Southerners were the original recycling advocates! During the War Between the States, there were many shortages. The UpCountry of 2015 has experienced several ice storms, power outages, and frozen water lines. That is an inconvenience. Early in the war years of 1861 and 1862, shortages in South Carolina were considered inconveniences, but as time went on, those inconveniences turned into hardships. South Carolinians mastered the Economy of Scarcity! On March 2, 2015, Mosie Marlar of Fountain Inn gave a wonderful presentation to the ladies of Winnie Davis 442 in Greenville on the topic of “Shortages, or Making Do.” There are many methods that Southerners employed to manage through this dreadful time in our history, and Mrs. Marlar gave great details.
It seems that ingenuity was the password to making it through these hard times. Recycling Confederate-style became a way of life. Instead of lovely cloth for dresses, women turned to homespun for attire. Homespun even became something of a social status item – only people willing to purchase from the blockage runners could have regular cloth. Patriotic Southern women felt this was a betrayal! In 1863, a family of 8 could manage on one pound of meat during a meal. By 1865, a family of eight would only usually be able to get a few ounces! Richmond before the war had been a “dirty” town, with much garbage and waste. By 1865, one reporter noted that Richmond had no need for buzzards – everything was reused repeatedly! Beef and chicken were not available. Rats were for sale at $2.50 each, and were purchased rapidly by Southerners who had no meat. City folks were at a definite disadvantage. Citizens living in rural areas could at least hunt, if they had ammunition to shoot. Jefferson Davis was quoted saying rats were fairly good eating – it was just like eating squirrel! Mule meat was $4 per pound. Women began using pea meal instead of the flour or corn meal once so plentiful. Acorns were ground for baking bread. Peach tree leaves were ground to make vanilla. There was no coffee available, so parched corn, okra, or chicory was used as substitutes. Sweet potatoes were cut into small pieces and boiled to make a warm beverage, and the sediment from those same sweet potatoes was used as a cleansing agent! There were no shoes available as once known by the public. Dog skins were a substitute for leather toward the end of the war! It is hard to imagine how our ancestors suffered during these terrible years, but it is inspiring to know their ingenuity was able to help them find substitutes to help them “make do”!
Several very special events took place after this program as well. Chapter President Pamela Durham presented Robin Brothers Garcia’s new membership certificate. Robin joined under her 2nd Great Grandfather, Henry Howell Lewis who fought with Co E, 4th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry. Robin is a descendant of General Robert E. Lee.
Two members of the chapter, Martha Moody Bailey and Eleanor Moody Campbell, received ten-year membership certificates and pins. Mrs. Bailey was in attendance for the first time in many months. She had fallen and broken her leg, and is finally able to return to active participation in the chapter. Even having to depend on using a walker for a little longer won’t slow a Southern woman down!
Several ladies received invitations to join the chapter.Marsha Bryant, Elaine Wyatt, Jaclyn Daniel, Nancy Robertson, Mary Praytor, Mosie Marlar and LuAnne Foster.
The Winnie Davis 442 chapter will be co-hosting the Piedmont District meeting in conjunction with the Robert E. Lee Chapter in Anderson. The meeting will be a gathering of upstate UDC chapters on May 2, 2015, and held at Tucker’s Restaurant in Anderson, SC.
Ladies with Confederate ancestry, who would like more information, please call Chapter President Pam Durham at 864-630-8086.