CHAPTER III.
CONDITION OF PEOPLE LEFT AT HOME.
Affairs at Home.—The women, children, old men and servants left at home passed through an ordeal sad indeed to contemplate. The servants or negroes deserved much credit for their loyalty to their then legal owners. Instead of being a menace as was feared and expected, they were a protection to the helpless white population, and did much for the support of the people at home, and for the support of the soldiers in the field. To the very old people the blow fell with a crushing force. In addition to the accumulated burdens that naturally fall to the lot of old people, the loss of their sons, grand sons, and neighbors so prostrated them with grief that the gray hairs of many of them were brought down in sorrow to the grave. The little children for four years being deprived of the protection, support, counsel and assistance of fathers suffered an irreparable loss, a loss that no subsequent attention, education or opportunity could possibly restore.
Civil Officers at Home.—After the war had somewhat advanced, the civil officers, railroad and mail service and public places were to a great extent managed by old men. Young men at home were lonesome and did not stand as high in the estimation of the people as the young men who went to the war. They too had to submit to the taunts of the soldiers, on account of their maneuvering to keep out of danger. It was not considered patriotic for young men to screen themselves, because there seemed to be a necessity for all to enter the service, or at least as some had to go it was argued that all should fare alike. Schools and churches suffered in the general wreck and the morals and intelligence of the rising generation was at a low ebb. Teachers and preachers’ salaries and physicians’ fees were paid in kind. Corn, wheat, beans, peas, pork, bacon, lard, butter, homemade cloth, and anything that answered for clothing or provision was gladly received as a substitute for money.
Money in Circulation.—The only money in circulation was Confederate money or State treasury notes which depreciated in value until worth scarcely the paper upon which it was printed. The gold and silver coin in the hands of the people was hidden or buried in the ground not to be resurrected unless in case of extreme necessity. Very little building or improvement of any kind was going on.
Farming Interests.—For the want of laborers farms were neglected and many fertile fields growed up with sprouts and briers. Fences gave out or fence rows growed up with weeds and briers. Gulleys washed in the roads and some places were almost impassable. Everything in the way of improvement was on the decline. But few new houses were built and homefolks were sometimes driven to the necessity of sheltering in houses not very comfortable. Farm implements gave out and it was a difficult matter to replace them. Old plows and hoes that had been thrown away were hunted up and repaired so as to answer the purpose, and many rude substitutes used for farming tools that had been formerly used. It was a turning back to usages of generations past. Rawhides were tanned in the country and coblers made shoes out of the homemade leather. In place of the New Orleans or Cuba molasses a syrup was manufactured from sugar cane grown on the farm. Some enterprising boys gathered persimmons and had them distilled into brandy which supplemented the supply made from the surplus fruit. Corn and rye were not distilled into whiskey on account of the scarcity of breadstuff. A little of everything made on the farm was collected and placed in the hands of a commissary and was used to help support the soldiers in the army.
Women of the War.—The noble women took upon themselves a burden that was borne with fortitude or heroism that is without a parallel in the annals of the history of any country or any people. They achieved wonders in the homes by their ready inventive powers, which enabled them to substitute many useful articles from which they were cut off, on account of the blockade, rigidly enforced by the Federal authorities. Spicewood tea, Sassafras tea, a beverage made of parched corn, rye, chestnuts, dried slices of sweet potatoes and many other things were used as a substitute for coffee. Dried persimmons were used for puddings after the season for them had passed, and a very good bread was made with a mixture of potatoes with meal or flour. On many farms women and children cultivated the crops making a support for homefolks. Women would hoe corn, sometimes plow, make hay, bind and haul in wheat, sometimes help to thresh, gather, shuck and crib corn and do almost any kind of farm work. The little girls would put the bridles on old horses or mules and with grists of corn or wheat ride several miles to mill. The old man at the mill would pleasantly speak to the little girls, addressing them as his smart little boys. The little girls proud of the distinction would saucily and laughingly answer him saying, “Yes we are Tomboys.”
Cotton King.—Cotton proved to be king indeed, and upon this staple the south depended largely for clothing, bed clothing, tent cloths and indeed everything for which cloth was used. The women took the lint or raw material and by carding, spinning, weaving, cutting and sewing converted it into clothing, bed clothing and many other articles. In place of dyestuffs usually purchased at the stores and brought from other countries, they used Walnut, Redoak, or Maple bark, Sumac and other things that they discovered they could substitute and utilize. From wheat straw they manufactured hats that answered the purpose and were worn by men, women and children.
Soldiers on Furlough.—The girls were proud of the boys who were in the army, always glad to see them come home and always gave them a cordial welcome when they came home on furlough. Several girls would get together and give the boys a reception which amounted to an ovation. The girls and soldier boys mutually enjoyed these gatherings and would together sing war songs or popular airs such as, Dixie, Southern Girl, Stars and Bars, Homespun dress etc.
Homespun Dresses.—The girls wore homespun dresses and in the estimation of the boys were just as pretty, neat and sweet as if they had been arrayed in silk and purple.