Berry, Stephen and Angela Esco Elder, eds. Practical Strangers: The Courtship Correspondence of Nathaniel Dawson and Elodie Todd, Sister of Mary Todd . Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2017.

Courtship, 21ff Another man interested in her, 22 Women greet the soldiers at the railroad stations, 22-23 Music, 25 Fears divisions in , 27 Asserts right to marry person of one’s choice in age of secession and independence, 33 Fears of fighting Kentucky, 33-34 Dance, 34 Worries about his safety, 35 Courtship, 35 Wants her to express her feelings toward him, 37 Women visit the camp each evening, 37 Camp routine, 38 Harpers Ferry, 40ff Short war, no subjugation, 40-41 Anxious for her to be his wife, 43 Only devoted to her welfare, she cannot write too often, 45 Threats of war in Kentucky, 47 Letters, 48 Harpers Ferry, 52-53 Her mother and their marriage, 54 Arms, 57-58 Nature of their love, 59 Political career, 61 Kentucky, 61 Cadets singing, music, 62 Importance of letters, 62-63 Wants a marriage soon, death, 67-68 Union prayer meeting, 71 Women crying over departed soldiers, 71 Selma, 72 Letters, 73 Pre-battle letter, 75-76 Limited society in Selma, 78 News of their engagement, 78 Professional ambitions, 81 Kentucky neutrality, 82-83 Does not want an army life, politics, for him, 83 Flirtation, 87-88 Bernard Bee, 95 Concert for raising money for soldiers, 97 Lincoln, 101-2 War, sorrow, bravery, 102-3 Winchester, 105ff Lincoln, 107 Optimism about the war, 108, 112 Concert for soldiers, 113 Letters, 114 Manassas, 137-38, 141-44 Mary Lincoln, 139 Lincoln, Vallandigham, 140 Pride, battle, she thinks him a great man, 146 Manassas, officer, 148-49 Rumor, 150 Women shooting a pistol, 158 Lincoln as Republican tool, 159 Speculation about peace, 163 Marriage, 164 Sermon, chaplain, 164 Disease, demoralization, 167 Lincoln, length of the war, 174 Head wounded, 178-79 Manassas, 180-81, 185, 195 Women patriotism, 188 Marriage, age, 197 Dumfries, 199 et passim Music, 201-2 Manassas, 202 Kentucky, 203 Jefferson Davis, plans to attack Washington, 203 Women in camp, 204-5 Concert for soldiers, 207 Camp life, 214 Cincinnati, vigilance committee, women, 222 Music, tableaux, 227 Officer election, 235-36 Refugees, 240-41 Women’s societies, disadvantages, 243 Theophilus Holmes, 248 Selma, 249 Salt speculators, 256 Soldiers clothing allowance, 266 Women, sewing, hospitals, 266 McClellan and Lincoln, 270 Charleston fire, 273 Lincoln, 273 Dranesville, 276, 279 Alcohol, 279 , blockade, 280 Social hostility in Selma, 282 , 285 et passim Tableaux, 288, 290 Lincoln, 292 Reenlistment, 293 Women and society, 298 Surprise parties, 298 Jefferson Davis, 312 Conscription, 316, 318