The Civil War meant sacrifice for both Northern and Southern families, but in the South the fact that homes, farms, and a way of life were at stake brought about an intense commitment that Northern city dwellers could not match. As ordered by the Confederate government, all resources were devoted to the cause: fathers, husbands, and brothers for the fighting; food and livestock to feed the army; cotton to provide clothing; and money in the form of taxes and bonds to buy imported weapons and material. Southern women were expected to provide for their households, plant and harvest crops, and carry on as money and goods grew increasingly scarce. They also had to prepare for battle, as the vast majority of Civil War campaigns took place in Southern territory, with enemy soldiers terrorizing Confederate families and taking what food and household goods they...