Contrasting Yankee vs Confederate views of Civilians & Private Property
Here's 4 different historical signs from 4 different states. They help illustrate and contrast how differently the northern Yankees behaved and waged warfare than southerners. I'm finally catching up on some pre-Covid travels & photos.
Excerpt from the sign in Morganton, North Carolina: “Selina L Norwood wrote, “They [Yankees] tore everything to pieces at Uncle Avery’s, held pistols to the ladies’ heads, drove them out of the house and took what they liked.””
Excerpt from the sign in Doswell, Virginia: "The fighting also affected nearby civilians as Union soldiers plundered houses, carried off furniture and artwork, destroyed libraries, and scrawled graffiti on walls."
Excerpt from the sign in Jackson, Georgia: "Federal [Yankee] stragglers looted the estate. Following their devastation there was little to eat at Sylvan Grove except scraps of potatoes and a little corn. The only furnishings remaining in the house were in Lucy Buttrill's room plus three chairs and a sofa in the parlor used by General Blair. Most furniture and clothes had been thrown out windows and Mary Burrill's life work of art was completely ruined, including paintings, oils, watercolors, and ink. Sylvan Grove's barns, stables, cribs, and fences, cotton and gin house were all burned, while all cows, chickens, horses and mules were killed or stolen."
My teenage 1st cousin, Pauline Heyward who lived in South Carolina, wrote in her diary in 1865; “Oh! This cruel war. The Yankees have come. The whole of Kilpatrick’s forces, they were turned on the country for forage, plunder, and provisions. The first we saw of them was about a dozen of them, dashing thro the gate shouting: “Here come the Yankees, look out now you damned rebels.” A moment after they were in the house, Mother & Grandmother met them at the door, but they didn’t listen to a word they tried to say, by said, “Come give us your keys, where is your liquor? Get your gold, get your silver, you old women, hurry yourselves, I say.” We all went into the parlor, and by this time there were hundreds of them, in the house, upstairs, in the garret, in every chamber, under the house, in the yard, garden, etc, some singing, shouting, whistling, and Oh, my God, such cursing. With axes they broke open every door, drawer, trunk that was locked, smashed a large French mirror, broke pieces of furniture, and flung every piece of clothing that they didn’t carry off, all over the floors. They got some of Fathers prettiest paintings and broke bottles of catsup over them, they carried off every piece of silver, every knife, jewel, and particle of possessions in the house."
My cousin continues; "Mother and Grandmother went among them like brave women, trying to save some few things in vain, at one time a horrid looking ruffian came into the parlor, seeing only women there, he entered shut both doors & said in an undertone, “You cursed rebels, now empty your pockets.” He found my watch. “Ah” said he, “This is a pretty little watch, now where is the key, & does it go good?” The villain put his hand on my shoulder, I rose & stood before him with all possible dignity & he turned away. Then after taking Tante’s watch and everybody’s money, he walked up to Mother, grinding his teeth & looking her full in the face, said: “Now you’ve just got to tell me where your gold & silver is buried, I know you’ve got it, and if you know what’s good for yourself & all in this room, you’ll tell me where it is.” “I have no gold, my silver you have all taken with every other valuable in the house.” “That’s a damned lie, now I’ll burn your house this minute, if you don’t tell me.” “I have nothing more to tell, do you think I’d tell a lie?” Then he walked up & down the room cursing, swearing, threatening, & spitting on every side, then finding he could do nothing with us, took Solomon out, put a pistol to his head, saying he would blow his brains out, if he didn’t tell. Solomon is as true to us as steel."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Contrast this to how the Confederacy acted when they entered Yankee territory in Pennsylvania to pressure Lincoln to end the war. As explained on historic markers like this on the Mason-Dixon border: "We were now in the enemy's country, and getting our supplies entirely from the country people. These supplies were taken from mills, storehouses, and the farmers, under a regular system ordered by General Lee, and with a due regard to the wants of the inhabitants themselves, certificates [money] being given in all cases. There was no marauding, or indiscriminating plundering, but all such acts were expressly forbidden and prohibited effectually." - Confederate General, Jubal A Early
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Historians have suggested that the Confederacy lost in part because compared to the Yankees, they had a much stronger sense of honor and ethical warfare, did not wage total scorched earth warfare on civilians, were not as ruthless and cruel, and were just "too proper and nice." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Additional Reading:
Morganton: Rocky Ford Engagement: Yankees plundering, misc
https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=20348
Turning Lee's Flank, Doswell, Virginia: Yankee's plundering, misc
https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=73939
Sylvan Grove Plantation: Yankee's plundering, misc
https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=103196
Crossing the Mason and Dixon, Cearfoss, Maryland: Confederates enter Pennsylvania but refuse to plunder, destroy, and terrorize citizens:
https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=11608
Pauline Heyward's Diaries:
https://www.amazon.com/Confederate-Lady-Comes-Age-Nineteenth-Century/dp/0872497828/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=pauline%20heyward&qid=1615180933&sr=8-1&fbclid=IwAR2YYiZT--yzxZNRdfJTCL_f0iqZ-D7hJg_VPzbuci6YSOodcFRKajyist8
Excerpt from the sign in Morganton, North Carolina: “Selina L Norwood wrote, “They [Yankees] tore everything to pieces at Uncle Avery’s, held pistols to the ladies’ heads, drove them out of the house and took what they liked.””
Excerpt from the sign in Doswell, Virginia: "The fighting also affected nearby civilians as Union soldiers plundered houses, carried off furniture and artwork, destroyed libraries, and scrawled graffiti on walls."
Excerpt from the sign in Jackson, Georgia: "Federal [Yankee] stragglers looted the estate. Following their devastation there was little to eat at Sylvan Grove except scraps of potatoes and a little corn. The only furnishings remaining in the house were in Lucy Buttrill's room plus three chairs and a sofa in the parlor used by General Blair. Most furniture and clothes had been thrown out windows and Mary Burrill's life work of art was completely ruined, including paintings, oils, watercolors, and ink. Sylvan Grove's barns, stables, cribs, and fences, cotton and gin house were all burned, while all cows, chickens, horses and mules were killed or stolen."
My teenage 1st cousin, Pauline Heyward who lived in South Carolina, wrote in her diary in 1865; “Oh! This cruel war. The Yankees have come. The whole of Kilpatrick’s forces, they were turned on the country for forage, plunder, and provisions. The first we saw of them was about a dozen of them, dashing thro the gate shouting: “Here come the Yankees, look out now you damned rebels.” A moment after they were in the house, Mother & Grandmother met them at the door, but they didn’t listen to a word they tried to say, by said, “Come give us your keys, where is your liquor? Get your gold, get your silver, you old women, hurry yourselves, I say.” We all went into the parlor, and by this time there were hundreds of them, in the house, upstairs, in the garret, in every chamber, under the house, in the yard, garden, etc, some singing, shouting, whistling, and Oh, my God, such cursing. With axes they broke open every door, drawer, trunk that was locked, smashed a large French mirror, broke pieces of furniture, and flung every piece of clothing that they didn’t carry off, all over the floors. They got some of Fathers prettiest paintings and broke bottles of catsup over them, they carried off every piece of silver, every knife, jewel, and particle of possessions in the house."
My cousin continues; "Mother and Grandmother went among them like brave women, trying to save some few things in vain, at one time a horrid looking ruffian came into the parlor, seeing only women there, he entered shut both doors & said in an undertone, “You cursed rebels, now empty your pockets.” He found my watch. “Ah” said he, “This is a pretty little watch, now where is the key, & does it go good?” The villain put his hand on my shoulder, I rose & stood before him with all possible dignity & he turned away. Then after taking Tante’s watch and everybody’s money, he walked up to Mother, grinding his teeth & looking her full in the face, said: “Now you’ve just got to tell me where your gold & silver is buried, I know you’ve got it, and if you know what’s good for yourself & all in this room, you’ll tell me where it is.” “I have no gold, my silver you have all taken with every other valuable in the house.” “That’s a damned lie, now I’ll burn your house this minute, if you don’t tell me.” “I have nothing more to tell, do you think I’d tell a lie?” Then he walked up & down the room cursing, swearing, threatening, & spitting on every side, then finding he could do nothing with us, took Solomon out, put a pistol to his head, saying he would blow his brains out, if he didn’t tell. Solomon is as true to us as steel."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Contrast this to how the Confederacy acted when they entered Yankee territory in Pennsylvania to pressure Lincoln to end the war. As explained on historic markers like this on the Mason-Dixon border: "We were now in the enemy's country, and getting our supplies entirely from the country people. These supplies were taken from mills, storehouses, and the farmers, under a regular system ordered by General Lee, and with a due regard to the wants of the inhabitants themselves, certificates [money] being given in all cases. There was no marauding, or indiscriminating plundering, but all such acts were expressly forbidden and prohibited effectually." - Confederate General, Jubal A Early
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Historians have suggested that the Confederacy lost in part because compared to the Yankees, they had a much stronger sense of honor and ethical warfare, did not wage total scorched earth warfare on civilians, were not as ruthless and cruel, and were just "too proper and nice." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Additional Reading:
Morganton: Rocky Ford Engagement: Yankees plundering, misc
https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=20348
Turning Lee's Flank, Doswell, Virginia: Yankee's plundering, misc
https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=73939
Sylvan Grove Plantation: Yankee's plundering, misc
https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=103196
Crossing the Mason and Dixon, Cearfoss, Maryland: Confederates enter Pennsylvania but refuse to plunder, destroy, and terrorize citizens:
https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=11608
Pauline Heyward's Diaries:
https://www.amazon.com/Confederate-Lady-Comes-Age-Nineteenth-Century/dp/0872497828/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=pauline%20heyward&qid=1615180933&sr=8-1&fbclid=IwAR2YYiZT--yzxZNRdfJTCL_f0iqZ-D7hJg_VPzbuci6YSOodcFRKajyist8
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