Myra Inman was born in Cleveland into a middle-class family, they were neither rich or poor. The Inman family would live in Cleveland until after the Civil War, and Myra kept a diary throughout the war. This diary gives us a glimpse into the everyday lives of the residents of Cleveland and the greater Appalachian Region during that time.

The diary of Myra Inman covers the years 1859-1866. The Inman family knew many families in the area, and they are mentioned frequently throughout the book.

The Inman family came to East Tennessee from North Carolina in the 18th century. Myra was one of 8 children, and the family settled in Cleveland, which is where Myra grew up. The family bought an inn, known as the Inman Inn in 1846, but in the 1850’s, after the death of her father, her family moved into a new home, which was used as a boarding house. The home would serve as a boarding house throughout the Civil War, and both Northern and Southern soldiers were among the boarders. 

Bradley County was divided during the war. The Inman family were Confederate supporters and they owned slaves. This would put them at odds with some of their neighbors, as Badley County and the rest of East Tennessee were not supporters of the Confederate cause.

Myra was a student at the Cleveland Masonic Female Institute, a school in Cleveland that opened in 1856. The Inman family was involved in social aspects of the town, and Myra often wrote in her diary about visiting friends in the area, shopping, and attending balls, parties, and teas. Myra also mentions being fond of reading, doing needlework, and weaving. These things would change after the Civil War began, and much of the spare time the family had was focused on making things for the soldiers.

Myra and the Inman family survived the war. In 1876, Myra married John Goody Carter, her sister's widower. The family moved to Chattanooga, and had 3 children. Myra died in 1914 and is buried in Fort Hill Cemetery in Cleveland, Tennessee.

Source​: The History of Bradley County  By: The History Committee, Bradley County Chapter East Tennessee Historical Society

During the War Between the States, Cleveland was under control of both Union and Confederate Armies at different times. The city remained under Confederate control until October 1863. After that it changed hands several times as Union forces moved  back and forth between Chattanooga and Knoxville.

Myra Inman, a teenage girl in Cleveland during the War Between the States, kept a diary. Her widowed mother operated the Inman House which was a favorite stopping place for travelers including both Confederate and Union soldiers.  Miss Inman recorded the events of the first Union occupation as follows:

“​Sunday, October 29th - The Yanks came into town this evening about 3 O’Clock. General Sherman’s Company camped all around us tonight, robbing us of our corn, potatoes, and taking all of our chickens… We sit in the house with bowed-downed heads while the victorious army passes along with waving  banners, and offer up a silent prayer for our country whilst we hear nothing but exultant shouts of our enemy.”

Anticipating battle casualties in the area, Confederate hospitals were established in Cleveland, Chattanooga, Tunnel Hill, Dalton, and Ringgold, Georgia…

Apparently by July 1862, Cleveland was somewhat of a hospital center and was receiving battle casualties from the front in Virginia. According to Miss Inman:

“July 12 - Mary Edwards, Doctor Edward’s daughter, came over and told mother that she had seen a dispatch stating there would be 300 wounded soldiers from the Richmond battle sent down.   July 13 - Went over to the train this eve, but 20 came down.   July 14 - We all went over to see the wounded soldiers, 300 came today.   July 15 - 125 wounded on the train.”