The Struggles of Secession

THE STRUGGLES OF SECESSION

by

Jim Butler

         It is October, 1863 in a small, rural, working-class town in the Lower Chattahoochee Valley of Georgia.  The days of hearts beating to the sounds of war drums is gone. Gone are the lavish suppers and barbeques. Forgotten are the long winded speeches advocating secession from the Union. The call to duty to defend home and hearth is quickly replaced by the cries of the Yeoman dying on the fields of Virginia and Pennsylvania and the pleas of their dear ones at home.  Vacant as the call to arms to defend Southern Rights are the vacant bellies of the soldier’s loved ones on their own homestead.  Too greedy and craven to fight for their own peculiar institutions, the wealthy, Planter class sends their poor brethren to do their bidding. While some men sit home with exemptions seemingly only procured by those of means, the poor Yeoman must join or be conscripted.  Even more overwhelming is the fact that the desire for cotton profits replaces the rational and obvious urgency to grow produce for the people and soldiers protecting the South and her industries. Prior to the war the Yeoman seemed content with their lot in life. Yeomen knew they would never own slaves nor hold political office due to the caste they were born to, yet seemed happy with this status quo.  But, now, in late 1863, the Yeoman caste grows weary of fighting, starving and dying for the privileged class of the South.  They turn out in droves to vote and cast out the pro-Davis Democrats by a five to one margin. Replacing them with Mechanics and Workers Organization’s candidates. Half of the Confederate army is gone without leave. Inflation, taxes, impressments, conscription, corruption, starvation and death are on the doorsteps of the home front. The war is clearly not just lost on the battlefield, but in the hearts and the minds of its People as well. Setbacks at Gettysburg and Vicksburg seem to sink many hopes, but a recent victory at Chickamauga and siege at Chattanooga is buoying some spirits. But, it seems that this may all be too late as the fate of the South may already be sealed at home and on the battlefield.