Women and the War

I have been noticing around me the new roles that are being played by women. I realized this as soon as my good friend, Eliza from North Carolina, wrote to me about her husband being away in the war. She said that she has had to take over their families plantation but she loves it. The once dominated by men world before the civil war has slightly disappeared. Since so many men have left to fight in the war it has left jobs open for women. One of my other friends, Martha, has recently decided to join her husband in the army. She says that she only cooks and cleans but it has given her a different purpose of life. I don't feel as though my job has drastically changed; I was a teacher abut due to demand in products I work at a cloth making factory. Although the war hasn't changed my role much I am happy for my friends who are finally able to step up in society without causing a fuse in the community. I have wrote to my husband about the changes and he wrote me back talking about the nurses who are joining the army. Nursing has become a very noble job and apparently it was started by Clara Barton. I hadn't heard much of the traveling of women until Martha told me about Clara. I guess I had been so blinded by the fighting that I didn't realize how much women are stepping up. Lincoln approved the United States Sanitary Commission and this allows women to be able to watch over hospitals in military installations. Women are learning how to cure the soldiers and bandage their wounds and this has brought lots of help to injured soldiers and maybe this could help women gain a bigger role in society after the war.

Life of a Soldier

1863
I have just received the most dreadful news. James has died. He was sick for a very long time and he has died of pneumonia. I am so so sad. Zachary left just before we found out about the death of James . On the bright side Harriet has been found. Adam found her by some miracle and he has wrote to me about her. She is acting as a man so she can fight for what she believes and I am proud she feels about this so strongly but I'm scared that she will also be killed. It would be unbearable to have another family member die. They have been writing to me about the conditions of the camps and the sound absolutely dreadful. I wish my family would just come back home. From what I have heard about the armies in the north and south they are more safe but nothing is guaranteed. For every 5 people that are able to 4 were chosen within the confederacy but only half of the men in the Union have served so far. This is a large number but the statistics of the north are better than the south and I can only hope that these number don't go up.
1864
Zachary writes me letters quite often and he claims that when he isn't fighting there isn't much to do except write and play games. I am glad he isn't fighting and he is able to write. He has been traveling much like Adam is with his troops. Zachary written me saying that he may be able to join Adam because most troops are put in groups depending on what town they're from. He has also said he is practicing his religion greatly in hopes to keep the rest of our family safe. He has met many different types of people but I wish he would come home. He says war life is too complicated right now and he must fight because the soldiers from boarder states are choosing what side they want to be on. The Union army needs as many people as they can get but I just wish it would end.
1864

Things have been getting worse in the army. Zachary, Harriet and Adam have written to me describing the amount of death that is aroused from tiny wounds. They have said that the water is filthy and food can be scarce. Thousands of soldiers have died so far and many have been injured due to the new technology and apparently there has been lots of amputation of limbs. Minor wounds and diseases are killing so many and the doctors can't seem to help everyone so they are dying. I am so scared for my family because if more die than I won't have a family anymore. My husband has told me about the prisoner of war camps and he says that they are even more harsh than anything he has ever seen. He has heard of the prisoners of war captured by the confederacy have a huge lack of food and many have died from malnutrition and according to the statistics my husband has they currently have 33,000 Union soldiers. I can't even imagine the awful conditions that they are put in. The confederacy is so harsh apparently when an African American is captured from the Union they are just killed. This is such a bloody war and it is the most gruesome that I have been alive for but with all the fighting this war can stop as soon as it started or it can last forever.

Troubles on both Northern and Southern home fronts Part #1

Although there are many problems going on between the armies, and there is still an increasing amount of change occurring in the economy and society. I feel as though the north is becoming more successful do to the impact this war has had on our industry. The clothing, arms and other material industries have become increasingly popular which is great for my husband and I because I  quit being a teacher due to our friends in a cloth business that offered me a job due to the increase in demand.  Unfortunately war is expensive and it was already known that the cost would be an issue while going into a war but our economy has been drastically changed. To help with the cost many taxes have been issued to wealthy families like my own and we are are forced to give more money than others but I am okay with this as long as the north wins the war. Tariffs have been recently introduced along with an increase in taxes and the cost of imported goods has also been raised. The payment of the war seems to be going well especially due to the funds that are coming from the sale of government bonds. People are giving money and they are receiving promises that they will later get back even more money but my husband refuses to do this. He doesn't want to risk all of our money disappearing because the government will have a very hard time paying back all of the promised payers and although it is being considered an act of patriotism I agree with Zachary. The government has also made a new law called the Legal Tender Act in 1862. This enables the Treasury to use "green backs." My husband has told me that "green backs" are just paper money and it is the first currency that everyone in the United States shares. The Homestead act has also recently been passed and this has made western land very cheap but only to those who will farm it. This war has finally lead to some changes with what to do with the western land. Things are changing and I don't think that this could have happened without fighting. There has recently been another law issued called the Pacific Railroad Act and this has allowed companies to go into the Union and build rail lines through it therefore resolving the intercontinental railroad arguments. It seems as though more good has come from the war so far and I hope that good things keep occurring.

"Are You a Proud Descendant of a Confederate Soldier ?" Are You a Proud Descendant of a Confederate Soldier ? N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2016.

54th Massachusetts Regiment

My daughter Harriet has gone missing. I happen to be very confused but she left a letter saying she was going to help her brothers. I think this means she is going to fight but my husband and I have a lack of information. I am so very worried and I only hope that she can find either James of Adam but maybe she is trying to live up the Harriet Tubman, the amazing lady she was name after. Although I am unbearably sad about my daughter I have heard good news. African Americans have finally joined the Union army and although some whites were racist at first the performance of the black soldiers has apparently been amazing. This has lead an all black regiment called the 54th Massachusetts Regiment supported by the abolitionist Governor of Massachusetts and this has allowed for the 180,000 African Americans that served in the war to finally fight. The Confederacy had once considered doing this but of course southerners didn't like this idea. I am fine if slaves don't fight for the confederacy because it leaves them with less troops and hopefully it leaves slaves with more of a will to fight to become free. My son, Adam, told me that the first test of the African American soldiers was in a battle in June 1863 in Port Hudson, Mississippi. It was declared by a union solider that, "my prejudices with regard to negro troops have been dispelled by the battle... The brigade of Negroes behave magnificently." Robert Gould Shaw lead the 54th regiment to Fort Wagner in Charleston Harbor into battle and although this was unsuccessful and many died there was still much respect for the troops. I have heard that one of the soldiers has been presented with the great honor of winning the Congressional Medal of Honor becoming the first African American that was awarded. My son has said that most of the time the African American troops are forced to do other little things for the other troops such as cooking or cleaning and they also have the longest guard shifts in the most dangerous areas. The black soldiers shouldn't be treated this way because they are fighting for us so they are one of us. They are standing up for what they believe and if they are captured they will be killed. James told me of a time where African American soldiers tried to surrender but the Confederacy showed no mercy and killed a little over 100. The African American soldiers still fight with all of their might despite the disadvantages. Even slaves in the south are helping northern troops. Slave owners are being selfish and leaving their slaves to take care of the farm while the owners leave for safety but some slaves have been producing crops and giving them to northern troops. The African Americans have proven to be more help than the army thought and it makes me so happy to hear how they have been doing. Many African American slaves have been acting as spies for the benefit of the Union army and some even organize their own military units. There is even an uprising beginning, some slaves are refusing to work or demanding more money and they are finally becoming free. I hope Harriet comes home soon but I am happy to hear of the good news coming from James and Adam about the war.

"The Hope and Glory of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment - New England Historical Society." New England Historical Society. N.p., 26 Jan. 2014. Web. 22 Feb. 2016.

Emancipation Proclamation

On September 22, 1862, Lincoln made a very bold move that I was in full agreement of but others weren't. He finally announced the Emancipation Proclamation and its purpose was to declare that all enslaved in rebel states would become free on January 1, 1863. Of course this military degree wouldn't apply to the boarder states due to their great loyalty to the Union. I have read in the newspaper that Lincoln had hoped that southern states would surrender due to the proclamation and most of the north was ecstatic.The war may finally end! This could be such an amazing thing even Fredrick Douglas has said, "We shout for joy that we live to record this righteous degree." So many that were once against Lincoln are now praising him but of course our nation can't agree on anything so there are many unhappy about this decision. Zachary has told me that even British abolitionist are excited about this proclamation but there has been criticism from congress and William Lloyd Garrison. Some republicans feel as though the proclamation stated enough while many democrats considered the proclamation to be too bold. Neither sides opinions matter anyways because the proclamation didn't free any slaves; however, I feel as though it did help the war come to a new turning point. The proclamation may have been a cause to the democratic gains seen in the congress elections in fall but I am still happy about the proclamation. It has finally turned this war to be about slavery and this is what it has been about from the start for my family. Now most white southerners are also looking for a way out of the war but Confederate leaders are more ready to fight than ever. My sons have told me of the uproar of African American volunteers to fight in the Union army against slavery and this is very helpful due to the need of more soldiers in the Union army. The Militia Act was then enacted two months after the proclamation and this allowed the military to except black soldiers. This make me so happy because the war has taken racism away from the north and I feel as though we have to fight together to get through this war.

"Primary Documents in American History." Emancipation Proclamation: Primary Documents of American History (Virtual Programs & Services, Library of Congress). N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2016.

Antietam

The Confederacy has become overly confident especially their General due to their victories. The Union is only getting stronger and my sons are ready to show General Lee what the north can do. In September 1862, Lee had marched his troops to Maryland with the hopes of starting a pro-Confederate uprising. They also hoped that since most of the battles were in southern territory that the change to fighting in the north could gain recognition from Europe. I think that the south went into this war too bold. Lee's army didn't need to fight they needed food but this battle did end well for the north so hopefully we won't become over confident with our results. My son, Adam, wrote to me about this battle because James has fallen ill but he will hopefully be better soon. On September 8 trouble for the south began as Lee's plan started to unravel and it turned into a result he wouldn't have wished for. Lee started by issuing a "Proclamation to the People of Maryland" inviting Maryland to join the rest of the south but as a loyal part of the north Lee didn't get the result he had hoped. Adam then told me about he and some other Union soldiers found a rebel campsite with Lee's plan. This war has proven to be all about surprise attacks but the crucial element of surprise that the Confederate troops planed was ruined. My son has told me that when they handed the plan to McClellan he exclaimed, "Here is a paper with which if I cannot whip Bobbie Lee, I will be willing to go home." The armies met at Sharpsburg, Maryland and the Union spread along Antietam Creek and the Confederacy was attacked in three phases on September 17. This battle was the bloodiest seen; my son says he can't even describe the gory details and he is glad James didn't go. Adam left the war with some shards metal in his shoulder but I consider this far more lucky than the 23,000 soldiers that died or were greatly wounded. The Battle of Antietam lead Lee to retreat to Virginia and it has given the north a renewed amount of energy. I believe that we can win this war, I always have, and now with Lincoln believing it we can conquer anything.

"The Battle of Antietam Video." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2016.

"Battle of Antietam." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2016.

"Antietam: A Savage Day In American History." Antietam: A Savage Day In American History. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2016.

Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2016.

The Battle of Bull Run

My sons have just been through their first battle. They have written me throughout the war and they have told me that they're okay. In July 1861 they were sent along with 30,000 other Union troops. General Scott sent General Irvin McDowell and the troops outside of Washington to fight the waiting Confederate forces. The armies came in contact near a creek called Bull Run and in Manassas, Virginia. My sons have told me that in the at first it seemed as though the Union had the upper hand but the Confederacy was lead by General Thomas J. Jackson. The determined General proved that the Confederacy was stronger and they over powered the Union sending the Union troops back to Washington. For the refusal of the General to surrender to the Union troops he was nicknamed Stonewall Jackson and he was announced as a hero. The battle has apparently gained two names, here in the north the battle is known as the Battle of Bull Run but in the south it is the Battle of Manassas. I think that from this battle the north has realized that this war may not be as short and easily won as we thought. The south has a reason to fight and they will but the north will conquer and this war will end before the south can even realize what's happening. My husband has told me of how Lincoln has responded to the lose of the battle by increasing the amount of troops and letting General George B. McClellan take the place of McDowell. My husband and I have been talking about the issue of slavery and how it has always been the reason why we support this war but it seems as though Lincoln isn't fully addressing slavery. Many abolitionists have realized this and they are are becoming impatient especially Fredrick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison. Most of the north is fighting against slavery, like my sons are, and if Lincoln spoke about how he is against slavery I feel as though the north would gain more support. Europe disapproves the thought of slavery and this is why Great Britain is hesitant to help the Confederacy and the north would become more popular and gain more support in other countries than the Confederacy. My sons have been writing to me about their experiences on the battle field and it sounds as though they are doing quite well so far but they have told me about a dilemma that keeps arising. African Americans kept coming into the control of the Union and it would be counter productive to send them back into slavery and some attempts have been made at what to do. Hundreds of black refugees were gathered by General Benjamin Butler and they were put into manual labor and they were declared as merely war supplies. General John Frémont then declared that all enslaved people that entered the state of Missouri under his leadership would officially become free but from this boarder states began to worry so Lincoln took back Frémot's words. Zachary has told me about the Presidents secretive work; he has found that Lincoln is devising a plan for the emancipation of enslaved citizens in the Confederacy. Lincoln realized that he couldn't avoid the his views of slavery so he shared his plan with the Cabinet in 1862. The announcement came as a shock but most were in favor of it but the members agreed that this plan shouldn't be announced immediately. The act wasn't wanted to look like desperation especially after the Second Battle of Bull Run was lost by the Union. The Union needs a victory and my sons have reassured me that it shall not be very long before the Union is once again successful.

Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2016.