Introduction
Wars have never been easy periods for people, both military and civilians. During the Civil War of 1861-65, women faced several challenges while at the same time experiencing some liberties they had not had before. The diary of one such woman, Julia Johnson Fisher, presents a unique opportunity to learn about the apprehensions and feelings of the females during the Civil War.
An objective account of the events with insights int personal anecdotes and the descriptions of her friends and neighbors’ circumstances makes the diary a perfect way of learning about those times. By reading the excerpts from Fisher’s diary, it becomes evident that the struggles of women of the time were concerned with the ability to provide for their families, her main concerns were whether she and her close ones would ever be able to feel happy and safe again, and, ultimately, that her support for the Confederacy lessened in 1864.
Hardships of Food and Clothing on the Confederate Home Front
The major trials that females on the Confederate home front had to go through were associated with the lack of food and clothes. As Fisher puts it in her diary, they considered a piece of bread with butter and a cup of tea with sugar as a great treat. Furthermore, she frequently mentions the lack of meat as a great distress.
As is evidenced from these and other examples throughout the text, the women were worried that they had no proper food to eat. Moreover, they could not offer nutritious food to the men, some of whom were engaged in military action. When it comes to the clothing issue, Fisher notes that they have been wearing the same garments for four years and that by now, they look shabby. This diary, thus, increases the knowledge about the impact of the Civil War on Confederate citizens, especially women, by shedding light on seemingly trivial yet such important aspects. Being deprived of the opportunity to dress and eat decently must have felt desperate.
Emotional Toll of War: Fear, Loss, and Separation
Throughout the diary, Fisher shares her deep concerns about safety and happiness. She wonders whether they will ever be able to enjoy the things they used to relish. At the same time, she emphasizes that their biggest trial is the “exile from friends.” These confessions indicate that the emotional impact of the war, although it may seem not as harsh as the physical one, is not less substantial. Being forced to move away from one’s home because of the military action happening near it or because it has been destroyed is a highly depressing event. Being made to stop communicating with one’s former neighbors or relatives, friends, or even acquaintances puts a strong negative strain on people’s consciousness, as Fisher shows in her diary.
At the same time, when she talks about the safety concerns, one cannot but be dreaded of the severity of the situation. Fisher says that they have been “wonderfully unmolested” and “preserved” for a long time. Thus, it is impossible not to sympathize with the people who have grown so accustomed to the atrocities of the war that they consider the absence of outrageous acts against them a blessing.
Declining Support for the Confederacy and Economic Hardships
The deteriorating support for the Confederacy can be noticed in Fisher’s disappointment and her continuous comments on the lack of formidable currency. Fisher says that their region is desolated, that men who are unwilling to become soldiers are becoming deserters, and that she feels that the crisis is near. She also mentions that Confederate money is worthless, being valued five cents on the dollar. All of these aspects serve as transparent indications of the diary’s author’s unhappiness with Confederacy and, as a result, her unwillingness to support it. Above all, when speaking about the financial matters, Fisher mentions that it does not matter whether they have money because there is nothing to buy there.
Additionally, it is clear from her writing that she is not satisfied with the fact of being deprived of her negro help, which is another point of frustration. Fisher admits that even though they are “saucy,” she misses having them as her help since now, she is forced to do a lot of things she has previously not even thought of commencing. With all these things considered, Fisher’s support for the Confederacy has clearly lessened in 1864.
Conclusion
Fisher’s diary is a unique source for learning about the true way of things for women during the Civil War. The main struggles that the females of the time faced were concerned with the provision of food and clothing for themselves and their families. Fisher’s acutest problems were her close family’s and friends’ safety and happiness. Finally, her support for the Confederacy degraded because of the constant feeling of unsettlement, the impossibility of obtaining the things they needed, and the sense of despair that penetrated every household. While the Civil War was an outstanding milestone in the country’s positive development in many dimensions, it was not void of its drawbacks, which affected females of the South in the first place.
Bibliography
Johnson Fisher, Julia. “Diary.” Documenting the American South, 1864. Web.