A Virginia Girl in the Civil War, 1861-1865 being a record of the actual experiences of the wife of a Confederate officer

"A Virginia Girl in the Civil War, 1861-1865" by Myrta Lockett Avary is a memoir chronicling a young woman’s life as the wife of a Confederate officer during the Civil War. The narrative recounts her privileged upbringing in Norfolk, Virginia, filled with family, friends, and a lively social scene, before the war's shadow descends. As the Civil War commences, the memoir transitions to the protagonist's personal conflict as her husband prepares for war, revealing the naive optimism of the time. This shift foreshadows the looming themes of loss, resilience, and the war's impact on family and community.