The Women of the ConfederacyUnderwood, J. L. (John Levi)
History
The Women of the Confederacy
Underwood, J. L. (John Levi)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Anecdotes; Women -- Confederate States of America
The negroes, however, behaved much better, on the whole, than Northern
letter-writers represent them to have done. Indeed, I do not know a
race more studiously misrepresented than they have been and are at
this present time. They behaved well during the war; if they had not,
it could not have lasted eighteen months. They showed a fidelity and a
steadiness which speaks not only well for themselves but well for
their training and the system under which they lived. And when their
liberators arrived, there was no indecent excitement on receiving the
gift of liberty, nor displays of impertinence to their masters. In one
or two instances they gave "missus" to understand that they desired
present payment for their services in gold and silver, but, in
general, the tide of domestic life flowed on externally as smoothly as
ever. In fact, though of course few at the North will believe me, I am
sure that they felt for their masters, and secretly sympathized with
their ruin. They knew that they were absolutely penniless and
conquered; and though they were glad to be free, yet they did not turn
round, as New England letter-writers have represented, to exult over
their owners, nor exhibit the least trace of New England malignity. So
the bread was baked in those latter days, the clothes were washed and
ironed, and the baby was nursed as zealously as ever, though both
parties understood at once that the service was voluntary. The Federal
soldiers sat a good deal in the kitchens; but the division being
chiefly composed of Northwestern men, who had little love for the
negro, (indeed I heard some d----n him as the cause of the war, and
say that they would much rather put a bullet through an Abolitionist
than through a Confederate soldier,) there was probably very little
incendiary talk and instructions going on. In all of which, compared
with other localities we were much favored.
THE CONFEDERATE MUSEUM IN THE CAPITAL OF THE CONFEDERACY
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account