Dosia Williams Moore is a familiar name to scholars who have studied Louisiana’s Civil War history and the history of Rapides and northern Natchitoches Parishes. Moore lived in these parishes during and after the Divil War, and during her adult life, resided at Loyd Hall, a well-known plantation home on Bayou Boeuf.

Moore’s reminiscences were recorded by two friends, Cammie Henry, of Melrose Plantation, and Caroline Dormon, noted Louisiana naturalist. Early reminiscences include Moore’s journey from South Carolina to Louisiana with her parents on the eve of the Civil War and descriptions of hill-country life in North Louisiana.

Of special interest to Civil War historians is her account of the Union Army’s drive up Red River and the occupation and burning of Alexandria. Also discussed is the Battle of Yellow Bayou. Accounts of daily life and civilian encounters with Union Army officers and enlisted men reflect a human dimension of the war that is not revealed in standard historical accounts.

Reconstruction historians will be interested in her description of the Colfax Riot that played such a significant role in influencing Congress and Northern public opinion during the Reconstruction era. Also described are details of the murder of a controversial Rapides Parish Reconstruction leader.

Social life of the plantation gentry described by Williams includes ring tournaments, cotillions, sugar-house parties and amateur entertainments. Geneaologists will find information about plantation families of Bayou Rapides and Bayou Boeuf. Also of interest are Black-white relations before and during the Civil War, during Reconstruction and in the period following Reconstruction.