Consisting of 3 unbound volumes: Vol. 1 (1861-1867, including diary, 14 Jan. 1863-27 July 1864); Vol. 2 (28 July-12 Nov. 1864 and 12 Mar. 1867-28 May 1868); and Vol. 3 (2 June 1868-30 Dec. 1871); topics discussed include Civil War, Reconstruction, farming, and related concerns. Volume 1 lists Brice's property, including slaves identified by name (1861) and livestock (1861, 1867), an account ledger recording monies paid out (1861-1864), and memoranda (13 Feb.-9 Apr. 1861) re weather, crops, and notation that "Little River Guards" were called up, 9 Apr.1861, and ordered to Charleston; diary entries begin after Brice's return to his plantation following his discharge from Confederate army for wound received at battle of Seven Pines (31 May-1 June 1862). Entries document Brice's receipt of newspapers and telegrams sent by his father, Dr. Walter Brice (1804-1871), and brother Thomas W. Brice (1841-1908) and recorded notable battles and wounding of Thomas and deaths of three other brothers. Topics discussed include observances of days of fasting and prayer established by Confederate government; slave labor furnished to build defenses along S.C. coast; limits on cotton production; and conscription practices; includes brief descriptions of exemption law, application process for exemption and community law enforcement during war; volumes give general account of weather, animal husbandry, crop production, bookkeeping, land maintenance, and labor management on Brice's farm. Volume 2 (28 July-12 Nov. 1864 and 12 Mar. 1867-28 May 1868), describes return of John Brice's remains to Fairfield County, return of wounded Thomas Brice to the battlefield, and conscription of all able bodied men between ages of 16 and 50 regardless of exemption status; after return of R.W. Brice to Confederate service, this time in Co. H., Second S.C. Calvary Regiment, there is a gap in the diary from Nov. 1864 to Feb. 1867 while he was stationed near Wilmington, N.C. Volume 3, 2 June 1868-30 Dec. 1871, contains general depiction of farm life after the Civil War during Reconstruction, low cotton prices, and labor management difficulties with newly-hired freedmen; one of the last entries in the diary records the death of R.W. Brice's father, Dr. Walter Brice, on 7 Dec. 1871.
