Contrasts that were pretty.
The varied and sometimes handsome uniforms of the
Confederate officers commingling with each other and contrasting with the simple, pretty, sometimes antiquated dresses of the ladies, made pictures that were beautiful in their contrasts of color and of tone.
An artist would have found in these scenes infinite opportunity for his bencil or brush,
I am sure that this phase of social life in
Richmond during the war is without parallel in the world's history.
The army officers, of course, had only their uniforms, and the women wore whatever they could get to wear.
In the last year of the war, particularly the last few months, the pinch of deprivation, especially as to food, became fearful.
There were many families in
Richmond that were in well nigh a starving condition.
I know of some that lived for days on pea soup and bread.
Confederate money was almost valueless.
Its purchasing power had so depreciated that it used to be said it took a basketful
[
386]
to go to market.
Of course, the people had very few greenbacks, and very little
gold or
silver.
The city was invested by two armies,
Grant's and
Lee's, and its railroad communications constantly destroyed by the
Union cavalry.
Supplies of food were very scarce and enormously costly; a barrel of flour cost several hundred dollars in Confederate money, and just before the fall of the
Confederacy I paid $500 for a pair of heavy boots.
The suffering of this period was dreadful, and when
Richmond capitulated many of its people were in an almost starving condition.
Indeed, there was little food outside, and the
Southern troops were but little better off.
