Diary of Emma LeConte, February 23, 1865

Emma LeConte was around the age of seventeen and the daughter of a professor at South Carolina College when General Sherman, of the Union Army, and his army made their way through South Carolina in mid-February of 1865. LeConte resided in the state capitol of Columbia, which was also one the hardest, if not the hardest, city hit by Sherman and his army. The account came roughly a week after Sherman’s men entered Columbia. Sherman’s army took and destroyed many resources through their march, trying to destroy the Confederates’ ability and will to fight, particularly on the home front. Sherman’s tactics made it difficult to survive because of the lack of physical necessities, like food, as LeConte and her family had to cut their rations to as short as possible after Sherman came. However, the resolve to fight was still there. LeConte believed, “The more we suffer, the more we should be willing to undergo rather than submit.” LeConte’s opinion differed from what Sherman had hoped would happen, to psychologically destroy the will to fight. Instead, her resistance increased.  The main image is of a young Emma LeConte.