The Important Role of Confederate Women in the American Civil WarWomen in the Confederacy had a great impact on the Civil War. They were thrown into totally different lifestyles, which did not include men to take care of the land and other activities. Women had more control over their lives than ever before. Some took it upon themselves to become directly involved in the war, while others simply kept the home fires burning. Whatever role they filled, women contributed a multitude of skills to the Civil War effort. A plantation mistress's life changed significantly when her husband left to join the Southern Army. Most of them remained on the land even though they were wealthy enough to move to a safer place. While there, the women and children did myriad things: planting gardens, sewing, knitting, weaving cloth, spinning thread, processing and curing meat, rubbing copper utensils, storing and churning butter, and dipping candles. Another important task for a plantation mistress was to take care of all the slaves. This included the provision of food, clothing, shelter, and medical care.1 Because money was scarce, “everything was done at home,” according to one Southern woman. In a letter to his sister, he added that they "substituted rice for coffee...honey and homemade molasses for sugar...everything we wore was homemade. Even the shoes. You'd be surprised to see how clean the shoes looked." people. "2 Even a ten-year-old girl wrote in her diary how she should go to work to help her mother: "Mom was very busy today and I tried to help her with all my strength." That same little girl cooked for her family and took care of her little sister while her mother was busy keeping the plantation alive. 3 Not only did women take it upon themselves to try to maintain... half the paper... Tompkins opened many hospitals throughout the South. Jefferson Davis gave the rank to Tompkins, but she refused to accept a salary.9 "Sister Writes from the Defeated South"; Clinton 65,81, 122, 143; Pavilion 81; East 293; Woodward 216-217.10 Clinton 123, 124, 128; Robertson 185; East 238, 247; "Sister Writes from the Defeated South"; Berry; Woodward 153,11 Clinton 131; Robertson 93,60,192, 62; Woodward 44.88; East 55,162,486.12 Clinton 62,66,13 Roland 237; Woodward 29.410, 196; Robertson 35, 211; Clinton 41.14 Robertson 330-331; 215, 250, 138; Clinton 134-135, 175; "Sister Writes from the Defeated South"; Tucker 151.15 DePauw 77; Robertson 132; East 182-3, 64; Woodward 217; Roland 237.16 East 175, 290, 568.17 Clinton 56, 59, 61; DePauw 77; Hunter 37; East 123.18 Boritt 82,126; Roland 237; “Sister writes from the defeated South.”19 DePauw 77-78.