Transcripts For CSPAN3 The 20240703

Good afternoon, everyone i Peter Carmichael the director of the seaboard institute here at gettysburg college. Its my pleasure to introduce dr. Ashley whitehead luskey. She is the assistant director of the Civil War Institute here at the college. She works theres a wide range of science. I think one of her great contributions is with the cwi Fellows Program and our students. She oversees a wide range of research projects. They do. Many of them are online or on the blog. They do videos. They do original research. Shes also our students to the vast professional network in, the history field. What she does is something that you cant get at most institutions, and that is connection to professional historians she is deeply involved with. And in fact, she had, i think maybe 12 fellows this spring. And when we looked at their projects, she was basically doing an independent study with each student and it was an extraordinarily rewarding experience for each of them before they came here. She spent some time me at West Virginia university. She was my graduate student briefly before i came here. She stayed wvu where she finished, her ph. D. And her is the basis of what i hope will become a forthcoming. And that title of that book is, the last confederate christmas leading ladies social politics and in the confederate capital. So also note that ashley is unique in her training. She has been a public historian for much of her career. She did her time in the National Park service at Richmond National military park. She gave fantastic tours at gainesville, as well as cold harbor. And she was also, i think, the first person to design and interpret programs in richmond for the famous bred riots. And im sure how the richmond bred riot connected to her topic today, which is its a quite a title performances of suffering confetti, starvation parties. Its a great title. I should also note what she endures on that on a daily basis is my music. Our offices are adjoining and i will play music. And i love band the hold steady. I was very excited and i said, ashley, listen to this. I think youre going to like it. And her response, absolutely. Said, is that music. She is former student, but shes now my colleague and a wonderful colleague. She does so much for all of us here at the conference, so much for our students and im excited for you to have an opportunity to hear her as a scholar. Ashley coming. With you. You. Well, thank you, pete. I appreciate the introduction. What . Pete didnt course tell you about which is the obvious is that he ran away from me at wvu, but then i ran back to him here at gettysburg, so he actually cant get from me. And were actually almost neighbors. We live about a minute apart as the crow flies. So for better or for worse, its and pete. So its wonderful. But admittedly a bit disorienting to go from administering this conference to speaking at it. So forgive me if i all of a sudden talking about dysfunctional meal cards, lost room keys, sort of the confederate home front. But i promise i will try to get back on track. I know that looking at my title probably many of you are thinking, boy, those confederates had an odd sense humor when it comes to partying right, starvation, parties. And in fact, you would be partially right to make that assumption. Theres a lot more it. And thats what were going to unpack today. And as pete mentioned, this is actually part of a much larger project that ive been working on for many years that, looks at cultural rituals in, confederate richmond, it looks at politics and it looks Power Dynamics among the citys leading elite and specifically amongst the leading ladies of the city. So this is small slice of that broader project, but i think its a fascinating window to look at the social and political platforms comprised the confederacy and also a window into world views of the class and how they viewed their own contributions and roles as, social and political leaders. So in my mind, starvation parties, theyre far more than just an event. They are a ritual and more than a ritual. They are, i argue, a complex display of power and a negotiation for power over the course of the civil war. So the big question i think i, linda griffith, raise this question. She, i think debating whether she was going to come to the session. I dont see her. So i dont know. Maybe she was confused what is a Starvation Party the cliff notes version is that these were parties that happened fairly regularly in richmond during the war about once a week and they would take place at the homes of some of richmonds leading businessmen, politicians most often organized by their wives or daughters. Now, at these events, there was no food a refshments served except for, quote, the amber hued water of the river. Doesnt that sound lovely . Pete and i had actually talked about a Starvation Party for our closing social, but jill kind of convinced us probably wouldnt. The best idea for retention at these starvation parties attendees chipped in very small amount of money for amateur entertainment. No professional entertainment, although the entertainment, interestingly did grow from just piano performances to fold out orchestras by the of the war, which is rather interesting. Suppose oddly the attendees came in calico dresses like old homespun dresses. Thats what they say in some of their writings. But we also see in other writings and if you read between the lines in the newspapers that in fact that a lot of these parties, these women are coming to the nines. So perhaps theyre writing in their memoirs after the war to say, oh, we were nothing but old homespun dresses to justify their engagement in thes parties. Perhapreas why charleston newspaper is in late arvation parties in richmondse and saying, oh, the ladies are coming out their old homespun dresses and nothing more was because this is the way they tried to mass market it. But we know for a fact that many of these women brought out all of their old ball gowns, tried to accessorize and the best they could. In fact, there was much flirting that went on at these parties because a lot of officers in and attended and danced with the ladies and Constance Carey, who is the founder of what was called the starvation club in richmond would note we even had to which everybody contributed to favors. The gatherings were the jolly imaginable. We had constant to admit new members and all foreigners and general officers visited richmond were presented to our club as a means of viewing the best society of the south. Now these were, of course, not the only parties that went on in richmond. There were full out gourmet food parties and other extravaganzas that took place, but there were many of these starvation parties. So exactly when and how did they begin . We really see them start popping up in the newspapers and also women talking about them in their diaries. In late 1863, they become formal under this lady right here. This is Constance Carey, who creates this starvation club of richmond. Now, Constance Carey is only about 20 years old. In 1863 when the club forms. She is a refugee. Shes from maryland and shes part of a trio of young socialites in richmond called the carey invincibles, three very attractive, young who would organize a lot of these extravaganzas. I should note that these parties were going on not just in richmond, but also in fredericksburg and in other cities in the south of richmond kind of becomes the best well known for events. So lets note the timing that these parties start to emerge late 63 of course what has just happened on the battlefields weve had disastrous defeats at vicksburg and of course at gettysburg during that summer. But weve also had of course the richmond bred riots, which is what pete noted april 2nd, 1863, a group of over 300 women, children, and even a few men take to the streets of richmond. Theyre armed with hatchets and. Theyre screaming bread or blood as they through the business district. And while some of them may have beenrving legitimately, a lot of them were launching really a political protest against, the confederate government, a protest basically because the government had them. If you give, your husbands and your sons to the confederate cause on the battlefield, we will take of you at home. We will make sure are well taken care of, well fed, you will maintain the material goods and material lifestyle that youre used. And by 1863, with inflation and speculation, they are living. But that. Its also important to note that going into 1863, richmond has suffered from a terrible smallpox epidemic. That has wiped out a good part of the city and there a lot of overcrowding going in the city. So demoralization a lot of kind of social chaos on during this time. So what were the origins. How did this party how did this club come to fruition . Constance claims. And again, you got to take constance with like a spoonful of salt, because constance tends to exaggerate. She that prior to the first meeting of the starvation club, she sent a cohort of ladies to general lee himself and asked if youre upset with this idea, we will back away and we wont continue with the raising of the club. Suppose allie generally says why, of course my dear child, my boys need to be heartened when they get their furloughs go on. Look, youre prettiest and be as nice to them as you ever can be. Its unlikely that this very specific interaction ever. But it does help us of dig into understanding why the ladies thought that these parties were necessary or at least how they sought to represent and why these parties were necessary to the general public. Obviously, theyre responding to battlefield defeats. Theyre trying to raise the morale of these soldiers who are coming into the city and want a good time for the evening by dancing the night away. This is also likely a direct response to the bread riots themselves. The elite are very shattered and shaken by this experience. The unrest that has taken hold of their city. In april of 1863. And they do when you read their accounts, they do feel like the rug is being ripped out from under them to have this kind of mass amount of civil unrest. And so these these parties become almost, in essence a performance of of showing solidarity in suffering with the poor. Right. Oh, youre suffering. Well, make ourselves suffer, too for the evening. Theres a lot to unpack there. And i promise well get more into it. It is also likely very much a response to the overall changing, dramatically changing demographics of richmond during the war theres a great concerns about a loss of morality degeneracy going on, social pretenders coming into capital, usurping peoples power, a kind of rightful social place, disillusionment with the confederate ruling class. As a result of all these individuals coming in. So this is a way to kind of reassert their power and their privilege. Now, whats interesting about richmond, i think a lot people think, oh, richmond, it was always kind of a thriving, cosmopolitan city. But in fact, it wasnt at the start of the war on, the eve of the war, i should say, 1860. It has a population of 38,000 people, everyone kind of knew their social caste where they belong. The elites kind of had a system of policing, controlling power and all of that. And they were kind of socially insular, frankly. They had a thriving business they had thriving domestic slave trade. A lot of people coming in and out of the city, but not a lot of people really staying from outside of richmond. Theyre suspicious of newcomers and then all of a sudden may 1861, it becomes the confederate capital and everything changes by the end of civil war, richmonds population will explode to over 150,000. So 38000 to 150000. As that population explodes out, of course, people get packed in super and amongst the newcomers of course are war workers. There are surgeons medical medical surgeons. There are workers in the rytment. There are all kinds of there are prostitutes there are confidence men andpeculators people hoping to make a quick buck out of whats going on in the confederate capital. And this really upsets the elite. They really fear for their old social order, fear that this beloved society that they had worked so hard to create will be snapped up like that because of all these newcomers. And so to see dalian, i apologize. Never been able to find a clearer picture him. He was a social commentator who frequented all of these parties in the city. He supported this rigid caste system. The city, of course, and he knew that people were very on edge when of a sudden these new people showed up. And so to see dalian, were right in the city where class sometimes jostled privilege the line of demarcation was so strongly drawn that was dangerous. When the news came that patriotism dictated the abandonment of inline Montgomery Alabama for border richmond a surprise that was not all pleasurable, thrilled to the fingertips of richmond society. Its exponents felt as the roman patricians might have felt at the impending advent of the leading families of the goths. A little drama for you her veins might possibly be desecrated by profane touch, her vestal virgins viewed by vulgar. At first blush of the new invasion. It is a symbol that older richmond ready to bolt the front door and lock shutters younger richmond was curious enough to peep between them so that gives you a good understanding of how people react at these old timers in richmond and so the elite will come to rely more on more on kind of what ive understood to be. And this is kind of the core of my manuscript, a group of very intentional and very cultural rituals where they can reinforce their power, their social power, their political, whether it be official or unofficial. So now, these rituals as said, theyre intentional, theyre highly crafted. And the Starvation Party becomes as said, one of those rituals. So why is Starvation Party so important . I have these four points laid out for you to understand. Number one, of course, to support the war effort. The war hero show trtism on the home front, trying to keep those cherished tenets of richmond society. Richmond alive during the war number. Two, of course, to reair their power amidst all of these supposed challenges. Belo number. Try to use that right to rule power to try and keep orde amongst the lower classes of richmond society. And of course four to gain the deference to gain the difference of lower class richmond ers over they rule now starvation. Parties are just one of these many rituals that i talk about. Were talking about conspicuous around the capital. Were talking about theatric performances where the seating in the theater is ordered. Basically, according to your social place in society, church, churchgoing even becomes a ritual holiday rituals, of course, parties of a variety of kinds. Now historian stephen, who wrote a wonderful book about power and intimacy in the old south, describes a ritual as the dramatic tension between selfindulgence and, self control, which is an excellent lens of analysis, i think, for the starvation parties. And while organizing ladies of the starvation are not, of course, official politicians. They cant vote. They dont have the political clout that their men do. They are very much social politician gins and their social actions. What they in public translates into kind of their broader place in the socio political system. This is a culture belong to thats defined, clearly defined by a number of key assets, by deference to those who are above by honor, by a caste system that is organized by race and wealth and breeding. These women, of course, shared stakes with their men if their men lost on the battlefield and if their men lost at home, their position obviously crumbled. At the same time as their men. So they shared in the high stakes of war and theyre constantly on edge. Theyre constantly on edge about their position and their power being. Part of stems back to why southerners in general are always constantly on edge about how much power exactly they have over those that they rule over. And that stems to the system. Slavery. Ever since, of course, the early slave rebellions and of course nat turners rebellion in 1831. They are constantly afraid, especially during the war, when so many men are away that slaves will rise and rebel. But then after the bread, what riots . Theyre especially concerned because shown that regular white women can challenge the political system of the confederacy. So they are constantly living juggling between this idea of mastery and doubt of their power. They know that their appearance is key. They are always in the spotlight. And if they let down their guard, if they dont act to their proper social and political place, they will essentially prove that they do not have necessarily the right or the power to rule. Theyre always to convince others that their system system that theyre in charge of is the system to live by. Now, stephen stow, a great quote. Its a little abstract, but i promise unpack it in more laymans terms. Just a sec. He says, quote, survive as elites. They had to move beyond expression, exhibition, quiet, satisfy, and ones personal worth was culture was for display. Consciousness had to be made manifest when it worked smoothly one felt the deep unity of image and action, personal belief and social influence. If it went awry, it flaunted falsehoods. It ran the risk of exposure by ones lesser. So facades were so to southerners, especially those in the ruling class, keeping up appearances than says was not trivial because. It was always attractive and often necessary to believe that appearances were real, as real as anything else, but that the master class could make. So appearances they wanted to believe were the real thing. This translates into what theyre trying to accomplish with parties. So exactly what does this mean . What are we talking about by . Performances. What do these women hope to showcase in going to these starvation . Dressed to the nines and yet technically starving themselves for the evening . A social corresponds to a political system. Again, these womens political fortunes attached to their husbands. So in one sense, they are very much playing out their privilege as members of the ruling class at starvation parties. Although refreshments are virtually nonexistent and, food is not there. These do come dressed to the nines in their ball gowns. Theyre refurbishing old dresses, getting accessories in through the blockades theyre writing about this actively in letters to their then their diaries. And Constance Carey again will note wonderful where the toilette concocted that vestal winter means 1863 maternal Party Dresses that done duty at newport saratoga, washington and neorleans ballroom were already drawn to rags. The oft told stories of damask cuai taken down to fabricate into trains over petticoats of window curtain lace and of mosquito netting is made up over pink or. Blue brick slips now took i think have gone with the wind. Right. When scarlet demands that those green velvet curtains come down certain it is that girls never looked prettier or danced with more perfect grace than those shot in war maidens trying to obey the generals behest and look their prettiest. For the gallant survivors of his legions. Now, of course, when the males, theyre dressed in their finest military no mud, no dirt, no dust. Theyre all shined up and to go. And of course, for onlookers in the who see these partiers flocking in to these elite mansions, they are putting quite a show. And it is reinforced for that. While they may not be enjoying themselves, gastronomy in these parties, in fact, are still at the very top of society. And dont you forget it. But theyre also just not showing plumage, privilege and to display their privilege, they know that they have a certain of responsibility toward those that they rule over. We, of course, that the southern system, southern culture, deeply rooted in the system of supposed benevolence, benevolence toward those over whom the ruling class has power. And, of course, the Central Group of people that this system applies to is slaves. We know, of course, that slavery, anything but benevolent. But is how slaveholders justified system. This is also how they justified having luxuries. Having material goods and not having the middle lower classes have them as well. That some people were more elite than others and that they were showing enough benevolence in other ways they could justify their indulgence. But its important to note that these pretenses toward benevolent behavior were rooted in the acknowledgment that elite knew that their power was never guaranteed. They knew that that power could challenged at any time like a slave, like the bread riots, like any other form of civil unrest they could imagine. And so they are conscious, only negotiating silently symbolically, intentionally, with the members of the lower classes for power, for their deference. Now that form of benevolence from elite women, lower class women and men during the war often takes the shape of charity work. Right. Its not as often that we see the highest echelon of leading ladies go the hospitals and get their hands dirty, bathing naked men and cleaning wounds. Just not what they do. They do, however, quite a show of driving to the hospital in their in their finest attire. You know, beautiful horses and carriage. They off a bunch of madeira and turkeys and, you know, barrels of flour had stored in their basements. At one point, the ladies of richmond organize whats called the Ladies Gunboat Association and collect scraps of metal that they donate that eventually turns into the ss richmond during the war. So this is very much an intentional performance of charity of of being benevolent toward those who are suffering and course a Patriotic Movement as well. And of course, the bread riots once again demand this kind of political response after. The the horrible political complaints that are being against the government. Now, the elite knew that their right rule was derived from a perceived sensibility in suffering, that they wanted the poor to believe the elite understand us and theyre willing to sacrifice. Theyre willing to suffer like. We are. However, as you can imagine by performing starvation, these actions do just the opposite of what they trying to accomplish. Theyre, in fact, themselves. And distancing themselves from the very people whose deference they are trying to garner by going. Making sure theyre dressed in the nines. Theyre saying. Oh, we empathize with you and your suffering and not going to indulge in luxuries tonight. But dont you forget, were not like you. Were still on top. So this is a dramatic display, more so for a mutuality of of moral amongst the elite than anything else. So its always easy to reduce things to a power play. Right. Its always easy to say, oh, theyre doing intentionally and theyre theyre trying put down the lower classes and trying to showcase power. They dont have any know scrap of feeling toward these people, which i think we should be wary of, of that kind of thinking, because i think these intentions multifaceted. I think that theres a a good amount of evidence that points the fact that these women honestly thought, that they were doing something helpful for homefront and for the soldiers, women such as Constance Carey and of course, mary chesnut, the famed diarist in south carolina, noticed many soldiers and officers on the outskirts of richmond suffering. And they felt its our responsibility to cheer these guys up so that can return to the battlefield and fight to preserve our way of life. Constance carey would know it was our duty to make our soldiers forget the discomforts of camp. And they were trying to convey the great fans behest, look their prettiest for the gallant survivors. So, of course, by late 1863, the military is suffering the homefront, of course, is suffering for all the reasons that i meant earlier. And they see this kind of double or double hit to their society theyre worried that the men might not be able to, you know, win out a victory the battlefield. Theyre now worried about society kind of chipping away with all of these newcomers all these allenges to this th culture, the society that theyve worked so hard to create. And fear that if they dot engage in what they view as patron parties, that this going to tear away at the very foundations of society. What would it matter if the confederacy, the confederate armies won on the battlefield, if society fell apart at home . So they, in fact, view themselves as patriots, whether or not we agree with, that is a different story. But were looking historically through their eyes. So, again, it might be easy for us to say oh, these are just kind of justifications for and, you know, proclivities frivolities. I think that some of these women really felt like were doing a Great Service for the army. And the war continued. Richmonds women believed really that the and the duration of the war was really chipping away at the cohesion of the ruling class. It was chipping away at their respectability the way that they could dress themselves, the activities they could engage in, and those those activities public are so important to maintaining their power and their social position and their political position. And they felt that if they disavowed all of that, then they would no longer a political position. That social caste system would fall apart. So how were they perceived both by their peers and, by the outsider, as well as might be expected, their less material focused peers, and of course, poor of society were horrified. They were appalled. Even some of their husbands, like james, was embarrassed by what his wife was doing. He was embarrassed that she would, in upon these parties right up until the end of the war. The ladies simply didnt understand how these honestly patronized parties were in fact alienating them creating a dangerous sense of social and political alienation between the classes and creating a sense of disaffection for the ruling class. A lot of these poor people believed in a time of war. Respectability should go out the window abnegation of all luxuries, indulgences. That is the only way truly to be patriotic. They also saw, of course, in a time of scarcity, that these women are siphoning resources for their own. Soldiers and generals are suffering out in the battlefield. People from poor. People from the countryside who sending in what little they had to the capital to be disseminated to the soldiers who were being treated there at the. Its an contrast to what these parties were doing. And so by january 1865, this lady right here, judith mcguire, obviously she doesnt look like a partier much. Shes actually a refugee. Shes kind of fallen from grace quite. She used to be part of a very wealthy family. Richmond and the war really sunk her fortune, so shes extra bitter, seeing what the still wealthy are doing. Shes disgusted by the joyous gatherings. She says some people here are seen tamed, crazed with gaiety in the midst of the wounded and dying, the state of the of the poor, the anxiety of the whole country, troubles of every kind by which we are surrounded. I am mortified to say that there are gay parties in the city now. Mcguire did give greater to the starvation parties initially than she did to the more indulgent parties. But she still describes personal shock and disappointment that upon coming home from hands on hospital work at the hospital and watching a die in the arms of his sister as she passes a house and she hears festive blaring from inside and she sees these elite partiers in all of their finery, dancing the night away. And the irony just strikes her. And she says the revolt, the feeling was sickening. She compared it, of course, the distasteful and reckless frivolities of past history. She says, i thought of the gaiety of paris during the french of the cholera ball in paris, the ball at brussels the night before the battle of waterloo and felt shocked that our own virginians at a time should remind me of scenes were want to think only belong to a foreign society. She feared that these parties debased richmond she feared they debased the patriotic and military efforts and she felt once soldiers and generals found out what was going on here, they werent going to be happy. They were going to be feeling like these civilians abandoned the cause that they no longer cared about, the sacrifices and the suffering on the battlefield. Of course, to the partiers, a very different story. Cheer the number of parties they hold. Specific heroes. John bell hood is a very popular at a lot of these parties. There is a big gala for confederate raider. John hunt. Morgan in january of 1864. Now, women also see parties as essential for their own moral. They say were mentally and emotionally we are struggling, are suffering. And because we are the ones left in public, our husbands are preoccupied on the battlefield or in political office. We are the ones who are suffering and we some lightheartedness. Lasalle pickett, pictured here, always loved a good party. She noted, quote, how we live on the rim of a volcano. If we could not dance around its crater, she other Young Richmond ers thought these parties were temporary escapes from the hardships of war. It was a time to refresh and relax and regain their composure so that they could do their their public duties as well as they could. But they also thought, well these parties are important to show that, yes, the confederacy is still much alive on the home front. Theres worth fighting for. There is something worth preserving. Not all. Richmond ers were so confident about successes of the war. Even as early as july of 62, varina davis, the wife of, Jefferson Davis, confessed in a letter to her husband, quote, she still was pessimistic. The south. She felt intimidate by the norths greater resources and habits, discipline and perseverance. And she declared, if the south should fail, it should be gods decree. In the late fall of 1864, of course, varina just lost one of her youngest children to a tragically fallen out of the window of the confederate house to his death. Just that summer, varina pictured here with her newest baby, winnie, confided toer friend mary chesnut. I confess, i do not success in every passin beze. But i am so tired hoping. Fearing. Being disappointed, she continued to stress to mary her sincere efforts not to be disconsolate. Even though thieves break through and steal. She admitted she had a blind kind of prognostic. So victory us. But somehow i am not cheered. And even into 1865, shes writing to a general friend of hers named general preston, saying that like women who have the poorer classes, who now blamed their men for going to war and getting them into this mess, she also somewhat blamed her husband and his compatriots. She says she no longer confessed. She confessed that she no longer believed in popular sovereignty or states rights, but only in the guarantee of republicans society. Most of all, varina will say the war had been a mistake, but a mistake that the south had to try. Now, very you know, of course, the wife of the president of the confederacy despite these personal doubts, she has to on a good show. She has to perform. So she does engage in these parties starvation, elaborate galas, food with professional entertainment as she tries to use those to cheer herself up. Mary writes of the necessity tamer parties and commented that, quote, hope and, fear are both gone and it is or death with us. I not see how sadness or despondency would help us. And pember, a young widow from south, came from a aristocratic family. She gives up pretensions to aristotle. Crissy comes up to richmond to help out in the famed chimborazo hospital, one of the largest hospitals in, the entire confederacy. She even says at the start, young men advocated for a festive state of affairs, arguing that the fatigues and dangers of a campaign in the field. After this, some relaxation was necessary. So there are these feelings that we all need it, that political leaders, social leaders, the men who are in the field. We all need these. But how did evolve over the course of the war. Well, on christmas night, christmas eve, 1864, the the women of richmond, led by varina davis, take part in an elaborate starvation ball. This occurs at one of the homes of one of the elite members of society. Its part of this event called the last confederate christmas. And is really this confere Christmas Event is probab of the most telling episodes. Women are using rituals, very conspicuous and intentional rituals to try and affirm their power, to show benevolence, to try and gain deference from lower members of society. So this was a three part event. This christmas on christmas eve, the elite gathered actually with their slaves and they made some toys and a feast for the orphans of the local orphanage, the St Pauls Church orphanage, out of supplies that had been sent in to them from the countryside on christmas day. They go to a Christmas Service at St Pauls Church and they have this party for the orphans of st pauls. And then that evening retreat for this Starvation Party. So in my mind, the elite are doing this as both a response to the perceived need, social and political needs, the public, but also to their own needs. By this late point in war. And i think they think that is going to be this elaborate, dramatic stage where they can showcase their respectability, their benevolence toward the poor. Theyre theyre right to rule. Unfortunately, it goes horribly wrong for them and falls flat. Now, although starvation parties occurred year round in the confederate capital, they do more popular during the winters of 1863 and 1864. Still, of they gain the criticism of their very tongue tongued critics, newspaper editors, members of the general public. Their husbands have a lot of very sharp things to say about these proclivities toward partying. They view them as two totally inappropriate, whether theyre surrounding a holiday or not. And they really fear that these are undermining the confederacy. Now, some are actually conflicted. Are these parties really so bad . Theyre starvation parties. One woman named mary mcgill expresses, both empathy with and yet scorn toward the women who are engaging in parties. She will write. It was curious how the nastiest economy of the times came in even with this element of society for supper, loose balls and talus parties were the order of the day. Young people would meet together and dance wildly night through without any refreshments to support them in the exhausting exercise. Soldiers from the field got furloughs to engage the gaiety, and yet she turns around later and she writes how cold hearted these women are to engage in this reckless gaiety. She it is a strange and noticed bowl lead. We turn in the study of human nature. That constant familiar already with scenes of suffering renders the heart callous to them. It is so great an epidemic where men and women laugh and dance upon the brink their own graves. And it is always case in times of war that there is a recklessness of mirth and enjoyment, as if the mind sought escape from the present by living in a continual state of excitement, whose charm that it blinds the minds eye and the heart to the realities. Life. The soldiers had no shame either. Its a pretty indictment of her peers. Women such as phoebe yates, tambor as i said, who came to work as a matron at chimborazo hospital, quickly changes her tune and writes off all parties as just absurd and just demoralizing for anyone except for the elite class. She writes very disapprovingly of, these parties. She scoffs at the contrast between the horrors and the deprivations she sees in the hospital on a daily basis. And then she comes home like judith mcguire. She sees women dancing while being flirting with soldiers in from the field in their dress. She has particularly sharp words for varina davis herself. She calls her lady queen. In fact, for helping to organize some of these parties. She obviously, of course, doesnt know that varina doesnt entirely have her heart in them. In february of 1864, she felt she expressed that these parties and, these kinds of extravagances were going doom the confederacy, single. She said it would be the fault of. The confederacy is quote my quote high rollers. If the south should lose the quote if spartan austerity is to win our independence, we are a lost nation. I do not like. The signs and fear the writing on the wall might come in time to us. And during the winter of 64, she increasingly bitter about what she calls selfish lifestyles being lived. These women. She writes her hospital diary, which is an excellent book. You can get your hands on it. Its called a southern story. The city is unusually gay this winter with parties private theatrical and tableau wise and thoughtful men disapproved only of this mad. There was certainly a painful between the excitement, dancing and the rumble of ambulances that could be heard in the momentary lull of the music, carrying the wounded to hospitals, to thinking people. This recklessness ominous. And by february of 1865, it began to be felt by them that all was not as safe as were supposed to be. Judith mcguire, of course, continues to know away at these women shes by their wardrobe finery. She doesnt care if theyre not engaging in any other kind of alleged, extravagant forms just to dress up like that. And basically rub everyone elses nose in. Your position of authority during this time. Was appalling, especially country people, she said, were sending what little they had to the city be disseminated to soldiers. Even mrs. Roger pryor was the wife of a fire eating, who then becomes a newspaper editor, will write that she herself is horrified. She has taught her children to be grateful for any kind sweetness. A pitcher of sorghum if she can get it for her children. Oh, theyre. But these women are complaining that they dont it by the barrel. However. Despite these caustic remarks from their peers and despite their own lip service regarding just how important it was to have true starvation parties, the partiers partied on mrs. Virginia clay. Noted. Here she is probably one of the worst offenders. Quite, she was quoted as saying she refused to letigh costs and other problems of living in the confederate capital prevent her from enjoying,uote, one final fling she admittedly that while she was temporary refugee, georgia, she would write to her husband and, hey, can you get me some stuff for the blockade . She would ask for books, corsets, dresses, bonnets, hankies, furs while repeatedly turning down requests for her knit stockings and, roll bandages for the local hospital. Its no wonder that soldiers and officers like richmond artillery, petes fave colonel Willie Pegram wrote in that he was horrified by what was happening. He thought richmond must be getting corrupt with its patronized starvation parties and other balls. He believed that the gaiety and corruption the city couldnt possibly be from native richmond as it had to be from foreigners and newcomers, he said. He feared that, quote, god will not us, meaning the confederacy if this moral degradation continued and he was disgusted that one half of a community reveled in and festivals when the other half are mourning their dead friends. Worse yet, other confederate generals that people on the home front had completely forsaken their soldiers. They didnt care what happened to them they only cared about getting in that one final fling. And they worked and they worried that they were actively whether they were intentional or not, they were working toward the undermining of the moral fabric of the south. And so Stephen Dodds ramsar agrees with. Willie pegram stating the army is sound. But he, the southern civilians might condemn us to dying in this cause. In one outburst against the extra arrogance of these ladies. One perhaps mistakenly directed toward Phoebe Pember herself because she was not attending these events. One of peppers patients at the hospital at chimborazo asks for a of pickles and pember says well those luxuries are no longer available. And the soldier back. Perhaps would have more pickles if you had few were newer dresses. So this is the scene. So again, why do these women cling so fiercely to these parties . Go to our original for showing their patriotism, trying preserve the cherished tenets of coederate society, reaffirming their power and their privilege using that pow a privige try and reaffirm social order below and again, trying to lor classes. Eference of th now, knowing the ladies did express genuine concern, genuine concern for soldiers in the hospitals, for those who were truly suffering, they werent completely hard hearted. They were, after all. Its unfair to suggest that they had just forsaken those were suffering. Rather, their show a crucial blind spot spot in understanding of the perceived needs of society and how to treat those needs. It also shows a remarkable blind spot in, their own understanding of their role as social and political leaders. They just cant understand. The poor just might interpret the intentions of the starvation as part starvation parties differently than they did, and how dangerous their actions were becoming . So take dalian. He goes on to praise these parties as, quote, unique assemblies for mutual moral support, a way to recreate the comforting race and means of a four time splendors, and to cultivate the new courtly ness and refinement of a respectable and moral society. So clearly someone completely hung up on the old south and kind of the old days in his mind, and just blinded by how things have changed and how perceptions of what theyre doing have changed. So in dressing their best for these parties are arriving at these making these grand entrances, at these mansions. The ladies do make a statement but its not the statement that they want to or need to make. However, they justify their actions, saying were not doing anything wrong. Were not having, you know, big food extravaganzas here. Were not having wine or madeira whiskey or any of that. Not hiring out professional musicians. Were just enjoying our class privilege, basically, while also showing that we we understand what the poor are going with. So this ultimately becomes the Starvation Partys far more of a comforting and uplifting ritual for the elite than it does an uplifting event to help raise the morale of the poor. So to wrap, why should we care about something so trivial against the backdrop of sufferings that were so great . Indeed, these sacrifices, such as they be from the elite, might indeed seem very trivial against the real sufferings of the soldiers in the hospitals and the poor on the home front. However, i still argue they are important because they allow a critical window into the worldviews of richmonds leading ladies toward final days of the war and how they understood it their social and politic position, how they understood Power Dynamics in the capital flawed that understanding might be despite the continued sharp criticism of their peers who less materially focused of the poor of the middling class. The fact that these ladies to perpetuate these starvation throughout 1864 and 65 again reveals their understanding of how to correct the social ills and political fractures. Society again reveals their of how they might have a role in treating them. Addiction. Their insistence in perpetuating these starvation parties right up through really the turbulent days of where their parties april 1st, april second. Right. Right. And that brennan that each eve of april 2nd, right before the capital falls, their persistence in perpetuating these parties speaks to really you have to kind of admire it. An impressive determination to try and keep alive a society that was failing rapidly in the battlefield. But they refuse to let it go. On the home front, they viewed again this was their responsibility and they were going to persevere until the end. So while their critics really, truly and understandably see past what they view as just truly selfish and activities, patronizing activities in their starvation balls, these women say this is our privilege and this is our responsibility. Were doing our patriotic duty and were entitled to it. On the whole, one must come to the conclusion that the starvation parties ultimately did far more to undermine the already cracking social and political structure of the master class than it did to prop it up. Unfortunately for the ladies, despite, and in fact partially because of their strongest attempts protect their city and their society from social and political chaos, from you surfers, from they called social pretenders through these selfish and hollow and seemingly patronizing rituals, these starvation parties ultimately revealed these leading ladies to some of the biggest social pretenders all. Thank you. And if anybody has any questions or is feeling hungry after, all of this talk of lack of food. Id like a glass of water, please. Yes. Would it be amber hued from the james river . Oh, well, maybe leave that out. But anyway, im trying wrap my head around this and was the main criticism in that people were having fun . You shouldnt have fun at a time like. Or was it more that it still costs money . It was depriving people of needed things like the blockade drumming that you mentioned. Sure. Its both. I think everyone understood that they needed a little bit of lightheartedness during these dark days. But going this far and having this kind of extravagant was beyond the pale to lot of people, especially because kind of made fun of them as patronizing toward those who were really suffering like, oh, were going to go to a Starvation Party, were going to starve ourselves tonight. Just that that irony, juxtaposition did not sit well with them, that this is not the right kind of levity. Its making fun of of circumstances. But also, youre right, there were women and as i said, some of them were greater offenders than others. Virginia Constance Carey being some of them, they were requests things through the blockade. They were kind of siphoning off resources that they could have used for bandages or use at the hospital. Other women were kind of recycling old dresses, but spending a lot of time focusing on that of, you know, what can we bring to the hospital . How much money can we raise for this benefit . So it is its both material. Its also the nature of the levity and the irony of the event. Oh, thank you. Just to follow up, was was there always the flip side to it where people were volunteering to help or to raise money. Among the elite, you mean . Yes. Yes. I think most of the early they knew it was their responsibility. They had to get involved in some way with charity. And so, again while they didnt get their hands dirty to speak, they were happy enough to drive to the hospital and drop off a load of expensive goods, as long as saw that they did it. And saw that they were dressed in their finest and had their nice carriages and all of that. When they formed the Ladies Gunboat Association and those donations of scrap metal make the gunboat, they made sure that they printed the name of every single in the newspaper and how much they contributed to the cause. I want to make sure that they were recognized. So, yes, i would say the vast majority of these women are actively in some kind of charity, but its conspicuous charity, i should say. Okay. Thank you. Yeah, thanks. Oh, my father has a question. Im if anyone ever tasted that amber liquid to see if people were cheating. But my question is, did the parties fare after the war . Southern society had to continue. Did you take your question. Oh, my neighbor was next line, sir. I to knowledge they they did not exist after the war. They had these had enough of a problem on their hands. Now, some of these women, i should say, its kind of an interesting substudy im interested in called the confederate diaspora, the war where some women go to, some flee to brazil, some go to canada, and they try and recreate kind of the ceylon life, like of a french fulani heir, where they do food served and they do have musicians and they try to recreate the old south. To my knowledge theres never any more starvation parties occur. I think they must have figured that theyd up the ghost by that point and they had bigger problems to to solve. So thank you for doing after lunch. So we all didnt feel bad while we were eating. Thats right. So whats kind of a two part question . So what sort of visitor signs of deference were women looking for as a result of these parties . And then the second part of it is, you know, essentially were people that they were trying, you know, essentially kind of lord actually responding or were those people just too busy with their lives to care . Yeah. So those are great questions. So the first question about deference, basically, theyre looking for order. They dont want any more challenges. They dont want more bread, riots during a davis because is Jefferson Davis wife would get women coming to her from different classes begging for pardons their husband because theyre starving or theyre suffering on the home front or sick they need them to come home. Some of these confrontations can get kind of nasty and ugly, so they are looking kind of an acknowledgment that were doing all we can for you. Tamp down any disaffection, dont think about rioting again for sure. Also make room for us on the streets. One of the things they get deeply worried about is prostitutes jostling off the sidewalks. This is one of the things they write a lot about, actually, in the newspapers and in their diaries, theyre looking for literally a demarcation of public space that theyve been used to like this is our space. And you say over they were really upset that this riffraff in their minds had invaded the Capital Square grounds was kind of the the lounge grounds of the elite. And now all of a sudden, they see, you know, what they call a dandy puppy riding with his lady through square with a pair of cream colored horses. And theyre appalled. So theyre trying to, again, reassert like were the real ladies. Thats thats cheap. And thats not the real thing. Thats not you want to aspire to. We are the ones in control. And you should show that deference. The second part of your question was the women to whom they were kind of projecting this, that and maybe maybe youre you know, its a different thing with prostitutes jumbling you on the street or. Right. But i mean, are those people actually receiving the message or are they too busy to care . Because you know honestly, you know, we see this even today with people who have Society Balls things. Right. And, you know, frankly, of us are like, you know what . Just find the pretender. Right . Ive got a life to live. Yes. And so i was just wondering if the people that to whom they are projecting this are just really too busy to even care. Yeah. What they want you. You hit the nail on the head there. Its definitely the case. These people, especially by 64, they have far more on their plate, bigger fish to fry. And thing is, by 64, the parties get more and more insular. So even though the women more and more elaborate, theyre kind of tucked away in their mansions, perhaps responding to bread rise, perhaps not wanting to engage with the riffraff quite as much. But theyre still obsessed with their appearance. So, yeah, we dont really see any response for writings. You know, some women writing tear them apart, the southern as a great satirical newspaper during the war. It writes horrible things about what women are doing. But theres no active, you know, how dare you or kind of challenge the women other than, you know, theyre just going to do what theyre going to do. Theyre going to keep going to these places that before hand they werent allowed to go to like Capital Square and jostling off the sidewalk, but theres no like active response besides that. Theyre just kind of theyre going on with their theyre writing about it every now and then theyll kind of, you know, do Something Like step into a public space theyre not supposed to be in. Thats pretty much it. Yeah. Mm hmm. Yeah. Hi. I was kind of wondering if for their northern sisters, the elite women in the north didnt have the starvation issue. They can have plenty of refreshments. Im sure. Sure. But were they partying, too, while the war was going on . I assume that some of them were. I honestly, everyone asked me because my project is squarely focused on the south. Everyone always ask me whats going on in d. C. . Whats the dynamics like in philadelphia. I assume that there are still parties, are still galas. There are welcome home parties for generals and things like that. But in the south, facades matter so much more than they do in the north always been that way. Its just part of your dress, the part, you act the part and you are part. Even if internally you are not. Whereas in the north its more kind of, not transparent view, but just not as obsessed about the facade. So i dont that it has quite the same feel it in the north. I would welcome any feedback from, any of the scholars here who study this more in depth in the north than i have. But to my knowledge, it just has a different feel with their parties. Thank you. Mm hmm. You said that they. If your died at the front, you lost status . No, you dont lose social status. No, no. Which part were you referring to . What did i say that made you raise that point . I thought you had said something about their status had gone down. If their. If theyd lost their husband. And i was wondering if there is some sort of normally theres some sort of upper class street cred that you would get for the sacrifice that. Sure. No, i think for the for common women. If you lost your husband, that was considered a patriotic sacrifice. Have it for these girls then. Oh, of these. You know thats true. Kind of the unfortunate widow. I think i meant by their stakes are tied to their husbands is that if the south falls and that the caste system based upon a slaveholding society falls, these women fall to. So its more so if the nation a whole fails and these women lose their footing. Certainly if one of these women and in fact, one of the koreans visibles how do you carry who is the most beautiful woman in rich men . And she was very attractive. She she was married to john pegram for two weeks, i believe, before he was killed, hatchers run. And she was just kind of seen a victim and people embraced her. And she never lost her status because he died a war hero. But when the south crumbles, these women suddenly do not have nearly the same clout that they had before the war. Yeah, i. Afternoon. I really enjoyed listening to your presentation and when you mentioned John Bell Hood yeah. Im thinking about richmond societies impact on southern high command and im thinking of you all in hood and how when they returned from being when you got injured and you came back to the front, they were claimed that he totally different because he got a new wife. Right so im wondering what your perspective is because i think like you had said that these women were were trying to spin this. As you know, we are strengthening our men. Were bringing them up. But it seemed like at, least for a couple of confederate commanders, they came back totally different from being in richmond for so long. So i was wondering what your perspective was on that. Sure. So i. I think that that is true. I think that for some of them, like John Bell Hood mean, losing an arm and a leg like you got to be brought up somehow. It certainly having adoring ladies flirting with you, thats going to boost your spirits coming back. And i do think that it does provide the high command with kind of that okay that the society that i came from that im fighting for that ive sent all these men to their death for its still alive. Its fighting for. So in that sense, i think i think the women do have it right. But of course, people like Willie Pegram and stephen dodson, ramshaw. They would be horrified. They would never set foot at one of these things. So i think it just depends on on the character of the personality of who is coming, what they expect. I dont know if its you know ego stroking as well is part of it, but certainly not every member of the high command. General lee, of course, never these kinds of things. I think its just a certain kind of personality that comes to these and really does feel refreshed coming back, whereas other people will say, like pegram and ramshaw, im never going to one of those. I hope that they stop immediately because its embarrassing. Yeah. Thanks. Sure. Ben. I have a question. I mean, the fact that a lot of these are well connected socialites, theyve got connections in other cities in the south. Do they ever make an effort to try to promote this type of party and, other cities . And did it on there . And if it didnt, why yeah. So its interesting. The accounts that i found in the charleston newspaper from south carolina, of course, in 64, they seem fascinated by this. This is happening in richmond. And to me, i wondered, well, why wasnt it or happening so often in charleston . I mean, you think this is right up their alley, right . Maybe its the blockade affects them more or maybe im just not sure. But the lack of of leading members of society who are as influential as, you know, the kingpins of the richmond the confederate administration, Jefferson Davis and james and those kinds of people, i just dont. I do know that it does happen in other i mean, fredericksburg, as i mentioned, had them and. Fredericksburg is not really a big city by comparison. So they do pop up in other cities, but theyre from what ive read, so and there could be more out there that i just havent seen. Richmond is like the hotbed for these starvation parties and other cities. Do you write in kind of fascinated slash perplex slash in all of them so they very well well have been happening elsewhere just on a smaller basis but they explode in the capital more so than anywhere else because right nobody else. All right. Well, thank you, guys