Family Life During Civil War Essay

As a pivotal point in our nations history, the civic fight utmoste holds a special fascination in the land and minds of the American multitude. It was a struggle entirely fought by Americans, oft dividing families and even br former(a)s against pals. The American civil war was unforgettable. It was fought between the United States of America and the Southern slave states of the to the highest degree formed confederate state of America under Jefferson Davis. The cultured state of war made re eachy a tragic long lasting final result on a family unit of that period. During Civil fight, families on both sides of the war had to bear a pain of personal loss. Husbands and catchs and sons died not in hundreds exclusively in thousands of numbers in both the North and South and umpteen of them returned home either devolveicapped or wounded publicner. So legion(predicate) men not simply injured visiblely but referable to their wartime experiences, they had suffered more emot ionally also. This effected their already burdened struggling families more. This way, the families had suffered with physical and psychological pain a lot. Also the families were divided during Civil war.The only bread winner of any family may be a sustain or husband or an elder son had to go far off the home. So in those families, especially middle class, wives and mothers had to seduce in the home and also out of the home. They were the only to take care nearly e actually aspects of the family including children. And for this they were not much trained. This situation for city women was much more difficult (.netplaces.com). The characterisation from the article of war sprits at home by Lily Martin Spencer shows that she herself is seated in the kitchen with her children and a servant. Lacking an adult male figure, the painting reflects the absence seizure of men in the home during this period in American history. The painting from the article of war sprits at home by Lily M artin Spencer shows that she herself is sitting in the kitchen with her children and a servant. Lacking an adult male figure, the painting reflects the absence of men in the home during this period in American history.northerly families lost a great many loved ones over the course of action of war and experienced their share of problems and grief, but southwesterlyern families suffered far more. many another(prenominal) southern towns and cities were destroyed and the impact on the confederate civilian community was enormous in all eras (netplace.com). Most people and families in the south led the pastoral life, organized around agricultural activities. Many people in south had no slaves or very few, so all the man does physical labor. Due to war, families lost their able-bodied man, which had changed the condition of family that women had to do all the work in the house and farms to keep farms functioning with the other works such as cleaning, making and fixing cloths, and rais ing the children (civilwar.org). As war went on, people also started suffering from hunger.With confederate troops, to feed and yearning all the remaining food, combined with the lack of available rail conveying which was being use by war efforts. They also suffered from the lack of cheeseparings as all the industries and factories were busy preparing the goods for civil war. As many men and sons were agonistic to leave their house they were not able to concentrate in the war. handwritten letters were the main form of communication between soldiers and their relatives during civil war. Soldiers became frightening to hear from their families and for news from home. They even gladly read each others letters right to hear about familiar places and terrene situations anything to take their mind off the war and their struggles. Robert T. Tallman, wrote to William browned, with an interesting suggestion as a possible means to encourage more communication (ozarkscivilwar.org). I ha ve not had a letter for two weeks what is our folks doing. articulate them I am dead and maybe they ordain send for my humanity and wages, and I pass on hear from them that way if no other.( Robert T. Tallman letter to William embrown February 11, 1865).Civil war had the same impact on northern families. gaberdine families in Virginia first confronted the wars impact with the enlistments of their male kin. To admit food and protect families, men were pulled away from their loved ones to serve in the confederate army. As one Virginia solider put his duty in the war encompassed the defense of our country, our liberty and the protection of our parent, wives, children, and all that is dear to a man (encylopediavirginia.org). 50 percent of the male enlisted from Virginia tried to help both families and the confederacy. just now it was of no use. Wives, daughters, sisters, and other female kin assumed much of the work normally pursued by men- managing plantation, harvesting crops , running business. This pressure took monetary value on women. We felt like clinging to Walter and holding him back, wrote one Virginia adult female in reaction to a family members enlistment. I was be sick of war, sick of the butchery, the anguish (encylopediavirginia.org).Virginia Civilians After a BattleOften soldiers tries to give their role in family through home letters, but their correspondence proven an imperfect surrogate when the mail, disrupted by war, was slow in coming. some(a) women also tried to bring their men home by register petition with the confederate secretary of war for a mans exemption, or by urging a soldier to desert the army, which were often unsuccessful and so the women has to wait for her man until the war end or sometimes she never gets to understand him. These lines from the letter were included in the Civil state of war diary of Samuel Bennett, a Daviess County native who fought for the Union Army. In it, Bennetts mother expresses her worries about his welfare.Wilson I dreamed last night that you had survey home you may be sure that I was sorry when I waked and found it was a dere dream Wilson the crop is in tolerable good order you father commensed mowing yesterday and Amas thought he could mow and your father concluded that he might to get it he does very headspring Wilson we pass on get your janes today and if you want a pair of public pants I want you to let me know and I will make them and bring them if we get to come and if not I will send them I hope we will get to come to that degree I must bring my broken lines to a close by saing I hope that it will not bee long till we see each others face Write as soon as this comes to hand I remain your devoted and loving mother untill death(ket.org).political divisions sometimes compounded the separation experienced by families. Regions with high unionist concentrations, witnessed the division of house members against each other-pitting father against son, husband aga inst wife, and sometimes brother against brother. John fee wrote in his autobiography that The next morning just as I was about starting back to my home, my father give tongue to to me, Julett is here on my premises, and I will sell her before sunset if I can. I turned to him and said, Father, I am now that chars only guardian.. yet if you sell that woman, I will prosecute you for so doing, as sure as you are a man.(ket.org)Civil war had made a enormous effect on the family life. Many lost their loved ones and very few got their loved ones back. indeed the civil war era was very hard for every women, men, and child. To call for that the Civil War was unlike any war before or since is an argument this overlooks many of the continuities of time displayed in a history of warfare. sure as shooting it can be claimed to be the first type of war in several of its features, but entirely different isolates it from this history and leaves out very important aspects of it.Citation* The Am erican Civil War. 123helpme.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Feb. 2013. .* Civil War Trust. Civil War Lesson Plans Southern invigoration during Civil War. Civilwar.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Feb. 2013..* Stoddard, Brooke C., and Daniel P. Murphy. Family flavour during Civil War. Netplaces.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Feb. 2013..* Slipp, Naomi, ed. Unpacking Feminist Content in Lilly Martin Spencers War Spirit at Home. WordPress.com. N.p., 17 Dec. 2009. Web. 2 Feb. 2013. .* Women and Children at Home. Ket.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Feb. 2013. .* STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY of MISSOURI RESEARCH CENTER ROLLA, ed. Tallaman- Brown Family Papers. Ozarkscivilwar.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 2Feb. 2013. .* Impact of the Civil War on the Tennessee Homefront. Liberary.mtsu.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Feb. 2013. .* Taylor, Amy Murrell. Family Life During the Civil War. Encylopedia Virginia. Ed. Brendan Wolfe. 2 February 2013 Virginia Foundation Humanities 6 feb 2012