The conditions in the South in 1864 and early 1865 were unbearable. Railroads lines were being cut off left and right. With the West already taken by the Union and the blockade along the coast, the remaining Confederate states were being deeply punished. Southerners were aware of what the war would bring. Southerners remained hopeful throughout the war. Kate Stone’s reaction to the taking of Vicksburg demonstrated the resilient spirit of Southerners, “The loss of Vicksburg has stunned the whole country. It is a grievous blow, and there is great discouragement at least on this of the Mississippi River. But the reaction will come. The people will rally to strike a more deadly blow, to fight till the last armed for expires, to conquer or die”. The taking of Vicksburg was on July 4, 1863, and by early 1865, the Union Army conquered Richmond. With Richmond captured, Jefferson Davis on the run, and Sherman marching up the coast, the end was near. Major Confederate cities are being captured or torched. Georgia and South Carolina laid in ruins after Sherman’s march. Most rail lines in Virginia were cut off, and Phillip Sheridan burned the Shenandoah Valley. Mobile Bay, the last Confederate harbor, was seized by David Farragut. Kate Stone described from Tyler, Texas the conditions east of the Mississippi, “All our coast cities are conquered: gallant old Charleston, Wilmington and Mobile have
The conditions in the South in 1864 and early 1865 were unbearable. Railroads lines were being cut off left and right. With the West already taken by the Union and the blockade along the coast, the remaining Confederate states were being deeply punished. Southerners were aware of what the war would bring. Southerners remained hopeful throughout the war. Kate Stone’s reaction to the taking of Vicksburg demonstrated the resilient spirit of Southerners, “The loss of Vicksburg has stunned the whole country. It is a grievous blow, and there is great discouragement at least on this of the Mississippi River. But the reaction will come. The people will rally to strike a more deadly blow, to fight till the last armed for expires, to conquer or die”. The taking of Vicksburg was on July 4, 1863, and by early 1865, the Union Army conquered Richmond. With Richmond captured, Jefferson Davis on the run, and Sherman marching up the coast, the end was near. Major Confederate cities are being captured or torched. Georgia and South Carolina laid in ruins after Sherman’s march. Most rail lines in Virginia were cut off, and Phillip Sheridan burned the Shenandoah Valley. Mobile Bay, the last Confederate harbor, was seized by David Farragut. Kate Stone described from Tyler, Texas the conditions east of the Mississippi, “All our coast cities are conquered: gallant old Charleston, Wilmington and Mobile have