Logan

Blog Post #3

1. Campbell states that during war in Columbia, South Carolina southern women rose against Sherman’s army to protect their households and honor the Confederacy. This caused a stir amongst the Unions and the Confederates. This essay aims to examine the role of women during war, and their relationship with the Confederate nation. Campbell recalls “the destruction of Columbia deepens our understanding of both soldiers’ inner struggles with issues of mortality and vengeance, and of Confederate women’s ability to resist” (Campbell 54).

2. Campbell makes the point that this essay “uses the destruction of the city as a case study to explore the concept of female honor and elite Southern women’s relationship to the Confederate nation” (Campbell 54). Campbell’s main points of the story are as follows: White men gained respect and trust in their  wives with their “devotion and sacrifice” during war, authority was reclaimed in the South postwar, and women were able to make a name for themselves as Sherman’s army invaded Columbia (Campbell 68-9).

3. Many sources that Campbell uses are women from that particular time period who experienced the acts of war in the South. I found that this was very useful because it gave the reader a better understanding of what these women were going through at the time. One source was a woman named Emma LeConte. She wrote in her journal that since white people were so afraid to go into the streets of Columbia during the explosions led by Sherman’s army, black slaves protected them. LeConte gives detailed descriptions of the events that happened in February 1865, which provides a scene for the reader. James McPherson, a source who analyzes the Civil War, concludes that men and women share the same desires during wartime. He is used as a source to give more detailed information accounting the outbreak at Columbia.

4. Campbell aims to address the bold and noble authority given to women during the Civil War. The women stood their ground with verbal abuse, as well as the more frightening non verbal stare downs they had with the Union army men. In text such as Constructing the American Past elite women had a very different role than middle- class women. Women of money were able to pay their way out of their husbands going to war, as well as had the luxury of food throughout tough times. Campbell and the other text used (Constructing) are similar in their ways of thinking about Southern women. Sherman’s March to the Sea was explained as inflicting significant property damage, mostly to industries, but also to civilian property.

5. Campbell uses the woman Emma LeConte several times in her essay to represent women’s role during the Civil War. LeConte documents her sitings in a journal, and writes that many women in the town sang out as the soldiers made their way into Columbia. These women were proud, and they were not afraid to show it. Campbell is in disagreement with Faust. While their actions led men deeper into battle, they also created a new identity for themselves as Southern women. Sherman’s attack was uncalled for and absolutely created a new beginning for the women of the United States. This means that women would finally be able to stand up for themselves. Sherman’s act of “total war” destroyed houses, buildings and culture. This threatening use of warfare continues to be a struggle in present day battles.