Emma Balfour: a ball, a siege, and a diary

VICKSBURG, Miss. by Evan Winschel (VDN) — On Dec. 24, 1862, a chill settled over the hills of Vicksburg as the Mississippi River churned under stormy skies, foreshadowing the turmoil to come. Despite the foreboding weather, seasonal celebrations were in full swing at the home of Dr. William T. Balfour and his wife, Emma.

It was Emma who insisted that they host their annual ball to celebrate not only the Christmas holidays, but also the recent victory over Union forces in north Mississippi. She hoped it would further heighten the spirits of their friends and the soldiers garrisoned in and around the city. The women donned their finest gowns, while the men enthusiastically engaged in lively conversations with one another. The light reflecting from the crystal chandeliers shimmered and danced around the rooms amongst the carefree revelers.

Amongst those in attendance at the Balfour’s home were senior officers of the Confederate army stationed in Vicksburg, including Major General Martin Luther Smith and Brigadier General Stephen D. Lee.

Meanwhile, Confederate troops at Lake Providence were beginning to sound the alarm of Union troops making their way to Vicksburg. Civilian telegraph operator Philip H. Fall immediately sought the quickest way across the river. Rushing to the river bank, he jumped into a small skiff and rowed it toward the bluffs of the city. Once his feet were back on solid ground, he rushed through the mud and the muck up Vicksburg’s notoriously steep hills before finally bursting through the Balfour’s door. Shock reverberated throughout the house at the unexpected site of the unkempt and exhausted Fall. He was given a wide berth as he made his way through the crowd to Major General Smith. Once Fall had relayed the news, General Smith loudly announced, “This ball is at an end! The enemy is coming downriver!”

Two days later, on Dec. 26, the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou erupted just north of Vicksburg, marking the city’s first direct confrontation with the Union Army. While Confederate forces repelled the attack, the Union would not be denied its long-sought prize: Vicksburg, the key to the south.

As the siege began, those who remained in Vicksburg found themselves trapped. Many sought shelter in the hand-carved caves dotting the hillsides. Emma Balfour and her family initially took refuge in one of those caves, but found the stifling conditions unbearable.

“As all this [the shelling] rushed over me and the sense of suffocation from being underground, the certainty that there was no way of escape, that we were hemmed in, caged, for one moment my heart seemed to stand still,” she later wrote. “Then my faith and courage rose to meet the emergency, and I have felt prepared ever since and cheerful… I preferred to risk danger in a house rather than in a cave with so many.”

Balfour survived the siege and Union occupation to resume a normal life in Vicksburg until her death in 1886. Both her and her husband are buried in the Cedar Hill cemetery.

Emma Balfour’s diary, her personal account of monumental events and the effect on everyday life, remains a crucial historical record of the siege. Her words offer invaluable insight into the turmoil and hardships endured by citizens caught in the crossfire of war, not to mention the strength of Vicksburg’s people. The city endured a harrowing 47-day siege before surrendering to the Union Army, led by Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, on July 4, 1863.

Today, the Balfour home still stands at the corner of Crawford and Cherry streets, a lasting testament to Vicksburg’s endurance. A new chapter of the home’s history is being written through the restoration efforts of its current owners.

Cedar Hill Cemetery Association was formed in 2024 with the goal of assisting the City of Vicksburg in restoration and beautification of our historic Cedar Hill Cemetery. The Association will be presenting its inaugural tour event “Voices from the Hills” on October 16, 17, and 18, 2025 as part of Vicksburg’s Bicentennial Celebrations. For more information or to get involved, contact chcassociation@yahoo.com or visit their Facebook page.