Household war : guerrilla-men, rebel women, and guerilla warfare in Civil War Missouri

Abstract

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Whereas other scholars see the guerrilla and his flamboyant dress, unmistakable swagger, and unconventional tactics as a sure sign of chaos in war, this work contends that they are outer markers of a distinct masculinity that guided guerrilla warfare. Instead of being herded into the formal armies of the Confederacy and the Union, these young, white, southern-sympathizing men looked to antebellum models of manhood - both southern and western - to retain their independence while defending slavery and their families. Women, full partners in the war effort, produced clothing and food for their men, and provided them with emotional support, all of which allowed the guerrillas to strike out into the brush where they waged a frontier style war. As the war evolved, so too did the gender system that established roles for men and women. Not only did women find themselves performing the tasks of men and standing up to the enemy, but the masculine identity of white men proved to be much more fluid than previously thought. Rather than stubbornly standing their ground, guerrilla-men ran, hid, and avoided confrontations with enemy men only to strike when the backs of Union men were turned. By better understanding these men, we can better understand the war they chose to wage, and hopefully, the nature of war more generally.