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Cold Mountain is one of the few films to deal with the ugly truths for those left behind. All the young men, the best and brightest, left for the military. Community leaders took commissions as officers. And the Home Guard, men who were too old, too feeble, or too corrupt to get involved in the regular army, stayed behind to "protect" the women and children, and to control the negro population. Not surprisingly, many women felt less than safe under such watch.
Women of the South had been long protected by patriarchal system that fell apart when the most valued men went to war. The following are excerpts from the correspondence between Anna at the family plantation in Darlington, South Carolina and her husband Sam, serving in the 21st SC Infantry. These snippets cover Anna's difficulties in dealing with corrupt overseers and slaves that no longer have a master to fear.
Sam to Anna -- March 3, 1863
You mentioned that Maj Sam [?] was over to see about the exemptions of the overseers there is no necessity for that, for I see the Gov has exempted all those that were exempted last year when the employer is in service; without a new application.
Sam to Anna -- March 24, 1863
You also say the boys are taking the hogs I hardly know what to say, if I was at home I would know what to do I would sell them forthwith, you had better take the meat from them and require them (those three boys) to guard to lot or hogs and if they take another hog I will order them down to Charleston and sell them or put them in Darlington gaol, and let them stay there untill I can sell them, for I am determined to sell them, and now is the time to sell for they are bringing a good price and I see I can not stay in camps and manage them at home.
Anna to Sam -- October 19, 1863
J. James has been here & Williamson & Padget. he (J.J.) proposed to me privately to offer them $200 and 300 lbs of meat which was what he gave his overseer. I told him we could not spare that much meat; & he seemed very much at a loss to know what would suit you; but decided to offer them both $200 & no meat. W. accepted the offer & agreed to do what he could at the swamp & Ervin place when required.
John had not asked him what you gave him this year when he spoke to me; but ascertained afterwards it was $175 but said the attending to the two places wd make a difference in his wages. I do not think he ought to get as much as Padgett & now to get more than he was getting this year is not much like coming down from full price; as soon as John went out & proposed it he accepted right off. I wish you had been at home to decide & arrange the matter yourself.
Anna to Sam -- October 31, 1863
Rhodes came back on Wednesday, & I am not at all satisfied at the way he managed. I am trying with all my power to get the negroes clad;
Mr John Muse [?] called yesterday & wished me to receive $500 on a land debt; I was very much at a loss whether to take the Confederate money but he said he was going in the army & wished to settle his business & said he knew "the Col" wd be glad to know him able to pay & that Mr. Woods had recd his payment on the Dargan estate share I told him I did not like to do business for another that I did not understand whether it wd suit, but I took it & gave him a receipt. he promising if it did not meet yr approbation to to take the money back if I heard in time before he left home.
Anna to Sam -- November 6, 1863
I wd be glad to see Rhodes in the army too for I have now a contemptible opinion of him. He has not been honest in the Factory business & I am afraid he has been going on the same way all the time from what I hear. But I am cautious in speaking of it as I do not wish to injure any one's character by speaking of their faults unless it was a matter of necessity. And it is not worth while to make an enemy of him now that he is going to leave & will remain in the country.
John James he told him he was to pay his own tax & Edward was to give him $250.00 so he did not tell me the truth. He will make it all out of somebody else. I've no doubt, or he will help himself all in his power.
So without saying anything to him I wrote for a bill & recd one yesterday morning, & find he has not dealt truthfully or honestly, for the man writes that a bill was given at the time to Rhodes.
J James' advice was that it is better to say nothing about it as you are not at home & I thought I ought to let you know at least. I am very sorry to discover meanness in any human accountable creature.
Anna to Sam -- November 11, 1863
You will be 45 years of age this month & could now resign; I only remind you that if you could your business is suffering & Willy also is needing a father's hand & I am needing help; but if your services are necessary in the army I have nothing to say
Anna to Sam -- November 16, 1863
These overseers are troublesome people: I have taken the liberty of keeping your note to Rhodes until I hear from you, he will think I have been writing to you & will give me the credit of it; & as you are not at home & there are not many men in the country perhaps it wd be well not to offend one of them. He will perhaps talk about me & I have no doubt will find some to uphold him so I merely suggest those things to you; & wish your advice. He deserves all that you have said & more. I wish he was gone, for he does no good but harm.
Sam to Anna -- July 26, 1864
I am very glad to hear that Anson is taken at last I had no doubt from the first but that he was harboured by his family, and I had made up my mind if ever I got home I would sell his mother Lotty and some of the others, for I have no doubt but what the plantation would be much benefited by their absence. If I ever do live to get home I think I will be oblige to get clare of some of those that have been a constant trouble and injury to the plantation.
The full correspondence is online at In Their Own Words
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