Southern Women

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Southern Women in the Civil War An Online
Professional Development Seminar Laura
Edwards National Humanities Center
Fellow Professor of History Duke University

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SOUTHERN WOMEN Elite slaveholding women White
Unionist women White working class
women Enslaved women
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Part I How did women Southern shape the course
and outcome of the Civil War? Support
Subversion Pressure Protest
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Kate Carneys Journal, 1862 She Ma also took
some clothes up to Tom Morgan a prisoner of war
, as she understood he was in need of some. She
carried Bettie's my bouquets up to some of the
boys. When old Capt. Frost (who by the way comes
out quite frequently since Pas arrest which was
three weeks last Tuesday). He is ever a welcome
visitor as he is better than any newspaper and
seems so disturbed about Pa. He brought a message
from Mr. Crossman (who is a Union man, though we
think a very clever one and is staying for
protection, which we are very glad to have him
do, as he carries letters to Pa, or any thing
else, or getting a pass for Ma, to have hauled
wood from the Quarter to have sold. It is a
mutual accommodation, satisfies all parties.
Bettie I give him some hard cuts though, about
people taking the oath).
Elite Slaveholding Women Support
Discussion Questions According to this passage,
what roles do elite women play in occupied
Murfreesboro? How do these roles enable them
to shape the conduct of the War in Murfreesboro?
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Kate Carneys Journal, 1862 Cousin Ann I rode
up to see Mrs. Winship this morning, while up
town heard good news that a hundred Yankees went
out to Readyville were all either captured, or
killed except eleven. We came by the store, they
had heard the same story. Aunt Nancy seeing the
buggy had to come, tell us the good news. Every
body is rejoicing. Called by to see Belle Boles
her mother, they told us a good deal of news, had
a pleasant little visit. . . . No news in
the paper. Bettie I ran over a few minutes to
see Mrs. Maney to hear the news. She said a
letter had been received in Nashville saying we
had gained three grand victories in Va. for us
not to believe anything that Yankees had to say,
for it was impossible for us to hear any good
news from our army through them.
Elite Slaveholding Women Support
Discussion Questions According to these
passages, what roles do elite women play in
occupied Murfreesboro? How do these roles
enable them to shape the conduct of the War in
Murfreesboro?
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Kate Carneys Journal Ma Cousin Ann . . .
went up to the College to see our prisoners, and
to their astonishment found that one had taken
the oath and gone home. Just to think he was one
of Morgan's men too. I felt so badly about it,
but heard his wife was at the point of death,
like it was that, that forced him to take it. The
Yankees no doubt will publish that not less than
a dozen took the oath in place of Mr. Handley.
Oh! I hope the other poor fellow will not do
such a thing. I felt so wretched when I have
placed confidence in any one, it is betrayed by
taking that awful oath. Bettie I went to see
Finie Burton, but she was not at home, talked a
while to her mother. She spoke of trying to get a
pass to go out, but old Rounds said he had
charged the pickets to let no one out, but to
permit the country people to come go. We think
it is a Yankee trick, to get them in to take the
oath
Elite Slaveholding Women Support
Discussion Questions How does this passage
illuminate the propaganda war that was going on
for hearts and minds in Murfreesboro?
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Kate Carneys Journal This afternoon we were
lying down, when we saw Ma come tipping upstairs
with mysterious air which I could not make out. I
rushed out on the back porch, (as I was
undressed) and saw Ma pass through with a (what
proved afterwards a confederate) soldier. She
seemed greatly excited. He was one of our
soldiers that had escaped jail, just half an hour
ago Ma was trying to disguise him so as to let
him escape. He changed his clothes and shaved
off his whiskers, (Ma giving him some of Pa's
clothes) making him look like quite a different
man. Ma carried him up something to eat, he would
not eat much said he had been to dinner, would
not take any more money, he had plenty. I hope he
will get safely back to Starn's Cavalry. He said
we had 5,000 men just above here, had had a
fight, we killed 30 or 40 Yankees, it was
that night he was taken prisoner. That was the
first time we had heard of the engagement. They
always keep a defeat such a secret. This soldier
came very near being discovered. There were three
Yanks in the front hall who said they had come up
to make Ma's acquaintance, as they heard Ma fed
their prisoners when Morgan captured them, when
our escaped prisoner asked for the master of the
house, the servant asked him in to the front
hall, lo! behold there sat the man that had
captured him a few nights before, and not having
any suspicions, they took no notice of him, he
asked Ma for some water and then told his story,
so Ma had to play a double game, make herself
agreeable to the Yankees whilst getting our
soldier off, I felt vastly relieved when he got
off safe.
Elite Slaveholding Women Support
Discussion Questions How does this passage
illuminate the propaganda war that was going on
in Murfreesboro? How does it illuminate the role
that elite women played in the War? What does it
suggest about the relations between the occupiers
and the occupied?
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Kate Carneys Journal Mr. Duffer went over to
the train with them, while we were in Mr.
Stevenson's parlor he came in dressed as fine as
any dandy, did not look at all like a widower
of few weeks standing. He is in for marrying, to
judge from his looks, I must say was not at all
favorably impressed. It might have been the
conversation he struck up about taking the oath.
I said very little, but my remarks were pointed.
He had too much Yankee about him for me. When I
began to denounce old Capt. Rounds, Mr. Duffer
said I must not say a word against him, as he had
taken several out riding yesterday (he among the
number). I told him I would consider it a great
disgrace to be seen with him. I can't bear to see
men so willing to knuckle to such low down
scoundrels after being insulted trampled upon
as they have been. It seems that the last drop of
courage with the men of Rutherford Co. has died
out, or else left for parts unknown, or taken up
its abode in women kind. Sallie Lytle, Kate
Mattie Avent came out spent the evening Rosa
returned spent the night. Capt. Frost was out
this evening brought the paper, no news, only
their defeat at Richmond. (the Yankees) How
thankful we should be for that victory. Mrs.
Wilson thinks if Dr. Black Mr. L. Black were
arrested they would take the oath before leaving
their families. If I was a wife, I would say go
die before taking that vile oath. Sister Amanda
was telling me about Mary Spence telling Mary
Turner to persuade her Pa to take the oath, so
that she could ride around have fun like she
did, I guess she wants everybody to put
themselves on equality with herself. She was
bragging about having a Yankee Officer been
showed a handsome diamond ring she said he gave
her. Poor goose, I wish I had never been intimate
with her, but I will never be so again.
Elite Slaveholding Women Support
Discussion Questions How does this passage
illuminate the propaganda war going on in
Murfreesboro? What does it suggest about the
role of elite women on the home front? How does
class shape Carneys response to Northern
sympathizers?
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General Orders, No. 28 O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME
XV S 21Union Correspondence, Orders, And
Returns Relating To Operations In West Florida,
Southern Alabama, Southern Mississippi, And
Louisiana From May 12, 1862, To May 14, 1863 And
In Texas, New Mexico, And Arizona From September
20, 1862, To May 14, 1863.--1 HDQRS. DEPARTMENT
OF THE GULF,New Orleans, May 15, 1862. As the
officers and soldiers of the United States have
been subject to repeated insults from the women
(calling themselves ladies) of New Orleans in
return for the most scrupulous non-interference
and courtesy on our part, it is ordered that
hereafter when any female shall by word, gesture,
or movement insult or show contempt for any
officer or soldier of the United States she shall
be regarded and held liable to be treated as a
woman of the town plying her avocation. By
command of Major-General Butler GEO. C. STRONG,
Assistant Adjutant-General and Chief of Staff.
Discussion Questions What does General Butlers
order say about Southern womens role in the
War? Why would Butler choose this particular
response to the resistance of Confederate women?
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Elizabeth Alvis, Walker County, Alabama, 2337,
Southern Claims Commission, Allowed Claims, RG
217, National Archives. Testimony of J.L.
Romain I heard claimant say frequently that
she had two sons in the Union army, and that she
wished she had a dozen sons to put in the Union
Army. . . . While I was out in woods to keep away
from the rebels, and she knew where I was, she
had a signal, which was a white cloth, that she
hung out if there was any danger, and if the
cloth was not at a certain place I could venture
to the house and get something to eat and all the
information she had to give me, and she done the
same thing with many others. She done all she
could to get young men to enlist in the union
army. There was two men from the first Ala
cavalry came into the county here to enlist some
union boys that were in this section of the
county. She done all to help them. They had to
keep themselves hid in the woods, and she would
go and see the union boys and tell them where to
go there to enlist."
White Unionist Women Subversion
Discussion Questions Compare Alviss actions
with the actions of the Confederate women
described in Kate Carneys journal.
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Sarah F. Keeton, Walker County, Alabama, 11,636,
Southern Claims Commission, Allowed Claims, RG
217, National Archives. Testimony of P. P. Pile
I know that she aided all men when called upon as
far as she was able in getting through to the
Union Army. I know she was at various times with
and in presence of Union soldiers for several of
her neighbors belonged to the Union Army and when
at home on scouts she would bear any earand sic
for them they required her to do, she being a
woman would not be molested by the rebel cavalry.
If her action had been known to the rebels she
could not remained hire sic under southern
independence. Testimony of George H. McDade At
the time of the war, she lived in a settlement
where there were a great many men laying out to
evade the conscript also near several families
whose husbands were in the Union Army and I am
satisfied that cliament sic could with ease
have made the report to the cavalry and had
them all captured immediately. She had all
opportunities to have done so, but she was too
faithful to the Union cause, and too much opposed
to the operations of the rebel to do so, any of
the Union boys who belonged to the Union Army
were in no fear about being interrupted on her
account but would call on her for assistance. . .
.
White Unionist Women Subversion
Discussion Questions Compare Keetons actions
with the actions of the Confederate women
described in Kate Carneys journal.
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General Order, Number 2, John Morgan Hunt,
Confederate Army, Arlington, Virginia, against
deserters HD. QRS. DEPT. W. VA. EAST
TENN.,ABINGDON, VA., June 25th, 1864. GENERAL
ORDER, II. The soldier who will not remain at
his post, and who is not obedient to the orders
of his superiors, is a worthless encumbrance, and
where such men have committed larcenies and
outrages upon the private property of
citizens--the Brig. Gen. Commanding desires, when
it is practicable, to turn them over for proper
disposition, to the civil authorities--believing
that they can render more service to the country
in the workshops of our prisons, than it is
possible to derive from them as soldiers in the
field--and he calls upon all good citizens to aid
and assist him in bringing these malefactors to
justice. Whenever the name and command of one of
these lawless marauders can be ascertained, and
the citizen will forward a statement of the
offence committed, with a report of the
witnesses, the General Commanding will use every
endeavor to have them brought to a speedy trial.

Discussion Questions What does Morgans say
about the morale of Confederate troops? Compare
Morgans view of insubordinate soldier with those
of white Unionist women. How did the actions of
white Unionist women contribute to the kind of
situation that Morgan describes?
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Former Superintendent of the Poor in the
Department of North Carolina to the Chairman of
the American Freedmen's Inquiry Commission The
women and children supported themselves with but
little aid from the government by washing,
ironing. cooking, making pies, cakes c. for the
troops   The few women that were employed by the
government in the hospitals received 4 a month,
clothes and one ration.
Enslaved Unionist Women Subversion
Discussion Questions Compare the actions of
these African American women to those of white
Unionist women and Confederate women such as Kate
Carney. How did the actions of these African
American women undermine the Confederacy? How
did they support the Union?
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Louisiana Planters to the Commander of the
Department of the Gulf Terrebonne Parish,
La.  Jany 14th 1862 1863 Thatmany of the
negroes led astray by designing persons, believe
that the plantations everything on them belong
to them, the negroes  They quit work, go come
when they see fitRide off at night the mules
that have been at work all dayFences are pulled
down   gates bars are left open  Cattle,
sheep hogs poultry are killed or carried off
sold  Negroes in numbers from one plantation to
an other at all hours night dayThey travel on
the rail road  They congregate in large numbers
on deserted plantations  All these things are
done against the will in defiance of the orders
of their masters.  In Some instances negro
Soldiers partially armed have been allowed to
visit the plantations from which they
inlisted  In a word we are in a State of
anarchy.  The time has come when preperations
for planting cultivating the crops of 1863
should be made.  But without teams, the
ability to command the labour of our negroes,
nothing can be done.
Enslaved Unionist Women Subversion
Discussion Questions The Louisiana planter sees
this situation as anarchy. How might the slaves
describe it? What is the relationship of such
actions to the war effort?
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Nancy Mangum to Gov. Zebulon Vance, April 9,
1863 Mcleanesville NC Aprile 9th 1863 Gov
VanceI have threatend for some time to write
you a letter-a crowd of we Poor wemen went to
Greenesborough yesterday for something to eat as
we had not a mouthful meet nor bread in my house
what did they do but put us in gail Jim Slone,
Linsey Hilleshemer and several others I will not
mention-these are the ones that put us to gail in
plase of giveing us aney thing to eat and I had
to com hom without aneything-I have 6 little
children and my husband in the armey and what am
I to do. . . . if you dont take thes yankys a way
from greenesborough we wemen will write for our
husbans to come . . . home and help us. . .
. Yours veryRespectfulyNancy Mangum
White Working Class Women Pressure
Discussion Questions What does Mancy Mangum
and women like her expect of male
authority? Compare Nancy Mangums expectations
to those of Kate Carney. What does this letter
suggest about the relationship of class to
Confederate patriotism? What implications does
this letter hold for the conduct of the War?
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North Carolina Soldiers of Lee's Army to Governor
Zebulon B. Vance, 24 January 1865 Very many of
our wives were dependent on our labor for support
before the war, and when articles of food and
clothing could be obtained easier than now. At
this time they are alone, without a protector,
and cannot by hard and honest labor, obtain
enough money to purchase the necessaries of life.
We had hoped that something would be done to
render the currency better, but it seems to get
worse. Many of us have left our wives and
children at home in the country upon little
tracts of land, and who are now suffering for
want of help to raise bread and meat. It is not
in the power of Yankee armies to cause us to wish
ourselves at home--we can face them, and can hear
their shot and shell without being moved but,
Sir, we cannot hear the cries of our little ones,
and stand. We must say something, must make an
effort to relieve them, and would do it through
you, believing it to be the best way. . . . But
it is not of ourselves that we would complain, it
is of our wives and little ones at home, who are
necessitous. Do something for them and there
will be less desertion, and men will go into
battle with heartier good will. But it is
impossible for us to bear up under our many
troubles, the greatest of which is, the suffering
of our wives and little ones at home. We beg
your pardon for bothering you with this, but
something must be done, speedily.
White Working Class Women Pressure
Discussion Questions The letter is written by
men, but what does it reveal about white working
class womens patriotism? Compare the situation
of these families with that of Kate Carney. What
role does class have in Confederate
patriotism? What implications does this letter
hold for the conduct of the war?
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Eliza Evans to North Carolina Governor Zebulon.B.
Vance, 18 October 1864 I wish to no of you
whether Mr Moore can throw me out of dose or not
i hav bin living on his land for the last six
years and my husband has paid the rent u to the
presant year and if he has the good luck not get
killed he sill pay the rent as long as I stay
governor I think it is a hard case that my
husband is fiting for other folks property and my
self and five little children is to be throwed
out of dose Governor sir this man Silas Moore
has a son just as able boded man as my husband he
is left at home to work for his father because he
is paralized and he has aplenty to suptt on and
because my pore husband had the misfortun not to
have land in his absence I am to be thrown out of
dose governor sir I hav tried every where in the
neighborhood to get a house and there aint any
one that I can get or here of and sir I dont no
what to do if you sufer him to thow me out unless
my husband can get to come home.
White Working Class Women Pressure
Discussion Questions What does this letter it
reveal about white working class womens
patriotism? Compare the situation of Eliza Evans
with that of Kate Carney. What role does class
have in Confederate patriotism? What
implications does this letter hold for the
conduct of the war?
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The Food Question, The New York Herald, April
11, 1863 On the morning of the 2d inst. a large
meeting, composed principally of the wives and
daughters of the working classes, was held in the
African church, and a committee appointed to wait
upon the Governor to request that articles of
food should be sold at government rates. After
the passage of sundry resolutions the meeting
adjourned, and the committee proceeded to wait
upon Governor Letcher. The functionary declined
to take any steps in the matter, and upon urging
the case the ladies were peremptorily ordered to
withdraw. The result of the interview was soon
made public, when a body of females, numbering
about three hundred, collected together and
commenced helping themselves to bread, flour,
meat, articles of clothing, c. The entire city
was at once thrown into consternation. . . .
The effect of this riot upon the troops about
Richmond was very demoralizing. The authorities
are much exercised over it, and the greatest
vigilance is enjoined upon the police force. The
leading men of the city attempted to circulate
the report that the womenwere "Irish and Yankee
hags," endeavoring to mislead the public
concerning the amount of loyal sentiment in the
city, miserably failed. The fact of their
destitution and respectability was too palpable,
and the authorities are forced to admit the
conclusion that starvation alone incited the
movement.
White Working Class Women Protest
Discussion Questions What does this passage
suggest about the Wars effect on the political
consciousness of working class women? What does
this passage reveal about the difference between
working class white women and elite white women
such as Kate Carney? Why might the meeting have
been held in an African church? What do the
passages suggest about support for the War?
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Part II How did the Civil War affect Southern
women? Social upheaval New possibilities
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The Diary of Gertrude Clanton Thomas Monday, May
29, 1865 Out of all our old house servants not
one remains except Patsy and a little boy Frank.
We have one of our servants Uncle Jim to take
Daniels place as driver and butler and a much
more efficient person he proves to be. Nancy has
been cooking since Tamah left. On last Wednesday
I hired a woman to do the washing. Thursday I
expected Nancy to iron but she was sick. In the
same way she was sick the week before when there
was ironing to do. I said nothing but told
Patsey to get breakfast. After it was over I
assisted her in wiping the breakfast dishes, a
thing I never remember to have done more than
once or twice in my life.... Immediately after
breakfast as I was writing by the window Turner
her son directed my attention to Nancy with her
two children, Hannah and Jessy, going out of the
gate. I told him to enquire, where she was
going. She had expected to leave with flying
colours but was compelled to tell a falsehood for
she replied, I will be back directly. I knew
at once that she was taking french leave
leaving without permission or without announcing
ones departure and was not surprised when I
went into her room sometime afterwards to find
that all her things had been removed. I was
again engaged in housework most of the
morning....
Elite Slaveholding Women Social Upheaval
Discussion Questions How does this passage
illustrate social upheaval? How does this
passage illustrate a new relationship between
former masters and former slaves? How does this
passage suggest new possibilities?
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Sarah Gutterys testimony on how she supported
herself Question Prior to his her sons
enlistment and at the time he entered the service
how did you gain a living? Answer He
supported me for four years before he entered the
war by his labor. He worked on my fathers farm
and he received no pay for his labor only our
support. My father was a poor man and was my son
was able to work for my living he had him do it.
. . . . Question How have you gained a
living since Henry went away? Answer Just
by hard labor. I have hired out a heap, hoeing,
picking cotton, weaving and coloring blue
perhaps bleaching laundry for people, nursing
the sick and spinning.

White Unionist Women Social Upheaval
Discussion Questions How does this passage
illustrate social upheaval?
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Henry Guy, 55th Reg., Co. A, United States
Colored Troops, Records of the Pension Bureau, RG
15, National Archives. Hannah Guy, statement,
9 December 1903 She was born in North
Carolina, was told that her father's name was
Rickson Harris, although she never saw him "from
the time I was a little girl" her maiden name
was Ricks "I lived with Henry as his wife while
we both belonged to Lorenzo Bug. I don't know
whether you would say we were married. We were
permitted by our master to live together. We had
2 or 3 children when we left Lorenzo Guy. No I
had never lived with any man before I took up
with Henry. Henry had had a slave wife before he
had me. Her name was Nancy Pride. She was sold
and went to Mississippi, some time before Henry
and I commenced to live together. Henry never
saw her after he and I commenced living together.
When the U.S. Army came through Alabama Henry
and I left Mr. Lorenzo Guy and went with the army
to Corinth Miss. and Henry enlisted there. I
lived in the contraband camp there with the
regiment and worked and cooked for the soldiers.
After we had been at Corinth 2 or 3 months orders
came that everybody had to be married under the
new laws, and a whole lot of us, including Henry
and I were married by Mr. Peirson. I don't know
whether he was a preacher, but I suppose he was.
He stood a whole lot of us up in line and married
us. . . . he gave Henry and me a certificate that
we were married, and Henry took it with him when
he left Corinth with the regiment, and he told me
that when he was captured by the rebels he tore
it up, and we never got another certificate. .
. .
Enslaved Women New Possibilities
Discussion Questions How does this passage
illustrate social upheaval? How does it
illustrate new possibilities? What does this
passage tell us about family life among the
enslaved? How does it illustrate the role
enslaved men and women played in the War?
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Taylor Reddick, 33rd Reg., Co. D, United States
Colored Troops, Records of the Pension Bureau, RG
15, National Archives. Edith Matilda Reddick,
statement, 13 March 1889 Was born in Effingham
County in the state of Georgia. I lived on a
Plantation in said county and my owners received
their mail from the post office at Springfield
Georgia to the best of my recollection. I left
the Plantation and followed the United States
Army to Savannah Georgia where I remained three
or four months, then went by a U.S. steamer to
St. Simon's Island, Gerogia to live with an aunt
and there for the first time met Taylor Reddick
who was then a soldier in Co. D 22 Regiment
United States Troops and married him there. We
were married by the Rev. Mr. Eaden who was also a
Government official for the issuing of Rations to
the People. The Regiment being under marching
orders we were married on Sunday morning and left
same day at 11 o'clock for Augusta, Georgia. My
Husband going with his Regiment and I with him.
. . . I moved with my Husband in the Army from
August Georgia to Edgefield So. Carolina thence
to Andersonville, thence to Walhalla and thence
to Charleston S. Carolina where we remained until
he was taken sick and where he died at the
Governemnt Hospital. I remained with his Company
at Charleston living with and assisting the
Company's Cook Mrs. Doc Williams until the
Company was mustered out of service on Morris
Island.
Enslaved Women New Possibilities
Discussion Questions How does this passage
illustrate social upheaval? How does it
illustrate new possibilities? What does this
passage tell us about family life among the
enslaved? How does it illustrate the role
enslaved men and women played in the War?
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