The Bedrock of Our Society: The Southern Woman
Confederate Women: The Steadfast of Rebels
Confederate Women: The Steadfast of Rebels
The beginning of the conflict in 1861 elicited various responses from Southern women. Many were affected by the departure of male family members for war. However, a significant number accepted common assertions at the time regarding the perceived strength of the cotton industry, expectations about Northern forces, and beliefs that Southern armies would achieve quick victories and return to an independent Confederacy.
A strong commitment to the Southern cause and the prevailing belief that independence could be secured swiftly led many Confederate women to actively support wartime efforts. They wore miniature Confederate flags, participated in patriotic singing, and encouraged men and boys to enlist in military companies organized to defend against Northern forces. Women celebrated those who volunteered for service while often distancing themselves from individuals hesitant to join. One young woman from North Carolina, whose companion was preparing to leave for the Virginia front, expressed, “I wish he could stay home, but I would not have a sweetheart unless he was in the army.”
The marital ardor of some women reached such a high pitch that they formed volunteer units of their own and took to drilling and shouting. A Georgia woman wrote in 1861: “We have formed a Female Company in Bascom for the purpose of learning to shoot, so that if all the men go to war, we can protect our homes and selves…