. I know you must have missed me when I didn’t come in from chopping wood. Well, I wanted to help win the war and bring Tennessee back into the Union. And I’m doing that and I don’t even have to carry a gun! I was picked up by the Union forces, and they made me a drummer boy! I have real important chores, like keeping my tent clean, and helping cook clean up after meals. And the orders I beat on my drum tell the soldiers what to do. The food is alright; there’s salt beef and hardtack, a type of hard cracker. The war sounds and looks scary, and the bugle calls early in the morning aren’t much fun, but I’m going to do my part in this war. I love you, and when this war is over, one of the generals even promised me he might help me get into military school when I’m old enough. I love you, don’t worry about me, and give everyone a kiss from me, -Nathan.

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;

He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;

His truth is marching on.

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!

His truth is marching on.

Narrator: On April 19, 1865, General Robert E. Lee’s forces surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox. The war was pretty much over, and men began to return home to Tennessee and found their children waiting for them. Reconstruction would be hard on the state, but former enemies eventually became friends again. Tennessee overcame the horror of the war and became the first Southern state to reenter the Union. Girls like Sarah gained her friends back again, Nancy soon had enough material for a new dress, Ezekiel found freedom and attended school, and Nathan returned safely home to his mother. Tennessee had survived, and boys and girls became wiser from their experiences.