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Teaser Tuesday: Revealing and Concealing

Tuesday, January 24, 2017 - 08:08

Storytelling is an art of concealing as well as revealing. One of the reasons I enjoy using a very tight point of view is how it enables me to control what I show to the reader by means of what my viewpoint character does and doesn't know. Bits of reader feedback have suggested that some people disagree with my choice to conceal the events that immediately preceded the scene below, revealing them only by means of Barbara's fever-muddled memories. I can understand where they're coming from; we've been trained up to expect a very visual, active mode of storytelling and if there are exciting deeds, we want to see them vividly in front of us.

And for those who had that reaction: it's perfectly valid and I can only hope I'll give you scenes of more satisfying action in the future. (See last week's discussion on that point!) But I did have a specific reason for presenting the events as I did. Trauma often isn't experienced in real time. And major trauma often erases the real-time memory of the events and leaves us desperately trying to reconstruct them. All of my continuing characters either have been or will be completely knocked off their metaphorical feet at some point. The events of this chapter are the start of a major change in how Barbara understands her life, her purpose, and her sense of self. One of the biggest things she will experience is a feeling a complete loss of competency and (eventually) a greater acceptance of not being able to control her surroundings. Have you noticed that Barbara has MAJOR control issues?

Having her reconstruct the "missing scene" from a place of confusion, (temporary) amnesia, and physical helplessness is a key symbol of the challenges she's about to tackle in books to come.

Chapter 29: Barbara

It was a dream—that much Barbara knew. Images came in snatches, one after another without connection. Bright sun and a spirited horse between her legs. Voices, talking somewhere out of sight.

“Have you sent word to Rotenek?”

She heard Tavit answering and her mind drifted off. If Tavit were there, he would manage things. There was something she’d meant to tell him. Something he needn’t worry about. They were both riding out in front of the coach and she called to him but he didn’t turn. They’d passed the bend where the road overlooked Mazuk’s canal. Mazuk? Was that what she’d meant to tell him? He needn’t worry about Baron Mazuk.

“What did she say?”

“Something about Baron Mazuk. She must have guessed somehow.”

If she were riding with Tavit, where was Brandel? Now she remembered. He was riding up with the coachman. She’d borrowed his horse, for her own had gone lame. She tried to turn back to look at him but the sun was in her eyes and she closed them against the light.

They’d been riding such a long time, surely they’d come to the inn soon. She was tired and thirsty. They’d be there soon. She’d toss the reins to a stable boy and call out, “Ho, innkeeper, a drink!”

“What’s that?”

“I think she asked for a drink.”

The river water was cold and clear. She didn’t remember dismounting but she dipped cupped hands in the current and raised them to her lips. The water slipped through her fingers, running red back down the bank.

“We have to go.”

Tavit was urging her on. They were on the horses again, racing down the road with the coach on their heels, and beside her Tavit’s voice shouting, “Go! Go!”

There was a sharp crack…the axle of the coach? She tried to turn her horse but Tavit was at her side, grabbing her arm and screaming, “Go! Go!” And she would have obeyed, but he had her arm in a grip of iron, his fingers digging through to the bone. She cried out.

“More laudanum?”

“Not yet.”

They’d been riding through the woods, but the woods were on fire. Where was Brandel? Had he been on the coach? Aunt Heniriz would never forgive her. Was Brandel caught in the fire? There was no fire, it was a dream. She knew it was a dream.

“Brandel.”

“Shh, he’s gone to Rotenek to fetch Maisetra Sovitre.”

Margerit? But why would Margerit be coming here? She had her own duties…the college.

“No. Tell Margerit…don’t come.”

“Mesnera, it’s worth more than my life not to send for her.”

That was Tavit’s voice. But why was Tavit still grabbing her arm? She tried to shake him loose but she couldn’t move. It was a dream. These things happened in dreams.

“Arm…”

“The surgeon says you won’t lose it.”

That wasn’t in her dream. She struggled to rise. “Tavit!”

“More laudanum now I think.”

She must be in the coach now. The slow rocking lulled her to sleep. They must have fixed the axle. But where was Brandel? Brandel was in Rotenek, fetching Margerit. When Margerit came, everything would make sense.

Major category:

Teasers

Publications:

Mother of Souls

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Lesbian Historic Motif Project: People/Event Tags - Literary Relationships (part 1)

Monday, January 23, 2017 - 07:45

Today's new tag essays cover two topics in what I've grouped together as "literary relationships". That is, works where a sexual or romantic relationship between two women is either present or implied. Here's a brief summary of what's covered. (See the full essay for the list of works and the associated tag-links.)

Literary Innuendo and Flirtation

The examples in this group focus less on genuine desire between women (even in cases where gender disguise is involved) but on those where the possibility of genuine desire is acknowledged by a pretense of it or sly references. These examples include scenarios where that possibility is recognized only by the audience of the work, not by the characters within it.

Sexual Education

This is a genre that allowed the author both to write explicitly (and often pornographically) about sexual encounters between women while still discounting the importance of the relationship. In these works, one woman sexually initiates another with the excuse that she is being prepared for sexual relations with men.

Major category:

LHMP

Tags: People/Event Tags - Literary Relationships

The purpose of tags is to make information relatively easy to find. The topics covered under “people/event tags” are historical persons, authors, written works, and other specific events, organizations, or works that are the subject of the research and publications covered by the Project. This essay is intended to explain briefly how the “people/event” tags are being used.

The second purpose is to provide a tag list that the visitor can use to explore the site. The number of tags used in the project, and the organization into four different categories, doesn’t lend itself to a traditional tag-cloud. The Place and Time Period tags each have a single essay. The Event/Person and Misc. Tags will be covered in thematic groups in multiple essays due to the larger number. I’m planning six essays for the People/Event Tags, each covering a general category with several subcategories.

Non-Fiction Sources and General Authors
Historic Crossdressing and Passing/Transgender People
Historic People Relevant for Emotional, Affectionate, or Sexual Relationships
Literary Examples of Crossdressing or Gender Disguise
Literary Examples of Emotional, Affectionate, or Sexual Relationships
Poetry Expressing Romantic or Sexual Relationships

This present essay covers the fifth category and includes the following:

Literary Innuendo and Flirtation
Literary Sexual Education
Literary Predatory Erotics
Literary Passionate Friendship
Literary Same-Sex Love

Obviously these categories are quite fuzzy at the edges, and I've classified individual people according to what seems the most noteworthy aspect of their lives. Every story is far more complex than a single classification. These are only for the purposes of exploring general themes.

Literary Innuendo and Flirtation

The examples in this group focus less on genuine desire between women (even in cases where gender disguise is involved) but on those where the possibility of genuine desire is acknowledged by a pretense of it or sly references. These examples include scenarios where that possibility is recognized only by the audience of the work, not by the characters within it.

A Madd Couple Well Matcht (Richard Brome) - 17th century English play where the female protagonist in male disguise flirts with other women to divert their attention from the man she desires.
Anything for a Quiet Life (Thomas Middleton and Webster) - 17th century English play in which a woman in male disguise is accused of being seduced by another woman and they--with her gender revealed--taunt the accusers by acknowledging they have shared a bed.
Astraea (Leonard Willan) - 17th century English play, based on d’Urfé’s “L’Astrée” in which a man and woman both court the goddess Diana in a competition for who is the better lover. There is also a conventional gender-disguise same-sex attraction plot.
Canterbury Tales (Geoffrey Chaucer) - 14th century English poem consisting of linked travelers’ tales. The Parson’s tale includes reference to “sodomy” by women, but this is not necessarily a reference to homosexual activity.
Diana (Jorge de Montemayor) - 16th century Portuguese play in which a woman in male disguise first flirts with a woman to distract her from their common love interest, but later offers love more sincerely when the other woman is dying of a broken heart.
Erotopolis: The Present State of Betty-Land (Charles Cotton?) - 17th century English boarding school novel with innuendo about the erotic possibilities in single-sex environments.
Juvenal - 1st century Roman satirist. One of his works has a description of women performing mutual oral sex, but only in order to claim Roman women wouldn’t do such a thing.
Landgartha (Henry Burnell) - 17th century English play in which men taunt women for sharing a bed with the implication of sexual activity.
Little Dorritt (Charles Dickens) - 19th century English novel that includes a “mannish” character (Miss Wade) who, it is implied, may be a lesbian.
No Wit No Help Like a Woman’s (Thomas Middleton) - 17th century English play in which a woman cross-dresses and woos a woman who had cheated her to take revenge. Both m/m and f/f desire is implied and there is a derisory reference to women marrying women.
Plautus - 2nd/3rd century BCE Roman playwright who included lesbian sexual themes.
Ram-Alley or Merry Trickes (Lording Barry) - 17th century English play in which a woman cross-dresses to be near her (male) object of affection but as part of the disguise makes a sexual assignation with another woman.
Remembrance of Things Past (Marcel Proust) - 19th century French novel that includes a passing reference to the author’s frustrated desire for a woman implied to be lesbian.
Roman de la Rose (Guillaume de Lorris / Jean de Meun) - Medieval French romance that includes a description and depiction of two women dancing and kissing.
Satiro-Mastix (Thomas Dekker) - 17th century English play that includes discussion of erotic activity between women.
Sodom or the Quintessence of Debauchery (John Wilmot) - 17th century English play involving sex play between women.
The Amorous Warre (Jasper Mayne) - 17th century English play in which men taunt women for shared a bed with the implication of sexual activity.
The Antipodes (Richard Brome) - 17th century English play that includes reference to women satisfying each other sexually if men are not available.
The Bondman (Philip Massinger) - 17th century English play that includes reference to women satisfying each other sexually if men are not available.
The Comical Hash (Margaret Cavendish) - 17th century English play that satirizes men’s anxiety about sex between women.
The False Count (Aphra Behn) - 17th century English play in which a male character acknowledges erotic possibilities between women.
The Female Rebellion (H. B.) - 17th century English play with Amazon themes in which a platonic bond is implied to be sexual to deceive others.
The History of Sir Charles Grandison (Samuel Richardson) - 18th century English novel with a “mannish” character implied to be a lesbian.
The Hollander (Henry Glapthorne) - 17th century English play that includes reference to women satisfying each other sexually if men are not available.
The Picture (Philip Massinger) - 17th century English play that depicts a woman kissing another as an expression of jealous desire.
The Sea Voyage (Philip Massinger and John Fletcher) - 17th century English play that includes reference to women satisfying each other sexually if men are not available.
Wafi Bil Wafiyat (Al-Safadi) - 18th century Arabic-language satire implying a woman is a lesbian.

Literary Sexual Education

Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure (John Cleland) - 18th century English novel in which one woman sexually initiates another to prepare her for work as a (heterosexual) prostitute.
Ragionamenti (Pietro Aretino) - 16th century Italian sexual “dialogues” that include sexual activity between women.
Satyra Sotadica (Johannes Meursius) - Fictitious original source for the French L’Academie des Dames (attr. Nicolas Chorier). The Satyra Sotadica was, in turn, alleged to be a translation of an original Spanish work by a woman (Luisa Sigea de Velasco). I’ve listed this title separately as some works cite it rather than Chorier’s work (q.v.).
The Academy of Women (L'Academie des dames) (Nicolas Chorier) - 17th century French pornographic novel presenting one woman’s sexual initiation by another and including sex between women as part of a wide variety of sexual encounters. Purported to be a translation of a Latin work Satyra Sotadica but this has been demonstrated to be fictitious. Chorier’s authorship is attributed but uncertain.
The Spanish Bawd (Celestina) (James Mabbe) - 17th century English play (based on a Spanish original) in which a woman recruits another for prostitution by flattery, flirtation, and sexual initiation.
Thérèse the Philosophe (Jean-Baptiste de Boyer) - 18th century French novel involving the seduction of one woman by another to recruit her for prostitution.
Women Beware Women (Thomas Middleton) - 17th century English play involving the motif of a woman seducing another woman into prostitution.

Literary Predatory Erotics

I've taken this label from Denise Walen's discussions. It includes non-consensual relationships, cases where a woman initiates erotic contact (or pretends to) in order to further the interests of a male character, and cases where the lesbian character is portrayed as literally monstrous.

A Drama in Muslin (George Moore) - 19th century English novel in which a woman’s erotic desire for a woman is paralleled by physical deformity and is portrayed as outside the conventions of passionate friendship.
A Game at Chess (Thomas Middleton) - 17th century English play in which a female character makes sexualized overtures to a woman as part of serving a man’s purpose.
A Sunless Heart (Edith Johnstone) - Late 19th century English(?) novel including an obsessive emotional relationship in the context of a girls’ school.
Allan’s Wife (H. Rider Haggard) - 19th century English adventure story (in the Allan Quatermain cycle) that includes a literally monstrous female character whose jealousy over the title character results in tragedy.
Belinda (Maria Edgeworth) - 19th century English novel involving an aggressively “masculine” woman who pursues the title character romantically.
Carmilla (Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu) - 19th century Irish novel involving a lesbian vampire.
Christabel (Samuel Taylor Coleridge) - 19th century English supernatural poem involving a seductive female monster that targets both women and men.
Cuck-Queanes and Cuckolds Errants (William Percy) - 17th c English play involving predatory lesbian themes.
Dangerous Liaisons (Pierre Choderlos de Laclos) - 18th century French novel that includes an older woman expressing desire for the young woman she is setting up for (heterosexual) seduction.
Desperate Remedies (Thomas Hardy) - 19th century English novel that includes a predatory homoerotic episode between the protagonist and her employer.
Juliette (Marquis de Sade) - 18th century French pornographic novel involving sadistic lesbian activity.
La Prisonniere (Edouard Bourdet) - Early 20th century French play involving a woman trapped in an obsessive lesbian relationship.
La Religieuse (Denis Diderot) - 18th century French novel involving predatory sexual relations in a convent.
Matrimonial Trouble (Margaret Cavendish) - 17th century English play in which a jilted woman passes as a man to try to seduce her female rival in revenge.
Memoirs of the Life of Count de Grammont (Antoine Hamilton) - 17th century English fictionalized biography depicting a woman in charge of young maids of honor as sexually predatory towards her charges.
Pericles (William Shakespeare) - 17th century English play with a passing incident which suggests the motif of a bawd using seduction to draw an innocent girl into prostitution.
Regiment of Women (Clemence Dane) - Early 20th century English novel involving a destructive romantic relationship between teachers at a girl’s school.
The Bird in a Cage (James Shirley) - 17th century English play involving one woman’s non-consensual erotic attentions to another.
The Changeling (Thomas Middleton) - 17th century English play involving a woman’s erotic overtures to another in service of a man’s goals.
The Girl with the Golden Eyes (La fille aux yeux d’or) (Honoré de Balzac) - 19th century French novel in which a man and his half-sister are rivals for the same woman’s love.
The Governess (Sarah Fielding) - An English novel (1749) about how class differences turn a passionate friendship into sadistic exploitation.
The Haunting of Hill House (Shirley Jackson) - Mid-20th century American novel that mixes themes of the supernatural and lesbian obsession.
The Revenger’s Tragedy (Thomas Middleton) - 17th century English play involving a woman’s erotic overtures to another in service of a man’s goals.
The Siege of Rhodes (William Davenant) - 17th century English play in which female homoerotic desire is Orientalized as well as framed as predatory.
The Three Ladies of London (Robert Wilson) - 16th century English play in which a bawd attempts to corrupt a woman sexually to recruit her for prostitution.
Titus Andronicus (William Shakespeare) - 16th century English play that suggests predatory homoerotics in a woman’s support of another woman’s rape.
Upon Appleton House (Andrew Marvell) - 17th century English poem that combines anti-Catholic and anti-lesbian themes in a story about a girl rescued from a convent.
Venus dans le Cloître (Abbe du Prat) - 17th century French erotic novel involving sexual activity in a convent.
Volpone (Ben Jonson) - 17th c English play involving predatory lesbian themes.

Literary Passionate Friendship

This category covers literary characters who are portrayed as being in intense romantic friendships with other women where there is no overt erotic component and typically where they are not living as a committed couple.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream (William Shakespeare) - 16th century English play in which one subplot involves a close female friendship disrupted by the shifting desires of the men they love.
Antiochus the Great (Jane Wiseman) - 18th century English play that includes a close emotional bond between a maidservant and her mistress.
Aurora Leigh (Elizabeth Barrett Browning) - 19th century English verse novel about two women who form a friendship and set up a household together as a result of being involved with the same man.
Can You Forgive Her? (Anthony Trollope) - 19th century English novel in which two close female friends share a household via one’s marriage to the other’s brother.
Clarissa (Samuel Richardson) - 18th century English novel in which two female friends are separated tragically by a jealous and controlling male suitor.
Euphemia (Charlotte Lennox) - 18th century English novel that satirizes passionate friendship using the stock figures of a “mannish” Amazon and a bluestocking.
Fettered for Life (Lillie Devereux Blake) - 19th century American feminist novel that includes a cross-dressing woman and committed female friendships, though there is a heteronormative resolution.
Frene (Galeran de Bretagne) - The 13th century French romance “Galeran de Bretagne” includes the story of “Frene”, also found in the lais of Marie de France, which features themes of female friendship and alliance.
Henrietta (Charlotte Lennox) - An English novel (1758) involving passionate friendship with a significant class difference.
Joanna Traill (Annie E. Holdsworth) - Late 19th century novel by an Anglo-Jamaican writer that features a close friendship between a “fallen woman” and her redeemer.
Julie ou la Nouvelle Heloise (Jean-Jacques Rousseau) - 18th century French novel revolving around the close bond between two female friends, though that bond is subordinated to their marriages.
Kavanagh The Love of Parson Lord (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow) - 19th century American novel that includes a close female friendship that is broken off by the transfer of one woman’s affections to a man.
L’Escoufle - 13th century French romance whose heroine is supported by several close friendships with other female characters that include erotic components.
Lettres de Milady Juliette Catesby a Milady Henriette Campley son amie (Jeanne Riccoboni) - French novel (1759) about a passionate female friendship.
Love and Honor (William Davenant) - 17th century English play in which one women sacrifices herself to save a close female friend.
Mary Pix - 18th c English playwright who treated the conflict between the heterosexual imperative and passionate female friendship.
Millennium Hall (Sarah Scott) - 18th century English utopian novel in which women bound by close friendships create a community with charitable ideals.
Monsieur d’Olive (George Chapman) - 17th century English play in which the strength of female friendship is acknowledged in the figure of a woman mourning her lost friend.
Much Ado About Nothing (William Shakespeare) - 16th century English play that contrasts supportive female friendship with fickle heterosexual ones.
Ormond: or the Secret Witness (Charles Brockden Brown) - 18th century American novel in which the close friendship between two women prevails over husbands and suitors.
Pamela (Samuel Richardson) - 18th century English novel that contrast positive depictions of platonic female friendships with condemnation of same-sex desire.
Roman de la Rose ou de Guillaume de Dole (Jean Renart) - Medieval French romance discussed in the context of themes of female friendship and alliance.
Rosalynde (Thomas Lodge) - 16th century English play that features a committed female couple.
Roxana (Daniel Defoe) - English novel (1724) involving a passionate friendship between women.
Shirley (Charlotte Brontë) - 19th century English novel that deals with themes of close female friendship in conflict with heterosexual relations.
The Bostonians (Henry James) - 19th century American novel depicting the conflict between passionate female friendship and heteronormativity.
The British Recluse (Eliza Haywood) - English novel (1722) on themes of passionate friendship between women.
The City Jilt (Eliza Haywood) - 18th c English novel by an author who often focused on themes of female passionate friendship and erotic attraction.
The Cry (Sarah Fielding & Jane Collier) - 18th c English novel with themes of passionate friendship between women.
The Fair Moralist (Charlotte MacCarthy) - English novel (1745) involving passionate friendship with marked class difference.
The History of Rasselas (Samuel Johnson) - 18th century English play depicting a devoted friendship between a woman and her maidservant.
The Memoirs of Sophia Baddeley (Elizabeth Steele) - English novel (1787) involving a passionate friendship between women.
The Rash Resolve (Eliza Haywood) - 18th c English novel by an author who often focused on themes of female passionate friendship and erotic attraction.
The Rebel of the Family (Eliza Lynn Linton) - 19th century English novel involving conflict between committed female friendship and heteronormativity.
The Reputation of Mademoiselle Claude (Dorothy Blomfield) - 19th century English story in which a woman’s devoted friendship is valorized but has tragic consequences.
The Tea-Table (Eliza Haywood) - 18th century English novel that portrays devoted female friendships with implications of committed partnership.
The Tragedy of Chris (Rosa Mulholland) - 20th century English novel involving the committed friendship between two women with a “fallen woman”-protector theme.
The Unaccountable Wife (Jane Barker) - 18th century English novel featuring a devoted, if one-sided, friendship between a woman and her servant.
The Winter’s Tale (William Shakespeare) - 17th c English play with minor theme of devoted female friendship.
Two Noble Kinsmen (William Shakespeare and John Fletcher) - 17th century English play in which devoted female friendship is positively contrasted with heterosexual marriage.
Yvain - 12th century French romance featuring a devoted friendship between a woman and her maidservant.

Literary Same-Sex Love

The stories in this group involve love between women along a broad range of natures and intensities, from the platonic to the overtly sexual. The distinction between this grouping and the Passionate Friendship grouping is an understanding by the characters that their love is equivalent to heterosexual love, both in nature and importance.

A History of My Life (Giacomo Casanova) - 18th century Italian fictionalized biography that includes erotic encounters between women (that also include the male character).
A Woman Appeared to Me (Renée Vivien) - Early 20th century French autobiographical novel about the author’s relationsihp with Natalie Clifford Barney.
Agnes de Castro (Aphra Behn or Catharine Trotter Cockburn) - Note: there are two separate plays by this title but sources aren’t always clear which is being discussed, so I’ve used a combined tag when the identity is uncertain. 17th century English play about two women competing for the love of the same man. In some versions, the play ends tragically with the women bonded together.
Agnes de Castro (Catharine Trotter Cockburn) - Note: there are two separate plays by this title but sources aren’t always clear which is being discussed. This tag identifies the later work with a stronger depiction of love between women. 18th century English play about two women competing for the love of the same man. The play ends tragically with the women bonded together.
Añasco el de Talavera (Alvaro Cubillo) - 17th century Spanish play in which a woman competes openly with a man for a woman’s love.
Are These Women? A Novel of the Third Sex (Sind es Frauen?) (Aimée Duc) - Early 20th century German novel about lesbian relationships.
Babyloniaka (Iamblichos) - 2nd century Greek story (now lost) about a daughter of the king of Egypt who loved and married a woman.
Constance Fenimore Woolson - 19th century American author who depicted women in eroticized relationships.
Dialogues of the Courtesans (Lucian) - 2nd century Roman rhetorical dialogues (written in Greek) that include both lesbian and transgender subject matter.
Diana Victrix (Florence Converse) - Late 19th century American novel about rivalry for a woman’s love that, somewhat unusually, ends with a female couple.
Het Land in Brieven (Elisabeth Post) - 18th century Dutch novel depicting two women in a marriage-like relationship.
Hungerheart: The Story of a Soul (Christabel Gertrude Marshall (aka Christopher Marie St John)) - Early 20th century English novel. A semi-autobiographical novel of the author’s relationship with a woman and involvement in the suffrage movement.
Iphis (Henry Bellamy) - 17th century English play based on Ovid’s story of Iphis and Ianthe, q.v.
Iphis et Iante (Benserade) - 17th century French play based on Ovid’s story of Iphis and Ianthe, q.v.
Journey Through Every Stage of Life (Sarah Scott) - 18th century English novel concerning the adventures of two women with a close emotional bond, though there is a heterosexual resolution at the end.
L’Espion Anglois (Mathieu François Mairobert) - 18th century Fench novel that forms a prototype for male-gaze lesbian pornography.
La Celestina (Fernando de Rojas) - 15th century Spanish novel in dialogue in which an older woman sexually arouses a young one as an intermediary for a man’s seduction. This work also partakes of the “sexual education” motif.
Lady Mary Montague - 18th century English woman who wrote about same-sex relations within Turkish harems while accompanying her husband, the ambassador to the Ottoman court. She also engaged in passionate romantic correspondence with women.
Lélia (George Sand) - 19th century French novel that includes themes of love between women.
Les Guérillères (Monique Wittig) - 20th century French novel depicting a lesbian society.
Lila and Colette (Catulle Mendès) - 19th century French novel depicting classical Greek lesbianism.
Mademoiselle de Maupin (Théophile Gautier ) - 19th century French novel very loosely inspired by the life of Julie d’Aubigny (q.v.), depicting the title character as bisexual and possibly non-binary.
Mademoiselle Giraud My Wife (Adolphe Belot) - 19th century French novel from the point of view of a man who is naively oblivious to his wife’s lesbian relationship.
Méphistophéla (Catulle Mendès) - 19th century French novel with lesbian themes.
Metamorphoses: Iphis and Ianthe (Ovid) - 1st century BCE Roman poem about the love between two girls, one of whom has been raised as a boy, resolved when the goddess Isis transformed Iphis into a boy. This story was reworked repeatedly in Western literature and can reasonably be considered one of the foundational lesbian/transmasculine plots.
Nana (Émile Zola) - 19th century French novel depicting lesbian bar culture among prostitutes.
Nihayat Al-Arb Fi Funoon al-Adab (Al-Nuwayri) - 13th century legend in Arabic about how lesbianism originated.
Norma Trist (John Wesley Carhart) - 19th century American novel based on the real-life murder of Freda Ward by her lover Alice Mitchell.
Onania or the Heinous Sin of Self-Pollution (Balthazar Bekker?) - 18th century English “true confessions” style anecdote about sex between women (framed as mutual masturbation).
Paul et Virginie (Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre) - 18th century French novel involving two women who, after failing in heterosexual relations, for a marriage-like bond.
Plato - Classical Greek writer whose Symposium explained love as the result of separated two-bodied humans seeking to reunite with their “other half”. This story explicitly includes same-sex love.
Rughum and Najda - 9th century Arabic story of the tragic love affair of two women.
Ruth & Naomi (Bible) - Biblical story in which a woman expresses love and devotion to her mother-in-law.Although not framed as romantic, the text has been viewed as Biblical support for intense emotional bonds between women.
The Book of Hind - 9th century Arabic story of a woman credited as being the “first lesbian”.
The Deserving Favorite (Lodowick Carlell) - 17th century English play with a complex romantic polygon that includes an emotional bond between two women that is equated with marriage.
The Dove’s Neck-Ring about Love and Lovers (Ibn Hazm) - A 10th c Spanish-Arabic text on love that has one passing reference to lesbianism.
The History of Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy (Eliza Haywood) - 18th c English novel by an author who often focused on themes of female passionate friendship and erotic attraction.
The History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless (Eliza Haywood) - 18th c English novel by an author who often focused on themes of female passionate friendship and erotic attraction.
The New Atalantis (Mary Delarivier Manley) - 18th century English novel with a satirical/eutopian depiction of an all-female society, including romantic/erotic relationships.
The Passionate Lovers (Lodowick Carlell) - 17th century English play involving gender disguise but where a woman declares her love for the disguised woman after her true sex is revealed.
The Pilgrim (John Fletcher) - 17th century English play involving the unrequired love of a maid for her mistress, which love is equated to that of marriage.
The She-Wedding: or a Mad Marriage at Deptford - 17th century English pamphlet relating a marriage (involving gender disguise) between two women to cover for a pregnancy.
The Travels and Adventures of Mademoiselle de Richelieu (Erskine) - 18th century English picaresque novel involving two women both traveling in male disguise who regularly joke about marrying each other and end living together as women.
The Well of Loneliness (Radclyffe Hall) - Early 20th century English novel considered to be the first overtly lesbian novel.
Yde and Olive - Medieval French romance (several variants fom the 13-14th centuries) involving a gender-disguised woman who wins the love and hand of a king’s daughter. Depending on the variant, the story either resolves with a divinely-mediated sex change or by marrying both women off to each other’s fathers.

Book Review: Congress of Secrets by Stephanie Burgis

Friday, January 20, 2017 - 07:00

It might be easy to understand why I enjoy reading Stephanie Burgis's combination of real 18-19th century history, romantic adventure, and touches of magic. She has an impressively solid familiarity with the history and manners of the era she draws from (which, if you check out the topics of her graduate education, is no surprise). The Congress of Vienna, sorting out the political consequences of Napoleon's defeat, is a natural setting for intrigues of all sorts.

Two people, neither of whom is the person they current portray, encounter each other in the build-up to the Congress for the first time since a violent separation when they were children. Michael, once apprenticed to a political pamphlet printer, has survived by learning the arts of the con man and has arrived as the disenfranchised Prince Kalishnikov, hoping to restore control of the realm Napoleon stole from him--or at least to convince someone to pay him off to go away. Karolina, the daughter of that printer, fell into the hands of the head of the Austrian secret police, who maintains his power by alchemical rituals that drain energy from his victims. Handed off to be the plaything of an English aristocrat, she turned her situation around and became the (now widowed) Countess of Wyndham. Her goal at the Congress is to free her father from the secret prison where he's been held for decades and, if possible, to avenge herself on those who held him there. Their accidental reunion in Vienna could spell disaster for both their plans--or each just might have found the only ally that could ensure success.

I enjoyed the casual details of the setting and historic personalities, as well as the solid back-story for the central political tensions. The rich diversity of early 19th century Vienna came alive on the page. And if I occasionally felt that certain bits of the historic background were being repeated more often than I needed, keep in mind that I'm on the far end of the scale of "just give me a hint and I'll be fine," as well as being a bit more grounded in the historic outlines than the typical reader.

The interpersonal interactions driving the plot worked very well for me for the first three-quarters of the book, including the completely expected growing romantic tension between the two protagonists. Very much in the genre of "I'm totally attracted to you but I can't trust anyone--and especially not you--so giving in to it would be a fatal mistake." The romantic tension was only slightly spoiled by a few too many (in my opinion, unnecessary) incidents of "I saw you smiling at so-and-so, which means you're actually going to bed with them, so my heart is broken, not that I'll admit that I cared."

But in the climax of the book, my suspension of disbelief slipped a little. Too many key players were too easily convinced, too quickly, to believe the protagonists' stories in the nick of time, and to pitch in at the risk of their own lives and careers, or to back down from opposing them far too readily. I had anticipated the fate of one key character from the very beginning--a fate that it was essential for the protagonists never to consider seriously. The strongest point in the climax was our heroine contributing actively and believably to her own rescue, rather than becoming a damsel.

Congress of Secrets is a fun romantic adventure, with a solid grounding in history and a reasonably satisfying conclusion. It is very loosely connected to Masks and Shadows, set in the previous generation, and there are a couple of Easter Egg references to characters from that book, but the two can be read entirely independently.

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Random Thursday: Writing a Long Game

Thursday, January 19, 2017 - 07:00

There are few things more annoying to me as a reader than noting some sort of problematic aspect of a book or show and being told, "Oh, just hang on until the third book / the next season / whatever, and all that is addressed." I mean, why should I have to slog my way through a whole bunch of stuff that erases me or pisses me off just on the hope of a promise that maybe--just maybe--Things Get Better at some unspecified later date? Especially when there are so many other things I could be consuming?

There are few things more frustrating to me as an author than knowing readers are upset, impatient, or feeling erased by some aspect of my published work while knowing that I'm doing something later that stands a good chance of not simply addressing their concerns, but making it worth the wait. I can hint, I can promise--if people really want me to, I can offer private spoilers. But that doesn't change the fact that in the glimpse of my world available to them at the moment, there are things that might make them not willing to wait for it.

One answer to this contradiction is that one can never write the book that all of your readers want. Certainly not all at the same time. A book can only have so many characters and so many themes. Not everyone will be willing to stick with you for the whole journey. Not all of them will be happy with where that journey would take them. And those are the breaks. You can know--absolutely know with the divine power that is authorship--that an issue will be addressed later. But nobody reads in the later, they read in the now.

Writing a series is a long game. From the point when I knew that Alpennia was a series, and not just a stand-alone novel, I've been setting up characters, conflicts, situations, foreshadowings that won't come to fruition for books yet to come. And because Alpennia is such a character-focused series, readers latch on to specific characters and spin out hopes and dreams for them based, not only on the information in the text, but on the ways in which they identify with those characters. Will Anna's heart be broken? Is Iuli going to fall in love with the entirely-too-obvious candidate? Is Iohanna Chazillen going to have a miserable life due to the circumstances of her birth? Will Serafina get to have a happily-ever-after just like the white protagonists do? Who will be the next Prince of Alpennia, and what will that mean for everyone else? Where will the fault lines open between all my central characters come the revolution? When will I seriously address class issues and the knee-jerk valorization of the monarchy?

When the series is complete, I can hope that readers will look at the whole and be able to see, "Yes, this character, this event, that bit of dialogue, that description, the chain of events over there--taken in isolation, I can see how that would look. But those things are in conversation with these characters and those events. This plot thread challenges and comments on that one. This interaction is set up to contrast with that one. These characters shed light on how we're meant to undersatnd those ones." I can hope, but I can't rely on it. I can't even say, "For the answers to these and other exciting questions, stay tuned!" because I have no right to demand that anyone "stay tuned" if they aren't tuned in to what's already on the page. But if you do stay tuned, I can guarantee that a lot of the answers will be unexpected--perhaps even delightfully so.

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LaForge Civil War Diaries and Correspondence: September 1864 - Part 1

Wednesday, January 18, 2017 - 08:21

"We do not war on women and children." It was not, of course, entirely true when Abiel wrote and underscored that line on September 12, 1864. If it had been true, then the Southern woman he wrote about would not have been so pitifully grateful that the soldiers invading her home allowed her to buy supplies from them so that her children wouldn't starve. (After all, one presumes that one of the reasons she was out of food was the depredations of those same soldiers.) But Abiel wants so very badly to believe that he's still an essentially good and civilized man, despite circumstances, and the treatment of women and children is a central part of the worldview that allows him to retain that belief.

Abiel's long, detailed (and somewhat gruesome) description of the battle on the 19th at Opequan Creek has some interesting narrative structure. Rather obviously, he's writing all this down after the battle is over and he begins as usual with past tense narration. "Moved from our camp at 2 A.M. and took the Winchester road." Even so, as the battle continues, he begins introducing dramatized elements, not simply relating quoted speech from others, but offering sound effects: "Whiz, whiz, whiz, went the bullets in rapid succession." And then, in the final decisive manoever of the battle, he shifts to present tense--one could almost imagine him as a play-by-play announcer, "A moving cloud is seen on our right and extending partly behind the Rebs. It is our cavalry under Averill and they are charging." Only when the victory is complete does he shift back into past tense. "I have lost 1/2 my company, either killed or wounded. My friend Powell is badly wounded and 1/2 the officers of the regiment. Very tired."

Outside of the battle descriptions, the diary entries are getting more succinct. It may simply be that there is less to comment on between the overly exciting bits, or it may be that Abiel simply has less spare energy for writing. Given how faithfully he writes home, enclosing his "memorandums", one can feel for him when he laments the lack of return correspondence (especially when there are actual deliveries of mail, as opposed to the likelihood that mail was simply piling up somewhere upstream).

Certain editorial details are starting to feel redundant to me--like annotating each use of "M." (meridian) as meaning "noon", but although the use has almost gotten to the point of being comfortably familiar to me, I keep noting it, remembering how badly I'd stumble across each use at the beginning. I'm also starting to feel odd about "correcting" certain systematic spelling differences, such as Abiel's use of "acrost" where modern usage requires "across". I keep reminding myself that this version is meant to be easily readable by modern eyes, and that those who are interested in the details of 19th century usage can check out the original transcription.

Content Warning: graphic and gruesome descriptions of death in battle.

The Diary and Letters of Abiel Teple LaForge 1842-1878

Transcribed, edited, and annotated by Phyllis G. Jones (his great-granddaughter)

Copyright © 1993, Phyllis G. Jones, All rights reserved

September 1-19, 1864

[PUNCTUATION AND SPELLING ARE COPIED FROM THE ORIGINALS. EDITORIAL COMMENTS ARE IN BOLD TYPE.]

DIARY Thursday September 1st 1864

The first day in command of my new company; all well so far. Day very pleasant. I have been very busy settling my accounts with Company I. Days are comfortable but nights decidedly cold. A very heavy dew falls so that everything is as wet as if it had rained, in the morning. Last month was generaly dry and warm, but we feel autumn now. The men will soon be drawing woolen blankets to sleep on or under, for they need them. The men are having a gay time this evening, throwing pieces of corn cob at each other. They divide up into armies, have their officers, throw out skirmishers, and make regular charges.

LETTER

Head Quarters "F" Company 106th New Yprl Volunteers 1st Brigade 3rd Division 6th Corps.

September 1st 1864

My Sweet Sister and Dear Friends,

Amid the turmoil of war and excitement of the battle field, I still find time to keep open "my communication" with dear ones far away, toward the star which I often find nodding and winking at me and saying, "You belong farther this way." When I wake from dreams of home, some of these cold nights, I am still in the land of the living, in seeming spite of those ugly fellows whose camp fires I see over yonder, and who seem so very anxious to furnish me with a free passage from this sublinary sphere to the one which many have traveled, but I don't remember of anybody's returning to tell what they saw there, which makes me anxious not to go until I know more about it.

The Rebs are trying to play us some Yankee trick. They fell back from the Ferry, where they had been in our front for nearly a week, thinking when we found them gone we would rush for Strausburg as we did before. Well, they turned off and concealed their army near Bunker Hill (not Mass) intending, as soon as we had passed, to fall on our rear and take us by surprise. In this they were foiled by the persistant inquisitiveness of our cavalry, which foiled their intentions in good earnest. While they stay there, we must stay here; when they move, we move. And so we go it first forward then backward, both parties refusing to take the offensive until they have some very decided advantage.

Good generalship is displayed on both sides. Earley hates to leave the Valley until he gains some important advantage, such as striking us such a blow that we dare not follow them out of the valley. This is what they dread, so fearful of another Lynchburg raid.

Our general has information that Longstreet has gone back to Richmond. If this is so, our forces are nearly as strong as those of the enemy left here. We cannot learn the truth of the report yet, and I have some doubts of our force being large enough to attack Earley if General Longstreet's troops have left.

Now sister, how about that Round-about? It is just what I want in the field, if it is not too dirty. I don't remember, but if it has no holes in it, I wish you would clean it up a little and take about half an inch off the end of the sleeve, down next the hands, cutting it so that it is the same shape it is now. I think there is an inside pocket on each side. If there is not, will you put them in? Or if those in there now have holes in them, put others in. Then do it up in as small a parcel as possible and direct it to Sergeant La Forge, Company "F" 106th N.Y. Volunteers, 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 6th Corps. The reason I want you to direct [it] to Sergeant La Forge is because the post office laws will not allow you send clothing to a commissioned officer. If you have made any other disposition of the garment dont bother yourself about sending it. The Post Master will tell you how many stamps to put on it. The best way is to do it up as small as you can, then tie it well with a string, then put a paper arround it, leaving the ends open, upon which you put the address and stamps. [Note: A "roundabout" is a plain, short, long-sleeved jacket that was in common use by soldiers of both sides and many ranks. Here's an example from a Civil War reproduction clothing site, although as it's a commercial site, I can't guarantee tha the link will endure.]

How is young Potter? Bright as ever, I suppose. He will be cutting teeth soon, then you you will have a gay time. I remember how cross you were when you cut yours. About my own, I havent as good a memory. I have nearly $500.°° due me now. I dont know when I shall get any of it. My love to all, Mammy & the boy in particular this time. Yours,

Abiel

Lt. Co. "F" 106" N.Y.V.

My going to Company "F" makes my boys of "I" feel bad, but the Commanding officer of the Regiment says it is necessary, as the business of Company "F" has got to be straightened up, and he wants me to do it. Quite a compliment.

DIARY

Friday September 2nd 1864

Laid in camp near Smithville until near sundown when we moved back to the North of Charleston and came into a nice grove where the Rebs were camped last week, and put up our camp for the night.

Saturday 3rd

Marched shortly after sunrise. Our regiment detailed to act as flankers to the wagon train, i.e., to march in Indian file, deployed about five paces apart and two or three hundred yards from the road on the side towards the enemy. Came as far as Clifton (three miles from Berryville) when we ran on the Rebs, strongly entrenched. We had to skirmish a considerable [time] before we could establish our picket line. Cool pleasant marching today. Rained some at noon. We may soon expect the fall rain to set in. Bivouacked for the night. We are the extreme right.

Sunday 4th

Laid in camp all day. An hour before sundown, orders came to build breastworks. We had very few tools, but went to work felling trees and digging. Building works here and doing the same at Petersburg is very different. There, a pick was not necessary; here, all the digging has to be done with them. We did not get our work done until ten o'clock P.M.

Monday 5th

A cold heavy disagreeable rain commenced last night, most decidedly Autumn-like. We got a little damp before morning. A lot of troops that were moved to the right of us yesterday went back again today. I find they threw up about 3/4 of a mile of breastworks connecting with ours on the right. They can be occupied at any moment. The cavalry are now out in that direction, looking out for the flank. There has been but little skirmishing lately. Moseby is active. Continual rain.

Tuesday 6th

Rain still continues. The cold wind soughs through the trees, laden with its unwelcome drizzle. The army is but poorly prepared for this change in the weather. A division of the 19th Corps was passing us this P.M. They are going out to support a Cavalry reconnaisance toward Bunker Hill, the object of which is to find where Averill is with his cavalry. The last we heard of him, he was coming up from Martinsburg to join us. By some cannonading we heard in that direction he had engaged.

Wednesday 7th

Sun rose clear. How good it made us feel to see his unclouded face again! How different from last month. Then we would have given almost anything for a rain like this. The ground is now so soaked that we shall have to be very carefull about moving artillery and wagons across the fields. I wrote to O. L. Barney, giving him all the information in my power. Our Cavalry have been very active. The enemy appear to have left our immediate front.

[Note on first page of Psalms in his Bible says:] While bivoucked three miles west of Harpers Ferry and waiting for orders. Expecting to march on the enemy

Thursday 8th

Policed and laid out our camp today, so it looks very nice. Averill is all right. He has whipped the Reb Cavalry again. Moseby is particularly active on our rear. He captured an ambulance train between us and the Ferry. They were all but one recaptured, however, by our men sent in pursuit. I wrote S, Annie W___, and father. Some cannonading off to the right. Quiet here.

Friday 9th

Everything is as quiet as if there was not an enemy in 40 miles of here. Indeed, more so, for if there was an enemy at that distance, orders would not be so stringent in regard to casual firing, as they are now. A man is punished severely who is caught firing his gun, for it lets the enemy know where we are. Rained again. We may expect this fluctuating weather now: a warm day now and then to let us know summer has not entirely abandoned us yet, and a rainy day twice in a while to bid us prepare for the still colder days of Autumn. Our new chaplain Reverand Dilly came this P.M.

Saturday 10th

Warm and pleasant. Wrote to Sherman Crandall today. Turned over my Ordnance of Company "I" to Lieutenant Brunson who succeeds me in the command of that company. I have also assumed command and responsibility in "F" Company. I am getting along with my new command first rate. There are some things in the discipline of the company which need correction, but I think I shall have no difficulty in getting along with that. Lieutenant Hepburn came to the regiment today. He has been on duty at Rendezvous of Distribution for some months. He says Colonel McKelvy has returned from his leave of absence and is quite well.

Sunday 11th

Was expecting to write to Sister today but was detailed about noon and so could not do it. The Adjutant came arround and said I was to take charge of a picket of one hundred men from the regiment to go on duty for three days. What they want us to go on so long for is more than I know, unless we are going to stay where we are for a long time and they adopt the old method of doing picket duty. Our line was advanced a little after we got on it, so as to straighten it. We have a cavalry videt in front of this line. [Note: a brief google suggests a "videt" is a type of entry, but I haven't looked up more technical details at this time.] If the Rebs came out, they would first have to drive back the videt which would give us abundant time to get ready for them. Then they would attack our line, which we could hold until our camps (that we came from) were struck and we got orders to fall back on them, or they advanced to our support.

This afternoon I wrote a letter to Susan in the house of an old Secesh who ran about fifteen minutes before we got here and left his family and goods to our kind care. He is what we call a bushwhacker. We have a man in our charge whose house is not half a mile from here, still we cannot allow him to cross our lines and go to it.

LETTER

Picket Line Near Clifton. Sunday 11th September 1864

Dear Sister,

I am on duty in charge of one hundred men from our Regiment as picket near Peckham Creek. The Rebs are on the other side. I am now writing in the house of an old Secesh Gentleman who skedaddled about fifteen minutes before our troops came to this place--of course, leaving his family to our tender mercies, which he did not seem to fear. Two ladies and three children comprise the family. The first are feminines of that type of beauty so peculiarly Southern, that is, with a nose that possesses the property of being able to turn up to a great elevation at the will of the owner. They both smoke, chew snuff, and are decidedly bitter aganst the Union and Uncle Abe. Perhaps made so by their losses in property and husbands, although the loss of the latter I don't give them much credit for feeling. We must give them the credit to say they could not be expected to feel very good towards those who are continually robbing them.

The Rebs have been very quiet lately, and they seem to feel as contented about laying still until after the Presidential Election takes place as we do. General Sherridan has not force enough to risk an engagement with them behind fortifications, and they dare not attack us while we have the protection of our breastworks, so we are idle by mutual consent and are enjoying ourselves as best we can in our present position.

Very unexpectedly last Saturday night, a most decidedly Autumn storm burst upon us. We were but poorly prepared for such an evidence of the fact that summer had departed. Fires were at a premium, and every one built was soon closely invested by an anxious comfort-seeking croud. I do not apprehend that we are not going warm weather enough yet, for this is but the commencement of fall. I shall soon need that jacket, so if it is on the way, all right.

You told me of the marriage of Miss Livermore. So also did Sherman and Orville, so I am pretty well informed of the fact. I felt very sorry to hear of the death of Albert Heseltine. I should so much liked to have seen him and again thanked him for his kind treatment of myself when I was burning with the fever, and no kind sister or sister-in-law to nurse me. Poor fellow, he deserved the death of a soldier and not the lingering, living death of consumption. A fine looking young lieutenant is setting by my side and says "give her my respects", so I suppose I shall have to. Please accept the Respects of Lieutenant Cox.

I rather believe I and him could enjoy ourselves much more to our satisfaction if we were only sitting by your hospitable hearth this cold day, instead of writing on this Southern White Pine table. What do you and Janey think about it? I guess there must be something in that cupboard we could enjoy. We are imagining how we could live if we were only home. When, if we were there in reality, we should have no appetite at all for joy.

Tell mother I shall be old enough to keep her company, when I get home again. I grow old so fast now. One of my teeth also is beginning to bother me. What an accumulation of misery!

Tell Janey she must learn some dances so that she may teach me when I get home. Love to Mrs. and Mr. Perry Potter and children, especially Matie. Don't forget our little Josey. Does he cry any yet? Your Loving Brother,

Address Lieutenant A.T. LaForge

Commanding "F" Company 106th New York Volunteers

DIARY

Monday 12th

Have not sent my letter yet. Shall send it in tonight when my servant comes out with my supper. It is still very cold and we (two second Lieutenants who are on duty with me and myself) slept on the floor of the parlor of the house of which I spoke yesterday, and which is about the centre of my line. It is now past noon and every evidence of a rain again this eve.

[Beginning of new page; probably the previous page was sent home with the letter]

Monday 12th September 1864

This afternoon I sent the lady of the house on which one of my picket posts is stationed over with a guard to General Rickets. They were out of provisions and desired to get permission of him to buy of our commissary. I could not see them hungry, even if her husband is a rebel (12th Virginia Cavalry) We do not war on women and children. The General gave her 30 pounds of flour, ten lbs of sugar and a bottle of wine. She was bitter against the Union Soldiers before she went. She returned crying. the General's kindness had touched her. It is pretty cold tonight and good woolen under-clothes would be a luxury.

Tuesday 13th

Our Cavalry and the 2nd Division 6th Corps made an advance this morning to surprise the Reb pickets, which they did, capturing quite a number. They fought quite a while and did not return until dark tonight. Some of the prisoners were brought in by here. They looked rather glum. I have just been around with strict orders concerning us tonight. We expect the enemy will be trying to make themselves even by making a dash on our lines and capturing some of our pickets. It is a fine moonlight night, however, and they would find it hard surprising us. It still continues cold. I forgot to mention that we had a severe hail storm Sunday afternoon. I told the Sergeant who has charge this post to wake me at the first shot he heard.

Wednesday 14th

About ten o'clock the Sergeant woke me up, saying some firing was heard on the right. I went out, heard one shot, then five or six others, just like the beginning of an attack, then all was silent. I went round and found the videts were on the alert, then came back. As there was no more firing, I went to bed, leaving directions to be awakened at an hour before daylight, another favorable time for attack.

I got up at that time and went out on the line. Everything was quiet. A little before sunrise went and laid down sleeping until my servant came from camp with my breakfast. Commenced raining at 8 O.C. A.M. We were relieved by a detail from the Brigade at M [i.e., noon]. When I got to camp I found that our (Lieutenant's Brunsson, Cox, and my own) servants had built us pretty good quarters. The roof was made of four tent cloths. These were raised the height of a barrel from the ground and the sides are formed of barrel staves. A bunk is built in one end for the three of us to sleep, so we are pretty comfortable.

Thursday 15th

Battalion drill from 9 to 11 A.M., the first time I ever commanded a company on drill. This P.M. there was company drill for one hour. I was unwell from a cold I caught on the picket line and did not go out. Weather pleasant, but rained a little just at the right time to prevent Dress Parade. A large mail came tonight and I did not get a letter, and as over a dozen is due me It is somewhat strange. It makes a fellow feel particularly pleased after so long waiting to get one, however so I will not complain.

Captain Parker was our drill officer. He would do well enough if he only had confidence in himself. He is afraid. While we were on picket, I had the pleasure of hearing a Rebel girl sing the Southern patriotic songs of "The Bonny Blue Flag", "The Homespun Dress", and several others. She was a sweet singer, but bitter Rebel. I begin to look for an advance soon now. We have lain long enough now to be in good trim for active service. Look out Johnnies.

Friday 16th

Battalion drill. Wrote to Miss Annie S. Porter. Rained a little. The men seem to be in excellent spirits. I believe they would make a pretty good fight. I think the Johnnies would have to bring more than man for man.

Sat 17th

The Regiment had just gone out for drill when an order came to move camp. We went back and packed up. We only moved about half a mile. We are in rather [a] better place than we were before. Nice sunshiny side hill. The men are fixed up pretty nice, but I am of the impression they will not enjoy their quarters long, for Lieutenant General Grant was up here this afternoon. There are all sorts of rumors concerning the meaning of his visit here. I think that our inactivity does not please him, so he wants to see for himself if it is necessary. I should think that now as Sherman is free to use his army somewhere else there should be a combined movement on Lynchburg by him and our army. He could make his base somewhere near Knoxville, Tennessee, and we advance by the way of Staunton Virginia. Some such determined measure should be adopted to threaten Richmond from the West.

The men are having sport tonight fighting mimic battles with firebrands. The 87 Pennsylvania and our Regiment are opponents: they arm themselves from the fires and make regular charges and flank movements and all sorts of manoeuvres. The best of good feeling prevails. The sight is really beautiful to see: the brands moving about and flying through the air. (It is too dark to see the men.) They don't often hit what they are aimed at, but when they do there is no ill feeling. There is a man on our breastworks and one away off in the distance, each with a large firebrand making signals to each other, just like the Signal Corps. They are just going to their respective quarters now, bidding each other good night, one side says "good night yanks" and the other "good night Johnnies". They are gone.

Sunday 18th

We had Brigade inspection today. Did not intend to have it till Monday, but General Grant (he went back to Washington today) has got up some kind of a move and it must be done sooner. Just after M. [noon] an order came to pack up, which we did. Had everything ready to move and stacked arms on the "Color-line". Just then an aide came arround countermanding the order. My, what a shout the men sent up! One would have thought we had won a great victory. Our tents were soon up again and we are now in as good quarters as ever. Our new chaplain preached to us this P.M. Threatened rain, but did not. Should have written to sister, but the move spoiled it so I could not. Got a letter from her.

Monday 19th

Moved from our camp at 2 A.M. and took the Winchester road. The whole army moved with us. Sunrise found our advance crossing the Opequan creek. The advance of the enemy were just the other side, and were driven back about two miles by our cavalry.

The enemy had their lines formed in a strong position two miles from Winchester. We formed our lines by 9 OC but had to wait until near M. [noon] for the 19th Army Corps to come up. When they did arrive, they were placed on our right. Our lines were then formed by the 19th Corps on the right then our 2nd Division and 3rd Division. The extreme left was formed by the 1st Division of our corps. The 8th Corps was held in reserve.

During all this manoeuvering, the batteries on both sides had kept up an almost constant fire, with but small results in anything but noise. Everything was ready and the charge ordered about M [noon]. It was obeyed by the advance of the entire line under a most murderous artillery fire. Our Division had to advance across an open rolling field where their shells would have full effect. The slaughter was dreadful.

Three hundred yards, which were made at a double quick, brought us into the first ravine. As soon as the men got there they laid down. Colonel Emerson commanding the Brigade rode along behind us saying, "Come now, men! Get up and advance!"

We jumped up and started across the next hill with some reluctance, for a perfect storm of shells were sweeping across it. I got before the men and told them to advance and they came up well. We advanced across the top, our men falling fearfully fast. A Major, a little to my right, had his head blown clear from his shoulders. He was on a horse and the body maintained its seat for a moment after, the blood spouting up and making a hideous spectacle.

On we went, and soon began with the infantry. Their fire was not as fearful as the artillery, although more distructive. The part of the line I was on charged everything from before it, without a halt, and crossed the next ravine. A little to our right, the enemy had breastworks and held the part of the line in their front. We just swung past them and, coming on their flank, drove them and captured many prisoners.

We did not stop, but went on. As we raised the third hill, I saw a battery off to our right which was doing terrible damage. I remember drawing my revolver and calling for men to take that battery. I saw some coming after me, two of whom I knew were brave men: Sergeant Wilder and Private Temple. Waiting for no more, I started on the run.

Whiz, whiz, whiz, went the bullets in rapid succession. I looked back; the men were falling fast. I looked the other way; the men were falling back with the guns. I yelled and started again. Run 100 yards, when I heard someone behind shouting, "Look out!" I did look out, and saw a line of Johnnies, across the Pike in front of me, bring their guns up for a volley. I threw myself behind a stump, just as the ground around me was all cut up with bullets. How they made the dirt fly!

As I had nothing particular to occupy my attention while laying there, I looked back along the line. 200 yards behind was the squad, or five of them, who had started to take the guns. They were behind trees. 100 yards behind them, our Division line had halted. On the right of our Division, and in their rear, were the Rebs. That part of their line had forced back the charge of the 19th corps. Our officers saw the necessity of taking our line back a short distance to prevent our being flanked, but I did not and obeyed the order to "fall back" with some swearing, the boys say. I dont swear much, however. How mad it made me to see the Rebs rally and follow us over that hardly contested ground.

As the distance charged had to be left, some brave fellows followed us too closely, for by a sudden turn our men captured a squad of them. They were more careful then. Our new line was established and held, until the 19th corps had driven the Rebs line step by step from their front and advanced up to our line, which did not take place until about 4 P.M.

Meanwhile I went over some of the ground, helped some of the wounded enemy into a shed and gave them water. (Our wounded were carried from the field.) It was an awful sight to go over the ground, literally soaked with human gore. I then took a gun from a dead man and, putting a lot of cartridges in my pocket, laid down in the first line and commenced firing.

I was hardly down when whiz! came a bullet striking the ground two feet before me and, glancing, struck the man laying by my right side in the forehead. He looked around, got up, and walked three or four paces to the rear, turned around and fell dead. I made several shots when I had a good mark, then the Rebs laid so close I could not see them, and I went to a part of our line in a ravine and sat down.

While there, my servant brought up my dinner--the first I had ate since 2 A.M. It was then 3 P.M. I also saw one of the officers with which I went to the front last June. At 4, the 19th Corps was up with us and a general charge of the whole army ordered, before which General Sheridan rode along the line, attended by two orderlies, and saying "Men, our cavalry are on their flank, we have won a victory." The men took off their hats and cheered him.

Shortly after, we went forward. What a scene of horror the field presented, where our artillery had played on them. Four hundred yards brought us in full view of their cannon, then our line was subject [to] the most murderous artillery fire I ever heard, Oh! how we were cut up. One gun as we advanced opened on our left, in exact range of the line lengthwise. It fired three shots before it was captured, bringing twenty men down. At one of its shots, the shell went through six men of one company in the Iron Brigade.

Then we got out where we could see the whole line to the right, coming out on the plain before us. To see them advance in such splendid order under that fire was a tribute to their bravery not to be forgotten. A moving cloud is seen on our right and extending partly behind the Rebs. It is our cavalry under Averill and they are charging. How grandly they advance on those guns which are sending death through their ranks! On they come. See the artillerists run. The cavalry charge past them, cutting some down as they go. Now they have stopped behind them, and the guns, artillerymen, and the infantry supports are in our hands. Glorious! That was the first Cavalry charge I ever saw. It ended the fight. The Rebs were siezed with a panic and fled in the utmost confusion. Our spoils are prisoners by thousands, five guns, and nine battle flags.

There seems to be some doubt in the minds of our General whether they have occupied the heights above the town or not. There are strong earth works there. Our Division is detailed to advance and, if they are occupied, carry them by storm. A half mile's march across the plain brings us to the hills. Up we go and find the forts unoccupied. Away beyond the town we could see them running, and their cavalry thrown out to cover their retreat. Looking back, we beheld our victorious army marching into position on the plain below. We soon joined them and, it being now dark, went into camp for the night.

I have lost 1/2 my company, either killed or wounded. My friend Powell is badly wounded and 1/2 the officers of the regiment. Very tired.

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LaForge Civil War Diaries

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Teaser Tuesday: Orphans don't have All the Fun

Tuesday, January 17, 2017 - 08:07

It is a deep discomfort to me that I have often fallen into the stereotypical trap of arranging for my protagonists to be orphaned so that there aren't any pesky parental figures getting in the way of them being in peril and having adventures. In Daughter of Mystery it was a foundational element of their stories for Margerit and Barbara to be orphans. (Well, functionally, anyway. It's complicated in Barbara's case.) Antuniet wasn't an orphan in that first book, but she is by the time she gets to be a protagonist. Jeanne...well, I don' think Jeanne really counts as an "orphaned protagonist" because she's of an older generation and her parents might reasonably expect to have passed on. Serafina has deep attachments to her (living) father, but the loss of her mother is a significant driving force in her psyche (though it was the loss of the idea of her mother, even before the physical loss).

But I gave Luzie a large, loving, and very much living family--even though circumstances keep them apart much of the time. (Ok, except for her late husband, but I couldn't very well have him hanging around--then she wouldn't have this story.) I included the following scene to try to give a sense of what that family means to her, when they descend upon her house in Rotenek to support the performance of her opera.

Chapter 28 - Luzie

A ripple of laughter ran around the table as Chisillic carried in the moulded orange crème herself and placed on the sideboard for Gerta to serve.

“Now what’s this I hear about a shortage of oranges, Maistir Ovimen?” the cook asked.

Luzie watched her father repeat the comic tale, gesturing with those familiar hands, the fingers now knobbed with age. His hands might have lost the ability to play, but not the ability to draw a performance from others, whether the small consort assembled for the Tanfrit or the diners around her close-crowded table. She exchanged a glance with her mother and smiled as the years melted away.

Issibet was now chiming in with a counter story about the hard years during the French Wars, and the part a particular shipment of oranges had played in ensuring the success of a production they had both worked on. Luzie had been too young to understand the significance at the time, but she’d heard the story many times in years after and could almost convince herself she remembered that treasured sweetness.

She would remember this in the same way: how her brother Gauterd had made time from his contracted performances to join her production, how her parents had made the journey from Iuten not only to witness the debut of her opera, but to add to the preparations. Her father had stood listening to the rehearsals in an unused Academy building for only five minutes before he’d bluntly suggested that the musical direction be put into his hands. And those hands had coaxed the oddly assorted group of musicians and singers into a partnership. Even Benedetta Cavalli had abandoned her demands and airs at hearing that Iannik Ovimen had taken the reins. Luzie had forgotten the respect her father had commanded in his time. And it had been that gesture—treating her work as worthy of his labor—that had meant the most.

Half of her wished the boys could have been here—and Gauterd’s wife and children as well—but the other half was grateful to avoid that added distraction. And where would she have put them all? As it was she had surrendered her own room to her parents and imposed on Serafina to make space for her, while Gauterd commanded Alteburk’s room leaving the housekeeper to crowd in with the maids for the duration of the visit. No doubt there had been grumbling where she couldn’t hear it, but the atmosphere was more like a floodtide holiday where everyone laughingly made do for the sake of being together.

Though one might think there was enough music in their lives at the moment, with the performance only two days away, they gathered in the parlor in the evening, bringing in extra chairs from the dining room, and she accompanied Gauterd for violin concertos.

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Mother of Souls

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LHMP Tags: People/Event Tags - When Literary Cross-dressing Provokes Desire

Monday, January 16, 2017 - 07:00

This finishes up the literary works that feature cross-dressing and gender disguise. These works may involve a number of other themes as well. Keep in mind that these tag essays are meant to identify thematic groups, but individual stories are rarely simple. In particular, if cross-dressing opens the window to an enduring love once a disguised woman's gender is revealed, or if the personal interactions within the disguise have more of a predatory flavor than an erotic one, then I've placed works on those more specific categories.

If it seems like a large proportion of the material in this group are English plays of the 16-17th century, one reason is the wealth of examples provided by Walen 2005. But the reason Walen was able to write such an extensive study on the topic is that gender-disguise plots were a particular favorite on the English stage at that time.

Literary Cross-dressing: Same-Sex Desire (Click here for the permanent tag essay with tag-links)

This group covers works where cross-dressing or gender disguise generates either the appearance or the reality of same-sex desire. This general principle covers a fairly wide variety of scenarios.

The simplest and most common case is where a woman passing as a man is desired by a woman who believes her to be male. This may be elaborated by having the passing woman respond to that desire and return it, or by the desire persisting even after the passing woman’s true gender has been revealed. (Given that these are works of literature, it is generally made clear that these episodes involve disguise, and not transgender identity.)

A second, somewhat more problematic type involves a man disguised as a woman, usually in order to gain sexual access to the woman in a gender-segregated environment, where the seduction includes convincing the woman to accept what she believes to be same-sex desire. Alternately, a heterosexual couple with the man taking on female disguise may behave in a way that onlookers perceive as involving same-sex erotics.

Another type of scenario involving deliberate misdirection may involve a woman passing as a man and deliberately courting a woman, often in order to distract her from a common (male) love interest or to damage her reputation. While these don’t technically involve same-sex desire, they do depict scenes that the consumer understands to involve same-sex erotics.

Some of the more convoluted gender-disguise plots include multiple layers of disguise (e.g., a woman disguised as a man who then “pretends” to be a woman). What the category has in common is that it introduces the audience to the possibility of same-sex love, and may involve characters arguing in support of the idea.

A Christian Turn’d Turke (Robert Daborne) - 17th century English play with orientalist themes in which a woman disguised as a boy attracts a woman’s erotic desire.
Alda (Guillaume de Blois) - 12th century French story in which a man disguising himself as a woman to get a woman in bed has to explain his penis as being “purchased in the market”.
Amadis de Gaule - 14th century Spanish romance that includes a cross-dressing female knight who attracts a woman’s desire and returns it.
Anecdotes of a Convent (Helen Williams) - 18th century English novel in which a girl being educated in a convent falls in love with a school-fellow, only to learn later it was a boy in disguise.
Arcadia (Philip Sidney) - 16th century English work in which a man disguises himself as an Amazon to gain access to the woman he desires. Includes her internal struggles to accept love for (who she believes to be) a woman.
As You Like It (William Shakespeare) - 16th century English play. One of Shakespeare’s several works that feature women falling in love with cross-dressed women.
Brennoralt or the Discontented Colonel (John Suckling) - 17th century English play that involves multiple homoerotic scenarios enabled by cross-dressing, but also an affirmation of desire between two knowing women.
Clyomon and Clamydes - 16th century English play in which a gender disguised woman acknowledges the suggestion that women may desire her.
Faerie Queen (Edmund Spenser) - 16th century English epic poem that includes a cross-dressing female knight (Britomart) who attracts a woman’s desire that outlasts the revelation.
Floris et Lyriope (Robert de Blois) - 13th century French romance in which a man cross-dresses as a woman to seduce a woman. The work depicts her coming to terms with same-sex desire.
Gallathea (John Lyly) - 16th century English play in which two women disguised as men fall in love with each other, believing the other to be an actual man. Their desire for each other outlasts the revelation and the play concludes with a plan to marry if Venus will randomly transform one or the other into a man.
Gl’Ingannati - 16th century Italian play in which a cross-dressed woman attracts the desire of the woman to whom she is a go-between. Most likely the inspiration for Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.”
Hymen’s Triumph (Samuel Daniel) - 17th century English play in which a cross-dressed woman attracts a woman’s desire.
James IV (Robert Greene) - 16th century English play in which a cross-dressing female knight is wounded and the woman who nurses her falls in love with her with flirtatious encouragement.
L’Astrée (Honoré d'Urfé) - 17th century French novel in which a man cross-dresses as a woman to seduce a woman. One of the sources for Sidney's Arcadia.
La Cintia (Giambattista della Porta) - 16th century Italian play involving multiple homoerotic scenarios, both where a cross-dressed woman courts a woman, and where a man cross-dressed as a woman courts a woman.
Laelia - 16th century English play that may be a direct source for Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”, in which a woman disguises herself as a man to distract the affections of her (male) lover’s new love interest.
Le Bal d’Auteuil (Nicolas Boindin) - 18th century French play with same-sex romance involving a cross-dressed woman.
Love’s Adventures (Margaret Cavendish) - 17th century English play by Margaret Cavendish (q.v.) in which a woman disguised as a boy attracts the erotic attention of both women and men.
Love’s Changelinges Change - 17th century English play derived from Sidney’s “Arcadia” in which a woman contemplates same-sex love when courted by a man in disguise.
Love’s Pilgrimage (John Fletcher) - 17th century English play in which a woman desires a cross-dressed woman she believes to be a boy.
Love’s Riddle (Abraham Cowley) - 17th century English play in which a cross-dressed woman attracts the desire of two shepherdesses, which continues after she is revealed.
Metamorphoses: Callisto (Ovid) - 1st century BCE poem in which Zeus disguises himself as a woman to seduce one of Diana’s nymphs. This story was adapted in many different forms over the centuries.
Orgula (Leonard Willan) - 17th century English play involves a woman who cross-dresses in order to pursue the male object of her desire, but is distracted by another woman-passing-as-man character.
Orlando Furioso (Ludovico Ariosto) - 16th century Italian poem that includes the motif of a woman desiring an Amazon figure who is initially perceived as male but where the desire persists after her gender is revealed.
Ornatus and Artesia (Emanuel Ford) - 17th century English novel in which a man disguised as a woman convinces a woman to accept same-sex desire.
Philaster or Love lies a Bleeding (Frances Beaumont and John Fletcher) - 17th century English play in which a woman cross-dressed as a boy is the unwilling (and somewhat oblivious) object of female desire.
Qamar al-Zaman and the Princess Boudour - Story included in the Arabic epic “The 1001 Nights” involving a woman who cross-dresses as a man and is pressured into marrying a princess who accepts the marriage after her true gender is revealed.
Roman de Silence (Heldris de Cornuälle) - 13th century French romance featuring a cross-dressing female knight. The story directly addresses issues of gender identity as innate versus performative. In one episode, she is the object of a queen’s adulterous desire.
The Antiquary (Shackerley Marmion) - 17th century English play in which an older woman desires a woman passing as a boy.
The Arcadia (James Shirley) - 17th century English play based on Sidney’s poem of the same name in which a man cross-dresses as an Amazon to pursue the woman he desires, with the added complication that both her parents also desire the “Amazon”, each believing the other to unknowingly pursue a same-sex desire.
The Convent of Pleasure (Margaret Cavendish) - 17th century English play by Margaret Cavendish (q.v.) involving a man disguising himself as a woman to enter a woman-only community and convincing the object of his desire to accept apparent same-sex desire.
The Doubtful Heir (James Shirley) - 17th century English play in which a woman courts a woman cross-dressing as a boy in order to make a man jealous. Despite the same-sex courtship, it is not driven by desire.
The Golden Age (Thomas Heywood) - 17th century English play involving a retelling of Ovid’s myth of Callisto, where Zeus disguises himself as a woman to seduce one of Diana’s nymphs.
The Isle of Guls (John Day) - 17th century English play based on Sidney’s poem of the same name in which a man cross-dresses as an Amazon to pursue the woman he desires, with the added complication that both her parents also desire the “Amazon”, each believing the other to unknowingly pursue a same-sex desire.
The Lover’s Melancholy (John Ford) - 17th century English play where a woman disguised as a man is unwillingly wooed by two women, one of whom still desires her after the truth is revealed.
The Loyal Subject (John Fletcher) - 17th century English play in which a brother and sister both desire a man cross-dressing as a woman.
The Reform'd Coquet (Mary Davys) - 18th century English novel involving apparent same-sex desire between women except that one is a man in disguise.
The Rivall Friends (Peter Hausted) - 17th century English play in which an older woman desires a woman cross-dressing as a boy.
The Sisters (James Shirley) - 17th century English play recapitulating Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” in which a woman rejects her male suitors to pursue a woman cross-dressing as a man.
The Spanish Gipsie (Thomas Middleton and William Rowley) - 17th century English play in which a woman cross-dressing as a man accepts the possibility that women will desire her.
The Troublesome and Hard Adventures in Love (Robert Codrington) - 17th century English story in which two heterosexual lovers are disguised as country maids but perceived as engaging in same-sex affection.
The Widdow (John Middleton and Ben Jonson and John Fletcher) - 17th century English play in which just about every possible combination of apparent and actual same-sex desire (of both genders) occurs, due to multi-layered gender disguises.
The Wife Judge and Accuser (La Femme juge et partie) (Antoine Jacob Montfleury) - 17th century French play involving courtship between a woman and a cross-dressing woman.
Tristan de Nanteuil - 14th century French romance in which a cross-dressing woman becomes the object of a woman’s desire resulting in marriage followed by a magical sex change.
Twelfth Night (William Shakespeare) - 16th century English play. One of Shakespeare’s several works that feature women falling in love with cross-dressed women.

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Book um sort-of Review? Musketeer Space by Tansy Rayner Roberts

Friday, January 13, 2017 - 06:00

So, I don't DNF (did not finish) books very often. If a book gets my attention enough to move up the list to having me start it, I generally want to give it the chance to show me what it's got. But I read one treadmill-session worth of Musketeer Space and then closed it and chose a new book. And I'd like to explain why, even if just to myself.

This is a good book. A very imaginative, well-crafted, well-written story. It takes The Three Musketeers, gender-flips it, adds some delicious diversity to the cast, then gives it a space opera setting where the Musketeers fly cyber-implant guided ships from their base at Paris Space Station. It's clever and funny and even manages to provide sympathetic and believable underpinnings to D'Artagnan's initial belligerent jackassishness.

But I didn't finish it--indeed, I barely started it. And the reason, as best I can explain, is that it doesn't feel like an interpretation of 3 Musketeers, but rather like a translation. I got a strong impression that I got all the essentials of the creative innovation in the first few chapters, but the story itself was going to run in precise parallel with the original. Which I have read. And don't feel like re-reading at this time.

I may be wrong--I could easily be wrong, given that I only scratched the beginning. And other than the story not being different enough from one I'd already read, there's nothing actually wrong with this book. It's a very well-written book. And if you're the sort of reader for whom the idea of diverse gender-flipped space musketeers is catnip--and especially if you've never actually read the story in the original (or if you think that wouldn't be a problem for you) then by all means let me know how much you enjoyed it!

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Random Thursday: How many lesbians are there in Alpennia?

Thursday, January 12, 2017 - 08:24

The most common reaction I get to character demographics in the Alpennia books is, "OMG all the queer women, this is fabulous!" But very occasionally I get reactions along the lines of, "Why is everyone these characters hang out with a lesbian?" One of my first principles in historic research has always been, "If you find yourself asking 'Why is X true?' step back and ask, "Is X true?'"

There are two responses to the underlying question. The first is: Um...you do know that we hang out together on purpose, right? The second is to point out the saliency bias in this observation, because the actual proportion of lesbians in the social circles of my characters isn't as high as these reactions seem to indicate. So let's talk about both of those angles.

How many lesbians or bi women are part of Margerit and Barbara's immediate circle? In Margerit's family, she's the only one. Barbara is directly connected socially to Jeanne and to Antuniet. The only reason that Barbara and Jeanne are close socially is because they were lovers. This is not a matter of random chance or of coincidence. The social connection wouldn't exist without that past relationship. And what about Antuniet? Isn't it awfully coincidental that these two cousins both love women? Well, it's worth emphasizing that Antuniet is demisexual and that her sexual orientation is better described as "Jeanne-sexual" than as lesbian or bi. So that keeps bringing us back to Jeanne as a locus of the purported unbelievably high rate of lesbians in Rotenek society.

It has been made clear in several of the stories that Jeanne actively cultivates a discreet "inner circle" of women who love women. When she made invitations to the Floodtide party at Margerit's estate in Chalanz (in The Mystic Marriage) she was very specifically inviting women who knew about and participated in this part of her life. In fact, she's probably slept with most of them at some point. This is how life works, believe it or not, especially in closeted communities.

Even so, let's look at the sixteen women who formed that party: Margerit and Barbara as hosts, of course, Jeanne as organizer. Akezze is confirmed as straight and was present because she was accompanying Margerit for the summer as tutor. Antuniet is present because Jeanne specifically asked for her to be included and she already has ties of friendship and blood to Margerit and Barbara. Seven of the other eleven women are named. Tio Perzin is attracted to women and open-minded but she's also very happily married, and her friend Iaklin has been dragged along but is very definitely straight (and perhaps a touch scandalized to find what company she's in). Four of the other named five are noted as either married or having been married in the past. This is the reality of their lives. Yes, they love women, but this is not some implausibly separate and openly queer social group. This is people making deliberate connections of affinity within a society that doesn't recognize those relationships.

Once you start breaking down the details, the "coincidence" is far from coincidental. How large is Jeanne's "inner circle"? What percentage of Rotenek's high-society sapphists does it include? And what percentage of all of Rotenek society does it encompass? Is that percentage truly unbelievable? Given the characters on which the series focuses, it it unbelievable that members of this "inner circle" would appear repeatedly?

In point of fact, of the attendees at that party who are significant continuing minor characters (i.e., excluding the four viewpoint characters) we have Akezze (straight), Tio (in a committed heterosexual relationship), Helen Penilluk (most commonly mentioned as a society hostess and not for her discreet and entirely off-page relationships with women), and Marianiz Pertrez. (A marginal character. She features in passing in Mother of Souls--on the other hand, MoS was not included in the books that generated the "too many lesbians" reaction).

Looked at another way, of all the named women who are coded in my database as being "part of Jeanne's larger social set" (i.e., excluding servants and those "not part of society", and also excluding viewpoint characters) six are lovers of women and eight are not. (Probably more in the latter category by now because I have't updated the database entirely for relationships in Mother of Souls.) If you look at all the named women that Margerit interacts with socially, I think the only lesbian/bi one that she didn't meet through Jeanne is Serafina. Too much coincidence? But the specific reason that Serafina "came out" to Margerit is because she recognized the nature of Margerit and Barbara's relationship.

So, getting back to the question of "why does it feel like all the women my characters know are lesbians," the first answer is that they aren't. Only a small proportion of them are romantically interested in women, and not all of those act on it. The second answer is that, in a closeted society, it is a very natural and expected phenomenon for queer women to form close connections with other queer women and to maintain those connections even outside the bedroom. The third answer, of course, is that within all the possible stories there are to tell in Alpennia, I have deliberately chosen to tell the stories of queer women. This is frustrating to some of my readers and I don't necessarily intend to hold to it as a permanent rule, but at the moment it's been a guiding principle and will be for at least the next two books. Could I tell part of the story from Akezze's point of view? Absolutely. Would it be interesting to see what's going on through the eyes of Anna Monterrez? Definitely. (She gets at least a novelette sometime in the future, don't worry.)

Telling the larger story through the eyes of queer women is a deliberate choice--exactly as much of a choice as telling stories through straight points of view is for most authors, even when they don't realize or admit it. Personally, I find it unbelievable how few queer women there are in many stories. Now that is implausibly coincidental.

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Daughter of Mystery The Mystic Marriage Mother of Souls

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LaForge Civil War Diaries and Correspondence: August 1864

Wednesday, January 11, 2017 - 08:00

I am regularly stunned by the beauty of the observations Abiel has the time and presence of mind to make. This one has to be one of my favorites:

It is a beautiful night. I sit and look through the open end of my tent, on a hill half a mile off the signal Corps is busy sending and receiving mesages by aid of their rockets, roman candles, and different colored lights. They have a yellow light now, waving it to and fro. Now a Roman candle begins to burn: one yellow, two green, and two blue balls come from it. Looking to the right and left I see thousands of lights: the camp fires and candles of the 6th Corps en bivouac. What a grand spectacle it is! Looking up to the throne of him who rules the universe, we behold a magnificent heaven thickly studded with bright sparkling specks, which we are told by astronomers are inhabited like our world. Doubtless they are, but it can not be proved for we are unable (though we often desire to) to soar through intervening space and visit those celestial planets, and thus solve the mystery with which they are now surrounded.

The Diary and Letters of Abiel Teple LaForge 1842-1878

Transcribed, edited, and annotated by Phyllis G. Jones (his great-granddaughter)

Copyright © 1993, Phyllis G. Jones, All rights reserved

August 1864

[PUNCTUATION AND SPELLING ARE COPIED FROM THE ORIGINALS. EDITORIAL COMMENTS ARE IN BOLD TYPE.]

DIARY

Monday Aug 1st

We're up, breakfasted, and moved on towards Frederick at five A.M. Camped with the rest of the army in a grove a mile and one half West of the city about M. [i.e., noon] I got a pass and went into town just at dark. There did not appear to be as much excitement as I expected, for the rebs were rumored to be in Maryland in large force. Bought some necessary articles and returned to camp.

Tuesday Aug 2nd 1864

Today has been cloudy and much cooler than any previous day for two weeks. Looks some like rain.

I find it impossible to write up my memorandum every day, as most of the time we are in line as soon as light and march until after dark, only making halts for rest and meals. The way I do [it] is to set simply dates in a small book, then when I have a chance write more at length on paper and send it to my loved sister, to avoid carrying what would soon be no inconsiderable addition to my load.

We expected to march at 6 O.C. this morning but did not have orders to get in line until 9. At 10 the order to march was suspended and the boys are now cooking their dinners and gambling. The latter, some of them will do as long as they have a cent of money. I guess we shall stay here all day.

Wednesday 3rd

Moved to Monocacy Mills about five miles from yesterdays camp. Forded the river and camped with the rest of the Corps about a mile from the Mills. We expect to stay here for several days and so are going to make ourselves as comfortable as possible. The wagons came up. We got our company books and are now doing the writing, which we have to neglect on the march because we do not have the necessary books. Powell and I went and had a swim and ate a chicken pie, which we bought on the way to the river. When we returned to camp we felt much better. Had to make a report for July tonight.

Thursday 4th 1864

Have been very busy all day making Descriptive Lists for my absent boys who are wounded and in hospital. I have not yet had time to finish my Ordnance Report, which I commenced at Druid Hill Park, Baltimore. If we stay here tomorrow I will try and finish it.

It is a beautiful night. I sit and look through the open end of my tent, on a hill half a mile off the signal Corps is busy sending and receiving mesages by aid of their rockets, roman candles, and different colored lights. They have a yellow light now, waving it to and fro. Now a Roman candle begins to burn: one yellow, two green, and two blue balls come from it. Looking to the right and left I see thousands of lights: the camp fires and candles of the 6th Corps en bivouac. What a grand spectacle it is! Looking up to the throne of him who rules the universe, we behold a magnificent heaven thickly studded with bright sparkling specks, which we are told by astronomers are inhabited like our world. Doubtless they are, but it can not be proved for we are unable (though we often desire to) to soar through intervening space and visit those celestial planets, and thus solve the mystery with which they are now surrounded.

Friday 5th

Orders came at 2 A.M. to be ready to move at day light. We were up and breakfasted, and the whole Division was packed up ready to move. The 1st and 2nd Divisions have had no such orders. We waited until 8 O.C. when, finding the sun pretty hot, we put up our shelters again, although the order to march has not been suspended.

Sunday 7th

Our officers' wagons came up Friday P.M. and we made ourselves comfortable as possible. Just at dark the order again came around to get in line immediately. We again packed up and sent our extras to the wagon again. Then we laid down and went to sleep. The order to fall in did not come until near midnight. Then we marched up to the old Monocacy field and bivouacked for the night on the very spot where most of our men fell that fatal day. Our brigade was ordered to make themselves comfortable for a sleep [note: the transcription has "steep" but I think this is more likely] as transportation would not be ready for us until day light (it was then 2 A.M.). Laid down.

It rained from four to eight A.M. Saturday 6th. Most of the boys got pretty wet. We did not get on the cars to follow the rest of the army until 10 A.M. Just as the cars moved off, we saw General Grant setting in front of one of the houses. We cheered him lustily. What could have brought him up here, I dont see, unless Lee is coming North again, which at present looks possible. We rode on the cars up to a mile and 1/2 west of Harpers Ferry, then left the cars, stopping until after sunset for the officers horses to come up.

While here, I saw Major Martin. He did not have the rolls of the 106th along or he would pay me, he said. We moved 1-1/2 miles farther from the Ferry and camped with the rest of the army. We have not had any order to move yet, but may before night.

[NOTE AT BOTTOM OF DIARY PAGE--I've left this entirely "as is" for reasons that should be obvious!]

Sister

Dont think hardly of mistakes for it is seldom I have a chance to look over and correct them. if you see an I that needs dotting, dot it, if a word is left out or of, put one in &c.

LETTER

Head Quarters "I" Company 106th New York Volunteers

Near Harpers Ferry. Aug. 7th 1864

Dearly loved Sister and Friends,

For a wonder, I pen this letter only about a mile from where I did the last, if I remember right. I dont know but I wrote you while we were at Frederick City. If I did, we are rather more than a mile from the place of last date. I am sure however I wrote you a letter when we were at this place before, which makes it all right.

I received yours of July 30th which informs me that my box had been received and the money expressed to the gentleman. It is as much of a disappointment to me that there is no blankets in it, as it is to you, for I put two in it when I left camp. It was not nailed up and perhaps some one borrowed them and forgot to return them. Charge the $75.00 and the expressage on the box and money to me. Preserve the trinkets and papers, also the books, and do as you see best with the clothing. If there was any clothes in my trunk, I must have out grown them by this time, so you may dispose of them also, if you have any use to put them to. [Note: this is presumably the shipment of his possessions from Camp Convalescent that he didn't want to be burdened with while on active duty.]

You need not have the least alarm for my health, for I have not had a moments sickness since I have been to the front this time, with the exception of about four hours one day which I could not account for in any other way than that I was getting lazy. It was short duration, but for the first hour or two quite severe.

The physicians theory that the health depends on regularity of rest and meals, would not hold good in the army. I have no doubt, however, that by this constant exposure we are sowing the germs of disease which will make many of us old men by the time we are out of the service. However hospitals are being established for military Invalids where we can all go if necessary, which in my case I consider very doubtful. [Note: in this context, keep in mind that Abiel died at age 36 of tuberculosis, though I don't know whether that was a consequence of hardship during the army or was contracted later.]

I am sorry your crops are so poor up that way. They are excellent here in Maryland and Western Virginia. The Rebs are trying to carry them all away South, and I grieve to say they are likely to be pretty successful. I think you people will have to go to spinning your wool and making cloth for yourselves again. I wish with you and Janey that I could be up there and gather berries with you. Ours are all gone but some very late ones; apples are taking their places however, which will do very well for a change.

Tell Josey if he don't look out I shall have to come up and conscript him for his health. Don't work too hard, however. There is no use killing yourself if you have enough for your at-present-increasing family. Has the baby a name yet, if so what is it? I think I shall have to come up and investigate that show business; tell Miss Amelia so. Mother must not worry for me for God willing I shall come home and see her again. Won't it be a joyful time when the war is over and all us old soldiers come home? [Note: Abiel spells it "sogers" and I think this may be one of his deliberately self-conscious "vernacular spellings" like "posish". I agonize a little over normalizing these, but the originals are all available in the other version of this text.] There will be so many men that the girls will begin to put on airs and say No again.

My love to Janey and Martha and Perry's people. Say to Janey, although I get many interesting letters, it does not make hers any the less acceptable.

With love, Yours

Abiel

LETTER

Head Quarters "I" Company 106th New York Volunteers

Near Strausburg Western Virginia August 14th 1864

Dear Sister and Friends,

I have just fifteen minutes before the mail goes out in which to write to you, and as it is the only chance I may have in a long time I concluded to improve it.

We are again after the Rebs, trying to chase them out of the Valley. Left camp at the Ferry, where I wrote you before on the 10th, and have been on the heels of the retreating foe ever since. Night before last we brought them to a stand here at Strausburg. I went on picket and we had a pretty warm time of it. Yesterday morning we drove them from two miles this side of the town to half a mile the other side, then we halted as we had a good place for our picket line. It was very hot and we did not fire any more than was necessary to let them know we were there. I got the men in the shade as much as possible. We were relieved at nightfall. When we saw the relief coming we concluded to wake them [i.e., the Rebs] up. So I got the men on the brow of the hill and drew the fire of the Rebs, so by the time the others came on the line we were having a sharp engagement going on. We came away laughing at the uncomfortable night we had prepared for the relief on duty. [Note: There's at least one other passage I've seen where Abiel mentions "stirring up" the enemy just before his troops are relieved, as if it were a sort of practical joke.]

The men drew three days rations and were informed that they must last four days. All our sick and wounded are to be sent to Harpers Ferry and we are to prepare for long quick marches, but I shall probably be where I can write you again at the end of the week. I have not had time this week to write up my memorandum.

The gentleman to whom Joseph sent that money has received it so that is all right.

Tell Joseph he would laugh to see the farmers plowing here. They commence in the middle of the field and plow from the centre out, instead of from the outside towards the centre. The near horse walks in the furrow, instead instead of the off one. The plough turns the furrow to the left instead of the right. All of which was new to me, as I never saw the like before. The farmers have to suffer very much. Their sheep and hogs and cows are killed to eat, and their horses are taken for Artillery wagon and riding horses. If I were them I would drive all of them to Maryland and sell them, then go North until the war is over.

I must close. Many wishes for your health and hapiness also prosperity.

Bijou

DIARY

Head Quarters "I" Company 106th N.Y. Volunteers 3rd Division 6th Corps

Near Strausburg Western Virginia Sunday August 14th 1864

As we are laying still for an hour or two, I concluded to improve the leisure by writing up my Mem[orandum]s, which I have not had time to do before this week.

Monday 8th

We laid in our camp near the Ferry all day, having an easy time. Captain Parker told me he was going to transfer me to Company F, as that Company had not lately had an officer who could control them, and it need straightening like Company I did when I took hold of them. I thanked him for the compliment but earnestly requested him not to do so, as I liked the company I had command of and did not like to go to another and have to leave those with whom I was satisfied and who I believed were satisfied with me. He promised to consider the matter and I went back to my quarters.

One of the Sergeants was there and I casually told him what they proposed to do with me. He went out and soon the tent was surrounded by my men all asking if it was true that I was going away. The truth was sorrowfull to them, I could see, and I dont believe my vanity had any thing to do with it, as I felt too bad myself to be vain. Some of them had tears in their eyes and there was some swearing at the way things were managed. They said they never had been united and at peace with one another and the rest of the regiment before, nor had an officer who would do anything for them. And now that every thing was going along smoothly, they thought it was too bad.

After supper Captain Parker told me that they had got together and sent the Sergeants down to him with a petition from the whole company not to transfer me to another company, and he, in consideration of their feelings and mine, had concluded not to do so. I could not help feeling proud when I had such evidence of the feeling of the company toward me, because when I took command, Captain Paine who was then commanding the Regiment told me they were the worst company in the Regiment to manage or get along with. So that matter is settled.

Tuesday 9th

We stayed in camp all day. The wagon came up and we got our books and sent off some necessary papers. I sent my Ordnance Reports. Hope they are right. They are the first I ever made out and it is possible mistakes occur in them.

Wednesday 10th

Had orders to be ready to march at four A.M. Drew some clothing in the night and issued them. Marched at five towards Charlestown. Expected to find the enemy there, but did not. It was grand, just as we came out into the plain before the town, to see the heads of three other columns appear at equal distances along and wind cautiously toward one center. Our Cavalry soon found the Rebs gone and dashed on in pursuit. We followed.

The day became intensely hot. Some men droped down and died in a short time; sunstrokes were constantly occuring. We had to rest frequently and finaly halted for the night at 2-1/2 P.M. but more loss has been sustained by the service in this one days march, than if we had been engaged in a good hard fight all day. Our loss in men would not have been near so large.

Our camp for the night was three miles from Berriesville. There was a flock of sheep on the ground when we came up. In less than 20 minutes, every one was dead and soon to make mutton for our suppers. Our boys will forage when they get in this state. We had a thunder shower, which cooled off the air and made the P.M. pleasant.

Thursday 11th

Started towards Winchester at 7 A.M. Our brigade is rearguard today and marched with the train to protect it from Moseby or the Reb Cavalry. It was very hot, but we marched slowly and did not suffer from heat so much. Stoped near Winchester for dinner. Stayed in the woods two hours, then turned to the left as the Rebs had left the town. So we turned off towards Newtown, marched five or six miles, and camped near where our cavalry came on their rear guard and engaged them in the A.M.

The clouds threatened a heavy rain, but nothing but wind was the result. (Like most threatenings.) We camped in a field of high grass. Some one got it on fire in cooking his supper. It was so dry and the wind blew so hard that at first it could not be subdued, and for a time I thought we were to be burned out, but so many got at it that it had to sucomb. Had all of us all the honey we could eat this afternoon. This is quite a honey country. Rested well, being very tired.

Friday 12th

Advanced through Newtown and Middletown. The Rebs had made a stand three miles from the latter place with their picket on the West bank of Cedar Creek. The army halted and our picket was sent out. As it was my turn, I had charge of the detail from this regiment. We crossed the creek [and] went up it to the right. The officer of the day gave me orders to deploy and occupy a hill, to see if the enemy were there. I did so, charged up the hill, established our lines etc. He gave orders to keep the men all awake, but after our hard days march that would be impossible, so I divided into fours on the line. Number 1 of each four was to watch the first, 2 the second, and so on. I took turns in keeping awake with another 1st Lieutenant who was with me but my junior. Passed the night tolerably.

[Note: I keep noticing a lot of little actions like the one about the rotating watch, where Abiel finds a middle way between strict discipline and human frailty. Also the way he "leads from the front" during combat. I have to think that these behaviors are a significant cause of the respect and popularity he has from his men.]

Saturday 13th

We were out of rations so got a breakfast of green corn roasted and green apples, then the order came to advance the lines. The left was used as the pivot, while the right of the line--two miles off--had to make a big swing to the left. We advanced in splendid style; the line was well kept. The extreme right where I was had to swing [a] full five miles. We came out on the hills above Strausburg and our line was most lovely. Our left was on the Winchester Pike and as the line swung, they kept coming out of the woods in splendid line. It was grand to look from the right, away two & 1/2 miles to the left across the hills and valleys, and see the line all advancing.

We moved up to the brow of the hills above the town and looked down upon it. The Rebs were slowly going down the other side. There was a fine little plain below us, then on the other side another rainge of hills. The Rebel line formed, supported by their whole army, which we could see was in the woods in there by the smoke. We were too far off to make firing very dangerous, but some of the crack shots on both sides putting large charges of powder in their guns, made some good shots.

As we had been living on corn and apples all day, word was sent in by the officer of the day for us to be relieved. For the deviltry of it, we thought we would ensure the wakefullness of those who came to relieve us. We determined to get up a grand fusillade when the relief deployed to take our places. It was just dusk when they came up. I deployed my line on the hill, as the rest of the officers [had] done. We drew the fire of the line upon us and returned it with great vim, so that when the relief took the line it was with the conviction that they were in a very dangerous place. They "had at them" in grand style. They returned their fire from near half a mile off, but it was now so dark that the new picket could not judge of the distance, and no doubt thought they were within a short distance of Mr. Reb.

We marched back to camp, which was now on the same side of Cedar Creek that we were. We had just arrived at camp and lain down when when the bugle sounded "fall in" and the army was moved back to the East side of Cedar Creek. We got into posish [i.e., position] and I laid down and went to sleep almost as soon as I touched the ground. It was near midnight. I had slept but three hours the night before had been on hard duty for four days, so I was pretty much used up.

Sunday 14th

Today we have drawn three days rations and orders have been issued that they must last four days. All our sick are to to be sent back to the Ferry in the wagons emptied by the issue of rations and we are looking for some unusually hard service by the tone of the orders. Our picket line fell back last night to the posish [i.e., position] they held yesterday morning. This shows we are not to fight them on the ground they held yesterday. It was very strong.

Tuesday 16th

Sunday night orders came around to be ready to move at a moments notice as the picket was to be advanced again, and if they met too strong a resistance we were to charge and make room for them. They advanced to our old line on the hills above Strausburg without much resistence, except when the move first began. We were not called out. Monday [the] 15th we policed our camp's dug sinks and made things as comfortable as possible for a short stay. In the afternoon considerable cannonading was going on up by the town. We could not distinguish whether it was our guns or those of the enemy. Just at night, orders came arround to make ready for an attack, as there was a probability of one being made on us by the foe. The night passed quietly, however. Our boys got all the honey yesterday they could eat. A gentleman a mile from here has some 40 hives of splendid honey.

Friday Aug 19th

Near Charleston Virginia. Tuesday 16th very pleasant. Our camp began to look finely, being nicely laid out. At sundown while I was eating supper, the officers call was blown and I repaired to Head Quarters. The orders were to have our men pack up and be ready to march at 8-1/2 O.C. P.M.--not to strike tents until after dark, so that the movement could not be seen by the lookouts of the enemy on top of the Shenandoah mountains.

I knew we were to retreat, for we had reliable information the Rebs had been reinforced by Longstreets Corps, which would swell their number to much larger than ours, and if we remained here we were likely to be attacked and beaten at any time. Some of our train, which had been sent to Harpers Ferry, had been taken and burned by the enemy and prisoners had been captured. So back we must go.

We started at 9 P.M. The night was very fine. Being bright moonlight, we could see to march as well as during the day. The difficulty was we would get so sleepy. I would run against a tree or man, sometimes bringing myself up with a start, and find I had been walking and sleeping at the same time. When we halted for a moment I would lay down on the ground and find myself assleep in less than 1/2 a minute. Our line of march was through MIddletown and Newtown to Winchester which place we reached and camped for breakfast at 7 O.C. A.M. on [The text is interrupted but I suspect is meant to continue straight into the heading for the next day. It looks like Abiel wrote these entries on the 19th, backtracking to the 16th.]

Wednesday 17th

After eating, we slept until 11 AM. then took up the line of march through the town and down the pike to Berreysville. We stopped half way between the two towns at 3-1/2 O.C. for dinner and did not march any farther that day. The enemy crowded us closely and we could hear the picket sharply engaged, but they did not think it prudent to be too pressing in their attentions. I went down to the creek and took a good wash. A cavalry man was down with his horse, which he left to graze while bathing. After his master was prepared for the bath, Mr. Horse took it into his head to go back to camp and started, followed by his master trying to stop him. Horse would not listen to pursuasion and he would be taken out of the fellow's pay if he lost him, so he had to follow him away up to camp clothed only in the covering nature gave him. I could not help laughing at his remark of "Aint this a d--n pleasant perdicament boys!" I thought it must be. [Note: I have left the cavalryman's charming exclamation in the original. "Perdicament" may be another of Abiel's deliberate representations of dialect.]

We slept soundly, having been two days and a night without sleep and marching 24 hours of that time. on

Thursday 18th

We were up at four, had breakfast and started at five, or six. It commenced raining at 7 A.M. Rained by times all day. The fields through which we had to march--so as to give the road to the wagons, which had to keep with us to prevent being captured--were slippery and sticky, making very hard marching. So when we reached this place (Charleston) we were very tired. We passed the place where our train was burned by the guerillas. Stopped for dinner in the same place we stayed all night on the 10th going up. Got here at 8 P.M. Had a little supper and went to bed, sleeping well.

Monday 22nd

On Friday 19th we laid in camp all day and getting our much needed rest. There was a good deal of whiskey in camp and several attempts at fighting. One of my men, who has a brother in "B" Company, got himself into a very bad scrape by going and cutting the rope with which said brother had been bound to a tree, then resisting the guard send to arrest him for the offence. I had to make out charges aganst him for Conduct prejudicial to good order and Military discipline, and also "Mutiny." He was then sent to the Provost guard to remain under arrest until tried for the offence.

Saturday 20th

No movement today. We got a large mail, which was very acceptable. Our brigade, which was camped closed in mass, has been extended so as to be in a much better position, and not so crowded. It has been comfortably cool ever since the rain of the 18th. Not much trouble sleeping. What a blessing it is that there are no mosquitos in this country to bother a fellow. Our lives would be a torment if there was.

Sunday 21st

The enemy advanced and attacked our picket line about 8 A.M. We thought it would be nothing but a skirmish at first, but the persistant way in which they pressed our lines showed a determination to develop our whole strength. We struck tents and got in line very quick.

The generals seemed to have considerable difficulty in determining where our line of battle should rest. After going through battallion drill in the woods we finally got into position, the 8th Corps joining our left and the 1st Division 6th Corps our right. Our regiment hapened--for a wonder--to be in the rear line. We were shelled for a while pretty smartly without doing much damage.

The line in our front built a line of breastworks. They cannot be built with as much ease as they could near Richmond. There a pick was necessary only once in a while. Here the ground has to be picked before it can be shoveled.

At four P.M. the 106th was sent out to support our advance of the picket line. The advance was not made until 6 P.M. then the regt was marched by the flank through a cornfield, which was in the rear of our picket line. The Rebs had full range of the field with their rifles and the bullets flew arround our heads too close to be comfortable. One passed close to my head and between two corporals of my company. One of them fell on his knees and I thought he was wounded but he was not.

We went up to the picket line. In front of them was a hill. On the top of this was a stone wall running clear across the field. Behind this lay the rebs and to drive them from it was our object. Our line was formed with orders to advance to the top of the hill and lay down and hold it a short time. This perhaps would drive them from the wall. Up we went. I saw the officers on the right wing get behind their companies, so I stepped out in front of mine. When we reached the top of the hill, the men delivered a volley, the object of which I could not see, and then laid down. [Note: One can't help seeing a sort of boastfulness when Abiel mentions things like "the otehr officers were behind their companies so I stepped out in front of mine", but given the deadly hazard of the conditions, I think a little boasting is warranted. I wonder if he will at some point give his thoughts outright on good leadership behavior.]

I have heard the bullets whistle, I thought, thick enough, but the shower that was poured on us surpassed anything I ever heard. The grass was mowed around us, and twelve men fell in two seconds. To remain in such a fire was murder. The men commenced giving. I could see the necessity of the move, but feared it would become a panic, so I sat still and told the men to do the same. Five or six did so, and fired back at the enemy in good earnest. The bullets flew still faster.

The commanding officer of the regiment reformed the line behind the brow of the hill and motioned for me to come back. Just as I started to do so, a bullet hit the side of my hat, setting it a little to one side without going through it, nothing but a glancing shot. Two inches to the right and it would not have hit me at all; two inches to the left and I should not have been writing this account. I thank God it was not the last.

We saw it would be useless to remain where we were as we could do no good, and the Rebs by a slight advance could sweep us, so we were ordered to fall back. We brought off all our men but one dead. We would have got him, but did not know he was dead until the line fell back. Two killed and 8 or 10 wounded was the casualties and this was done the first 1/4 minute on the hill.

We came in to the same place in the second line we were before, stacked arms, and laid down. My servant came up with some supper for me, but I was so tired and sleepy I could noy eat. I drank a cup of coffee and laid down again. At 11 P.M. we had orders to be ready to move at a moments notice. Did not move until 1 O.C. A.M.

Monday 22nd

We then went out on the Harpers Ferry Pike and--moving down through Charleston and Hallstown--to our position of one week ago, near the first named place on the same ground we started from to go on this raid. Up the Shenandoah Valley. The results of which have been so meagre--we lost some four hundred men on it, and captured a like number of the enemy. We destroyed part of their wagon train and they destroyed part of ours, so it is about an even thing.

The enemy followed us very closely, for we had hardly got into position when they began to engage our left. Considerable firing and canonading was going on, but it did not last long. Firing at intervals all day. This P.M. was a very heavy rain. Captain Robinson was in my tent when it commenced, and we were laughing to see the rest of the tents blow down, when all at once my tent began to show signs of weakness. We, like the rest, tried to hold it up, but it soon got the best of us and down it came. We could not put up again, so ran and got behind a tree until the worst was over. This did not take place in 1/2 an hour, so we were well soaked. Disagreeable as it was, I doubt if anything would have made more fun in camp. All was jollity and laughter.

LETTER

Head Quarters "I" Company 106th New York Volunteers

Near Harpers Ferry August 22nd 1864

My dear Sister,

I have been prevented from writing my usual weekly letter at the usual time by the pressing calls made upon my attention by the Rebs. Although I like you very much better than I do them, still when they claim my attention they have to be attended to before even my dear sister. By the delay they have occasioned, I have been prevented from writing to you until I find by measurement I am sitting exactly five soldier steps from where I set when I wrote you before from this place. But since then how we have traveled! Away up to Strausburg, nestled in its mountain home. How pretty it looked the morning we drove the enemy from the hills above it. I felt as if a great sin was being committed in making so pretty and quiet a place the theatre of strife, but such are the stern neccesity of war: no respect can be shown secluded cot or noisy town. Wherever the passions of men bring them togather in opposition, there must be carnage,

"E'en if in Eden."

How often I have thought of home and you. When--in some fight--a quiet homestead is used by one party or the other as a temporary fortification, to see timid women and children crouching in the cellar and looking up to us strong men for protection, who could harm them or refuse those mute appealing looks? None but brutes. I would think, "What if these bloody scenes were laid in our Northern homes? Those women were my sisters? What should I think of the man who would refuse his protection?" Oh! How glad I am that you know nothing of the horrors of war. The field of battle does not contain one half the horror--even with all its carnage. It is when the fight is over, one feels it most. The heart after the excitement seems open to the softening influence of sorrow. And then to look on the burning dwellings of the people, to see the inmates flying from them without their household goods [note: the transcript has "household gods" but I feel rather safe in emending it], to wander homeless refugees until they gain the roof of some charitable person, when but a few hours before they were enjoying all the blessings of "home sweet home." These, with other scenes I dare not describe to you, make up the worst of war. I knew nothing of war until I came out this summer, comparatively speaking. I have seen it in its worst features while on these several raids through Maryland and Virginia. [Note: Despite Abiel's occasional reference to a southern civilian as a "Sesesh", for the most part he seems to make a very strong division in his mind between civilian and military, with a great deal of sympathy for the former, but a great deal of (perhaps necessary) objectification of the latter. I do, of course, wince a little at the gender essentialism in Abiel's chivalric impulses, but come on, it's the mid 19th century.]

Poor Virginia! Nature has made thy climate, soil, and mineral wealth as if intending thee for the Eden of America, and only the black curses of slavery and war prevents thy being such.

I wish, with you, that I could be up there and and have a good talk with you all. It seems as if the pen was a very insufficient way of expressing one's thoughts. It is too slow and laborious. But if we were together, I think we could spend several hours and evenings in grand enjoyment, simply by using our first invented method of conveying ideas.

Tuesday 23rd

Dear sister,

I guess the blotting of my paper will show why it is that I have delayed finishing my letter until today. I had to put it up on account of the heavy rain yesterday. The wind blew my tent down, and the rain did the rest. I could not put it up aganst the wind, so I had to take shelter behind a tree until it was over. I got thoroughly drenched, I tell you. Then this morning we got orders to pack up, get our breakfasts, and be ready to move or fight at 4 A.M. It is now past 7 and no move or attack yet, so I concluded to write you, as perhaps I might have a chance to send it yet today. I am feeling first rate, whereas if I had been home I should have a very bad cold today, for I slept with wet clothes and feet last night without any covering, and it was pretty cold.

I am mighty well pleased to hear so good an account of the baby, especially if he is to be named after his uncle. Now if you have the slightest idea that the name does not please Joseph don't name the boy Abiel for anything. I think Oscar A. Potter looks very well, but the middle name is not a musical one. I don't blame him for not wanting to eat from a spoon, and consider it an evidence of his precocity--while yet so young--to know what is what. [Note: I'm a bit startled by the reference to feeding the baby from a spoon, given that he's only three months old!]

Give my love to Dear mother and Janey also the Potter Brothers, and families. I sent my commission home last week, did you get it? I send you some letters this time which you may [Illegible]

[Last line not copied well] love

DIARY

Near Harpers Ferry August 24th 1864

Our present camp is in a very fine position on the top and side of a hill covered with beautiful oaks and chestnuts. My quarters is beneath the spreading branches of a fine old forest monarch. The trunk forms the back of my house and the branches, my shelter. I have a fine "hard tack" table and on [it] eat and use it for my desk. I am at work on the company rolls so have lots of business.

Thursday 25th

Heavy canonading today. Our Division not engaged. I received a rich letter from Mrs. S. Annie Wallace. She first wrote me to ask some question about M. Carton, she now continues it for other reasons. She is a gay correspondant, however, and I don't object, so long as she don't.

Friday 26th

The enemy made a very heavy attack just at sundown, just like they do before falling back. I wonder if that is their intention now. Lee needs them at Petersburg to dislodge the 5th Corps from the Weldon Rail Road.

Saturday 27th

All quiet along the lines today. No cannon or small arms. Had a letter from Father and one from O. L. Barney. Father is well in health and doing well in worldly matters, on account of having a wife that is a help meet, instead of a "help eat". Barney is expecting to be drafted and wants to know what the price of substitutes is down here. Also about getting a position as Assistant. Seargeant in the army. Talks some of joining my company as private. Congratulates me on my promotion to 1st Lieutenant. Appears to be glad etc.

Sunday 28th

We were ordered to be ready to move at 3 A.M. Got up, had breakfast, went to sleep again, and did not start until 9 A.M. It was a fine morning and to see the three heads of the three Divisions of our Corps cross the breastworks and wind across the open fields like three huge serpents was grand. We moved into a piece of woods about three miles from our old position and closed in mass. Stacked arms and sat down, expecting it was the 10 minutes rest which it is customary to give us after every hours march. I went to reading and we finaly got dinner, after which the Chaplain of the 87th P[ennsylvania?] V[olunteers?] concluded to improve the opportunity and preach in a sermon. A romantic one, it was, the text being where our Savior speaks of the two men, one building his house on the sand and the other on the rock. As if to add solemnity to the already impressive scene, heavy clouds began to rise over the distant Alleghenies, and the far off low muttering of thunder was heard. The fitful breeze sighed through the trees over our heads, like the whispering of discontented spirits. The men gathered around the man of God and, with uncovered heads, drank in the words of Salvation which flowed from his lips.

As if to raise an opportunity, the artillery of heaven which was still heard away in the distant bank of clouds, our artillery which was with the cavalry on the heels of the enemy, opened and it echoed from mountain to mountain like the complainings of great giants. [Note: Abiel's poetics have left me a bit confused here.] What a contrast: a few miles from us we could hear the evidence of men engaged in deadly strife thirsting for each other's blood, and by our side stands a man preaching peace and good will among mankind. How well could we carry out the doctrine of peace and love. The chaplain had not yet concluded his remarks when the bugle sounded "fall in", "forward", and he had to come to an abrupt close.

And we resumed the march to Charleston and camped on our old camp ground of last Sunday, where we fought, as soon as we stopped. And Lieutenant Cox of Company A started for the scene of our action of last sunday, where one of his men was killed, but not buried. [Note: This is perhaps the one he mentioned not being retrieved because they hadn't realized, during the retreat, that he'd been shot.] The place was 3/4 of a mile in front of our pickets line, and I must confess to feeling, somewhat disagreeably, that we should not go so far from support. But our errand was a humane one and on we went. When we came to the foot of the hill up which we charged and thought "if the Rebs are on the old line and we go up there, we are gone up" I fixed my revolver where I could use it in a second and took the lead up the hill.

How different my feelings from what they were before on the same ground! Then I felt all the nerve and excitement of battle, and now very much like some charmed person walking directly into a danger which I had every warning aganst and was not able to resist. But the Rebs were not on their old line. There was still the battered stone wall, behind which they lay so securely that day. On the spot where Colton was killed a grave had been dug, but never filled.

Where could he have been taken? We were turning away, giving up the search, when we saw another grave at the foot of an old Locust tree. Just up to the right stood a house which had been made a sieve of by the Rebels shells that day. We walked up that way. A couple of girls met us half way, coming to tell us what kind of a man was buried where we were looking. We walked with them and were met by the lady of the house and a very handsome young lady of "sweet sixteen." She informed us that her father buried all our soldiers. They were stripped by the Rebels. Five were burried in their dooryard, which had boards at their heads, not having had their clothes taken by the inhuman brutes. She also told us (with a pretty blush) that their next neighbor and his daughter had buried some of our dead which had been stripped and left by our chivalrous foe. To think of a lovely woman helping her aged father bury our naked dead. No false modesty in that lady; she will make a jewel of a wife. [Note: I find it interesting that a soldier who merely kills the enemy is to be expected, but one that strips the body after death--presumbly because they had desperate need of the clothing, because why else go to the trouble?--is an "inhuman brute".]

We returned to camp and sent out some men to put a head board over Colton's grave. He was the only dead left by us, and of course we knew the names of no others. Just at dark, had another romantic sermon: "What shall I do to be saved" Our light in this case was the lurid gleam of some of the burning Secesh [i.e., "successionist"] houses of Charleston. I thought that town--some of it--would be in danger if we ever came through it again, for they are most bitter secesh. Religion almost seemed a mockery in this case, for such contrasts are fearful.

Monday 29th

Last night we slept in camp here. Today word was sent around that we were likely to stay a day or two and to put our camp in order. We did so. Got things to looking finely by about two hours from sundown. At that time the canonading, which had been going on several miles in our front, began to grow rapidly nearer and soon was within a mile of our front. Our (Ricket's) Division was ordered out to support the cavalry. We soon reached and deployed on the ground held by them and at once took the offensive. The 2nd Brigade deployed as skirmishers and we followed to support them. Charging at a rapid rate for over three miles, the Rebs fled before us in fine style. Our loss was slight. Darkness prevented us from pursuing them farther and we were ordered to retrace our steps 1/2 the distance and establish ourselves where we could support the advanced line. Now we are going to sleep.

Tuesday 30th

Laid in camp all day without much to do. My bones begin to feel like I imagine a man following the usual "ways of life" would feel at the age of forty. This constant exposure will give us a rheumatic heritage.

Wednesday 31st

Finished my rolls and was mustered today. The commanding officer says they [are] splendidly made out. Thinks the rolls of Company "E" are a little ahead of them. I am entitled to ($310.00) three hundred & ten dollars on these rolls and have pretty near two hundred dollars coming to me besides that. I dont know when I shall get out. Hope to this fall. I am to take command of Company "F" tomorrow. I hate to, but all of the officers think it best, so there is no help for it as I see. 3/4 of the Regiment went on picket tonight.

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Transcribed, edited, and annotated by Phyllis G. Jones (his great-granddaughter)

Copyright © 1993, Phyllis G. Jones, All rights reserved

September 1-19, 1864

DIARY Thursday September 1st 1864

LETTER

Head Quarters "F" Company 106th New Yprl Volunteers 1st Brigade 3rd Division 6th Corps.

September 1st 1864

LETTER

Picket Line Near Clifton. Sunday 11th September 1864

Transcribed, edited, and annotated by Phyllis G. Jones (his great-granddaughter)

Copyright © 1993, Phyllis G. Jones, All rights reserved

August 1864

LETTER

Head Quarters "I" Company 106th New York Volunteers

Near Harpers Ferry. Aug. 7th 1864

LETTER

Head Quarters "I" Company 106th New York Volunteers

Near Strausburg Western Virginia August 14th 1864

LETTER

Head Quarters "I" Company 106th New York Volunteers

Near Harpers Ferry August 22nd 1864

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