PEA RIDGE (KFSM) – A Confederate soldier’s diary was donated to the musuem at the Pea Ridge Military Park, according to supervisor Troy Banzhaf.
Banzhaf said the great-great grandchildren of William Vaughn, a member of the Missouri State Guard, dropped the diary off a couple weeks ago. The grandchildren said the diary had been in their family for over 150 years.
Banzhaf said the artifact is special to the musuem, because it will be the first Confederate diary the park has. He said they currently have two Union soldier diaries.
“It’s important to the park, mainly because it helps fill in part of the story, especially the first hand account that we get, being homesick, being away from home, being lonely just the day in and day out drudgery of being a solider during the American Civil War,” Banzhaf said.
The park ranger said the diary will be put on temporary display on March 7, the anniversary of the Battle of Pea Ridge. He said it will be on display for 2-3 months, then will be taken to a conservator to see if it has been preserved properly.
Banzhaf said they plan on having copies of the diary available to visitors, so they can read passages as they are looking at it in the case.
