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Eleanora Willauer Diary

 Collection
Identifier: MS-2940

  • Staff Only

This collection consists of the Confederate diary of Eleanora Willauer, of Dickson County, Tennessee, written between October 1, 1862 and November 9, 1869. The diary offers an account of civilian life in the area and of events concerning the Civil War as well as reflections on Willauer's personal feelings and emotions during the period.

Willauer refers to numerous military leaders, for example meeting General Nathan Bedford Forrest on January 20, 1863. She describes him as "tall and large (not very) and I think very fine looking."

On February 5, 1863, Willauer writes of a battle at Ft. Donelson: "To think of a hundred of our brave Southerners being sacrificed for nothing...the carelessness of some commander - where the blame rests I know not. But blame there is. Is Bragg a - traitor?"

Following the end of the war, on July 9, 1865, Willauer states, "Hope is dead and Liberty is in her grave!....A brother in the Federal army and perhaps dead in a Southern prison - the South overpowered - conquered - subjugated!"

On December 3, 1865, Willauer writes, "The negroes have most of them been sent away from here and the few that remain are going soon. The Captain believes in white labor." Then she adds an entry following that for April, 1866, noting only that "They have negroes at the Furnace now and are going into operation as soon as possible."

Dates

  • 1862 October 1-1869 November 9

Conditions Governing Access

Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Conditions Governing Use

The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet

Abstract

This collection consists of the Confederate diary of Eleanora Willauer, of Dickson County, Tennessee, written between October 1, 1862 and November 9, 1869.

Biographical/Historical Note

Eleanora Willauer was born on March 26, 1844 and lived in Cumberland Furnace, Tennessee during the Civil War. Her parents were Jonathan Baugh Willauer (1802-1877) and Ann Louisa Van Leer (1804-1874). She married Andrew W. Wills (1841-1918) in 1869. They had 5 children. She wrote this diary primarily between the ages of 18 and 23. She died in Nashville, Tenn. on July 26, 1906 of secondary shock.

Arrangement

This collection consists of one folder.

Previous Citation

This collection was previously listed under the name "Eleanora Williams Diary."

Acquisition Note

Purchased by Special Collections, September 25, 2006.

Digitized Materials

The Eleanora Willauer Diary has been digitized by DLI.

Repository Details

Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository

Contact:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville TN 37996 USA
865-974-4480