Women would go with their loved ones, disguised as men, and leave the rest of their family. If women didn't go, they would have to take the man's role in the family and provide.
"My Dearest Son, You know mother wants to be with her poor wounded soldier boy, I know I should have made at least an attempt to get to you if you had not begged me not. I feel so idle, so useless here at home, knowing how useful I could be to you and how you would love to have dear Mother to nurse you. . . ."
|
"You must give yourself no uneasiness about our familys at the south altho it is a sad affair it will do them no good for us to break down under it. I regret they ever went there if they had foreseen this dreadful war probably, they never would.”
|