Letters From the Periphery

This is the story of the Drandets, a peaceful family, caught in the throes of the Civil War. The Drandet sisters were wealthy and well-educated for their time. The sisters’ letters draw us, the readers, in because they are so revealing of the times in which they were living. Although at times the language may seem a bit stilted, nonetheless we are made privy to the emotions of these women. We feel their pain and joy through their steady communication with each other.

These sisters express their views on God, family, love, fame and their roles as women in a patriarchal society as well as expounding their attitudes as secessionists and abolitionists during the Civil War.

I am the great, great niece of these sisters and felt their letters should be shared for all who care to enjoy them. For me, this is a look into social history without reading a boring textbook. It is history come alive from real people writing about their lives and how the war impacted them on a daily basis.

The best part for me is that they never lost hope and remained peaceful throughout the country’s long, four-year ordeal. I am proud of them. I now give you the letters of Elizabeth in New York City and Mary in Charleston.