Harriet "Hattie" Foster Hawes (1854-1841) was born in Derby Line, Vermont to Austin Theophilus Foster (1822-1900) and Sara Hurd Gilman Foster (1830-1910). Harriet married Frank Mortimer Hawes in 1877 and had 3 children, Austin Foster Hawes (1879-1962), Richard Withington Hawes (1886-1960), and Sally Gilman Hawes Currier (1890-1977).
This diary was kept by 10 year old Hattie from March 5 to April 24, 1865. Hattie writes about the weather, visitations from family and friends, deaths and sicknesses in her community, and attending dancing school and other social events. Hattie comments on the Civil War, including the fall of Richmond, the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, and the attempted assassination of William H. Seward and his son Augustus Henry Seward. The latter part of the diary contains various poems written in Hattie's hand. Included is a letter from her cousin Anna to Hattie and Maria.