Diary of a Refugee

Diary of a Refugee, edited by Frances Hewitt Fearn, is a powerful and personal account of one Southern woman’s journey through the chaos of the War of Northern Aggression. Forced to flee h…

Diary of a Refugee, edited by Frances Hewitt Fearn, is a powerful and personal account of one Southern woman’s journey through the chaos of the War of Northern Aggression. Forced to flee her Louisiana home as Union forces advanced, the author recounts her travels across Texas, Mexico, Cuba, and finally to Europe, capturing the emotional and physical toll of life as a refugee.

Written with wit, resilience, and striking attention to detail, this diary offers readers a rare perspective on how the war affected civilians—particularly women of the South. Through moments of hardship, displacement, and cultural encounters abroad, she reflects on home, identity, and the changing world around her.

More than just a travelogue, Diary of a Refugee is a vivid window into a lost time, filled with sharp observation, humanity, and the enduring spirit of a woman determined to survive and preserve her way of life.