by Lucia, Julie
It seems you told everyone but me,” said Johanna.
“If you wouldn’t have left Harrisburg in such a hurry, I would have told you myself,” he said.
“You could have told me when you hijacked my carriage,” she said.
“I just thought you knew,” he answered.
“No, you just insisted that I loved you,” she said.
“I wasn’t wrong,” said David.
“No, you were not,” she smiled.
“And that one?” he pointed to the last rock she held.
“This one, oh, it seems rough on the outside, but,” she opened up the rock to show its beauty, ‘a treasure to behold.’ This represented you,” she smiled.
”You didn't realize until now that I am a treasure?” he mocked.
”Oh, I knew you were something,” she smiled. They both laughed. “Want to help me do the honors?” She handed him one.
“Of course,” They each took a rock and skipped it into the pond. At the end of the pond’s shore, a dragonfly whizzed by inhaling the sweet scent of swamp lilies. “Let's keep this one just in case you forget how valuable I am.” He held up the small geode. She laughed.
“Have you heard from your uncle?” asked David.
“Not recently. I know he is safe. Aunt Mary writes and keeps me informed without divulging any information of his whereabouts,” said Johanna.
“I am sorry this conflict has been so hard on you,” said David seriously.
“I just want it to be over. It saddens me that there are those who are fighting against friends and family,” she said.
“I know. We will make it through this,” said David trying to assure her. “I will keep you safe here in Harrisburg, no matter the cost.”
“I do love you, Mr. McPherson,” said Johanna smiling again. She then turned to him and searched his handsome face, “are you happy?”
He kissed her softly and then whispered in her ear, “Ever since I captured my Southern Beauty.”
Author’s Note
Southern Beauty is based on a loose interpretation of history. I spent many years researching the end of the antebellum era and the beginning of the civil war.
Robert E. Lee did have family that fled to Paris, France, because of financial ruin, although they did not have a daughter named Johanna.
Mary Custiss-Lee left Arlington and fled to Ravensworth but it wasn’t until after her husband accepted the commission as a major general of the Confederate Army. For the story I needed her to have left much earlier. General Lee did not have a place in South Carolina, and there is no record of him ever visiting the South before his resignation.
General P.G.T. Beauregard was stationed at Ft. Sumter and did have a son, Rene. Rene was about 19 when the Civil War broke out. He did not have a twin sister.
The Beauregard family was from New Orleans where at the time lived the famous Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau, and her daughter. Marie was a hairdresser to the elite. It is believed by listening to her patron’s gossip and instilling fear in their servants is how she became so powerful. You have to think, if she knew everyone in town, then I am sure she did know the Beauregard family.
As for the cigar box, there was actually Lee’s battle plans found wrapped around cigars by a private in the Union before the battle of Antietam at an abandoned Confederate campsite.
If you are still curious about other historical facts in Southern Beauty, I suggest the following;
Nationalcivilwarmuseum.org
Civilwar-online.com (Mary Jeffreys Bethel diary)
Confederatemuseum.com
Bkhouse.org (Beauregard-Keyes House)
Civiwarwomenblog.com
Nps.gov/fosu/index.htm
