41 



barrel. Teas latter part of the War Avas .flO or |2() per 

 bushel. Corn was the same. 1 bought meal in Sumter 

 ( 'ounty tor |(> per bushel, and tobacco |2 to .f8 a plug. From 

 an old bill I copied: Hams, |5; bacon, |4.50; lard, |4 per 

 pound; and from a. letter in which a party offered hogs alive, 

 1 1.50 per pound. Rice was comparatively cheap here, as 

 there was a good deal of it on hand Avith no sale, and 

 conld only be used for consumption of onr people and ne- 

 groes around. 



For writing miaterial, pa})er from old blank books, brown 

 or wall paper, or any such thing was used for this pur[>osc. 



Envelopes were home-n^ade out of some stnlf, and geuer 

 ally turned and sent back with reply. 



It may be news to some of you that the Confederate Gov- 

 ernment, at times, received taxes in provisions. I have in 

 my possession a receipt from C. S. A. quartermaster for 

 some of this tax in kind. 



Now, I come to the part of my theme which I know not 

 how to approach, for I cannot express in words my admira- 

 tion for them — our women during the War and after. 

 Think you the men suffered? The women suffered more. 

 Think you the men brave? The women were more so. 



Think you the men loved the cause? The women were 

 more devoted to it. The men felt the shock of battle and 

 the discomforts of the body in the field. The women in the 

 lone farm houses and plantations suffered the mental pain 

 of anxiety, of suspense, of the care of the little ones, of the 

 homes and of the absent ones, and least of all, of the coarse 

 living of those days. God only knows what they passed 

 through and suffered, for they told it not to the world nor 

 uttered a murmur. They made the men what they were, for 

 to them they ever Avore a braA'e front, and Avith aching hearts 

 nnd (piivering lips bade fathers, husbands, lovers, brothers 

 and sons— Go. Not in the words of the dames of ancient 

 (Ireece and Rome: "liring your shield back Avith honor or 

 be brought on it," but go to your countr-y's call and do your 

 duty at the front and I will do mine at home. (Jlod and my 

 jirayers be with you. Those men made the best soldiers 

 the world ever saAv; for they Avere inspired by and fought 



