Village life in America and A Confederate Girl’s Diary
Both
diaries, Village life in America and A Confederate Girl’s Diary, are very
interesting in the way that they are written. Sarah Morgan Dawson and Caroline
Cowles Richards both have written about the Civil war, however they have very
different perspectives and opinions about it.
Here
are some similarities. Both girls were going through a time of war. They both
despised the war and wanted it to end as soon as possible. They have both gone
through moments of fear and misery, but also happiness and pleasure at
sometimes. They have both lost family members and friends that they have loved.
Both females were reporting and observing what was happening around them and
they were very good writers too. At the end of the war, both Dawson and
Richards were very glad the war was over.
There
were also a few differences with the two diaries too. The biggest difference is
that Richards is on the unions side while Dawson is on the Confederates side.
Dawson was devasted at the loss of her side. “Thursday the 13th came the
dreadful tidings of the surrender of Lee and his army on the 9th. Everybody
cried”. Richards was triumphant at the win of her side. “Lee has surrendered!
and all the people seem crazy in consequence. The bells are ringing, boys and
girls, men and women are running through the streets wild with excitement”.
Finally, Richards seems more like a calm and funny person while Dawson looks
for revenge "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." This
is murder! God have mercy on those who did it!”.
To
sum it all up both diaries were very different even though they were written
and the same time. Both girls were strong throughout the civil war, though the
lost several family members. In the end Richards was very happy that her side
won the war while Dawson was devastated at her sides loss.
