Part 1, June 20, 1861: Chapters 5-8 Summary

In Chapter 5, Susan's mother, Charlotte, has guests over for dinner when Susan returns home. Mr. Wigfall is a U.S. Senator from Texas and his wife busies herself making flags for Confederate troops to take into battle. Mrs. Wigfall shows Charlotte and Susan a Texas flag she has made after dinner. When Mrs. Wigfall learns that Charlotte does not allow Susan to join the sewing circles because her sewing is not very good, Mrs. Wigfall volunteers to teach her. Although Susan can see that Charlotte does not want to, she agrees because of Mrs. Wigfall's status in the community. The next day, a group from The Richmond Citizens' Committee comes to talk to Charlotte about taking in some of the wounded from the Battle of Manassas. Before she leaves, Susan asks if she can go to the...