Diary of Sirene Bunten

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The diarist, Sirene Bunten, was born on April 11, 1847, and thus was fifteen years old as she began this Civil War diary. Bunten lived at French Creek, a small community a dozen miles south of Buckhannon. The people who lived along French Creek were, in the words of Confederate General A. G. Jenkins, "among the most disloyal in all western Virginia." Disloyalty, of course, was in the eye of the beholder, and young Sirene was passionately loyal to the United States, and in time, to the new state of West Virginia.

January 4, 1863. One year ago today what sorrow fell on us; my dear brother Birney died at the hospital in Buckhannon. He belonged to Co E 3d Regt Va Vols. He was one of the many that gave his life to his country. Great excitement here now in the consequence of [of] there being no soldiers on the Creek. Rumor says there is to be some sent up through here this week. I had a letter from James & Lorenzo this week, they are at Winchester now. Did not have any from Watson or Walter.

January 26, 1863. Walter was at home last night, he could not stay but one night. He started for camp this morning, and we may not see him again for some time. William Curry has the smallpox, I think if it spreads we will have something besides war to think of. The war is still raging. It seems that we will know what war is after while, everything is swallowed up in the all absorbing topic war. I do hope we will hear that General McClellan has command of the army again. I think that the President ought to know better than to keep changing the commanders so often. I guess he thinks he is right but I do not. I would like to see him and tell him about it.

February 2, 1863. What a beautiful day it has been, the first clear one we have been favored with for some time. Oh! I have some news to tell you. and it is this. George Lee has come home, he belongs to Co E 3d Va. He has been wounded and had the smallpox but he arrived at home last Saturday. Oh! how I would like to see my brother Watson. I have not seen him since about five years ago, he too is fighting for our country, was wounded at Pittsburgh Landing, but has recovered.

February 16, 1863. Once more I take up my pen to write, I have been thinking of what I had done since last I wrote and the answer comes, nothing, and it is a fact, it seems that I have no heart to study and there is not much else to do most of the time. I have been reading novels, I am passionately fond of reading and I have read over our papers about a dozen times and am heartily ashamed of it. To think that I should spend the precious time reading love stories over and over, and have resolved that it shall not happen again. I have no aim in life, nothing to make me wish to live and I often wonder what will become of me, but one thing is I will study and perhaps someday I will be a school teacher. I wonder if it would be very agreeable work to teach the "young idea how to shoot" &c. I have been thinking and thinking and it amounts to the fact that if I do not try to learn something before long it will be too late. I am as homely and awkward as I don't know who, if any company comes in I am afraid to speak, afraid that I will make a blunder. I mean gentlemen, I can talk as fast as anyone with my school mates, but oh dear, if a young man speaks to me I must blush and stammer and all the time I am thinking, well he must think she is a dunce. But I do not care for the young men, only I wish when I am in company I did know how to talk like I have heard some young ladies do. I do not think that I ever can. If only I could talk as I think.

February 17, 1863. I made quite a confession on the last page, but it is true. I received a letter from Watson today. He is in Miss., has good health. He wrote to Mrs. Clark that he was a second Lieutenant and it that is the case I have the honor of being a Lieut.'s sister. Quite an honor I declare. I wish I could hear some news.

March 5, 1863. Oh dear me I am so lazy. I don't know what to do, I get clear discouraged. Old time is lazy too, he goes along so slow it seems like Hattie is never going to come home. I wish I could teach school then I would go away off & stay a long time, oh dear oh dear me hum.

March 6, 1863. Everything is still on French Creek, we cannot hear of anything going on at all but I presume it is because it is so muddy that one can scarcely step outside of the yard without getting over shoe top. I will be glad when some of it gets dried up so we can have something to look at besides mud and water.

April 11, 1863. Just sixteen years old today, it does not seem like I am that old. I have been working so hard to day. Aunt Caroline, Bel and Winnie have been fixing flower beds and they do look nice. Looking for Oc up today, he may come yet. We have had to carry water up the hill to put out fire and we are so tired. Five cavalry men went by and stopped for some water. Co E was to leave Bull Town and to Sutton. It is not known whether they went or no. We have had three nice days.

April 25, 1863. Saturday. Report says our troops and Imbodens are fighting at Huttonsville. I hope he wont get in there. Had a letter from Mrs. Sexton to day. I would like to see her so well. Good bye till next time.

Since I quit writing there was a man come by and told Chet that the secesh was coming, they were in sight of Centerville and he unhitched his horses and started off with them. We were frightened very bad. We thought they would burn our houses, after while they come in sight and lo, they had uniform of USA, and it was the union soldiers. How glad we were, it was part of the 8th Va and they said the 3d Va was coming in too. It is most dark.

April 27, 1863. What a night we spent last night, just before dark Claude Lee came up from town and said they were cannonading the town, but it was not so. A little after dusk some of the 3d Va come here and they said Walter was coming, they was going to stand on picket out on the hill till their Regt. came up. We got supper in a hurry. We said that the enemy were at Middlefork bridge and our men were fighting them. I have not heard from there since. We did not go to bed until 12 oclock. I think H will wish she was at home.

April 30, 1863. Harriet and May came home Monday. The secesh are in Buckhannan now, there was four went by here this morning. I do not know where they were going. I don't see what we will do if they stay there long, it is a dreadful thing to think of. I have heard the cannon this morning very plain but cannot tell where it was. If General Milroy and his army was only here to fight them. I think Stonewall Jackson has the command if the rebel forces here. There is some at Maxwells Mills. Ah me.

May 1, 1863. 18 or 20 more of the enemy went by here and some two hundred went up to Slab Camp road. I don't know what they are going to do. I heard that they were going back to Buchanan to day. One of them came in the yard to get water and one stopped at the gate. They were very polite then. I do want to hear from`our forces so bad. Mrs. Upton is here and I will stop and see what she has to say.

May 10, 1863. It is the Sabbath day but we did not go to meeting. I doubt if there was any. It is a light beautiful day, the sun shines warm and the little birds are filling the air with music; the apple trees are in blossom. Going to have fruit if the rebels do not get it. Have not heard any very reliable news to day. I heard that the troops were on their way from Clarksburg to Buchanan but we hear a thousand and one tales and don't know whether to believe one. The next union soldier I see I intend to take a good look at him, I have not seen one for so long.

May 18, 1863. A squad of cavalry went by this morning, they were scouting I guess. I hope the mail will come up tomorrow, we have not had any for a long time. Perhaps it will come. It was the general opinion that the Stars and Stripes were floating over Richmond but it has been disputed, but I do hope so. If it is it will be a great blow to the so called "Confederate States of America." I hope they captured Jeff Davis when they took the Capitol. I think the war will soon be over. Whew but it is cold today, as Aunt Heckiah says it is recessively cold. We'll freeze into an iceberg, ha ha.

May 20, 1863. Something is the matter with this paper it won't write good but it is war times and I cant get any more. James and Lorenzo have arrived at home. I think they will be up before long. We had a mail today and a letter from Wat, he was at Lagrange, Tenn. He had been marching but was well. I think all the rebels have left there. I seen an extract in the Wheeling Intelligencer from the Richmond Whig, that Col. Imboden (rebel Col) wrote and he made out that he whipped us pretty bad, but then it is nothing for them to tell stories, they don't mind a bit.

May 26, 1863. Went to meeting and to the graveyard, we set some things out on Birney's grave not long ago and they are growing. Had a letter from Watson today, he is in Tenn. He sent me part of his watch chain. He has a commission for first Lieut, maybe he will be Captain some day. L. B. was up today but did not stay long. I am making him and James a needlebook. Every thing is so dry, it has not rained for so long. I seen Captain Gould today. He looked as proud as could be, I do wonder if he is proud. I don't believe he is, it is his nature to be stiff but really, I would like to see him unbend a little, but my oh what am I writing.

May 29, 1863. Last night we had the party and it was a very nice one too; it was at the Dillin house. Hat, Jennie, James & Lorenzo came up. There were a great many there, Capt. Gould was there. I hardly think he is as proud as I thought he was. We had a splendid time. The boys have gone home, they start for camp tomorrow. We hear that the 10th & 3d are to be mounted. I hope it is so. Great news from Vicksburg, if it is so it will be a great loss to the Confederacy. Report says we have the place and 27000 rebel prisoners. It is good news.

May 30, 1863. Have not heard anything more from Vicksburg. I would like to know if it is true that we have it. It is the general supposition that the rebels (Imboden and Jones) will have to come back here, that they cannot get out any other way. I hope if they start they will meet some of the "Yankee Boys" ad will have to surrender. It would be a terrible blow to the chivalry, take down their pride a little I think. There is meeting at the Dillin House this afternoon. Rev. Mr. King, Methodist.

May 31, 1863. Went to meeting and heard a very good sermon. Mr. King preaches again there, four weeks from yesterday at four oclock. There was a great many there. It is the last day of spring, summer commences tomorrow. It is locust year and they do keep such a noise all the time but I expect it will be worse yet after it rains. It has not rained for a long time. The soldiers of Co. B got leave to stay one night longer, they are to meet at Buchanan tonight. I do not know where they are to go from there.

June 6, 1863. Cavalry went by this morning. They go up every day and night to see if there is any rebels up this way. The Tenth Va is at Buchanan yet, and the Third at Weston. They have not got their horses yet, but they think they are going to have them after while, "better late than never."

June 7, 1863. Went to meeting today and they organized the Sabbath School, I am glad we are going to have one. Some cavalry were up today and one of them said that the Third had gone to Clarksburg to get their horses. The cavalry stop for milk when they pass, they seem to be very fond of the article. Not any good news.

June 28, 1863. Well the girls have come at last. I did not write any yesterday. it is raining and will not go to meeting. Hattie and Franty go back tonight. We hear dreadful news now, the rebels are threatening Washington. I do not believe they will have a battle there, perhaps they may. Our army is too slow or something is the matter with them. The soldiers are ready to fight but the Generals don't care whether the war ever ends, I don't believe. It seems so anyway.

June 29, 1863. Went to a burying ground this afternoon, Doctor Brooks is dead. I went to Birney's grave and put some flowers on it. Wrote letters to Watson, James and L. B. today. It is reported that Fenton Payne, my brother in law has gone to Dixie. Sister Elsey says the rebels are coming here this fall and he will come back and see them. It is dreadful to think one [of] our family is a traitor to our country.

July 1, 1863. George Moore was up today, he said that part of company B was out on a scout somewhere in Braxton. I believe maybe they will catch these rebels that have left here for Dixie. I wish they would. The rebels are making a raid into Penn. and Md. I never seen the like in my life and such a time as our new state is having. Lots of rebels in it trying to destroy it, but never mind it will shine as bright as any of the thirty-five after a while. Oh what a glorious flag is ours, if I were only a man to help fight for it. I believe I could fight.

July 2, 1863. Three thousand secesh at Huttonsville. They captured our pickets, they mean to try to get to Buchanan but there is one Regt of infantry, Ewings battery and some cavalry at Beverly. If they make a stand they cannot get here that way and if it is managed right they cannot come at all. Some of our citizens are on picket tonight. I believe the rebels like this part of West Virginia better than the other parts. They visit it often anyway. Oh if I only had the power to stop them. Rumor says Gen. Milroy has been put out because he let his army get cut up so at Winchester. I declare it is enough to drive one mad. He was such a good Gen., but that is just the way they do., take the good and leave the bad. The rebels have cut the telegraph wire between Beverly and Buchanan.

"The final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands."
~Anne Frank~