Local Civilian Response
Description
When wounded Union soldiers and relief workers arrived in Fredericksburg in May 1864, civilians were forced to open up their homes as hospitals for the wounded and as residences for the relief workers. Although many civilians were polite to their "guests," inside they were bitter about being forced to house the Yankees. Shortages of food and supplies were a problem for the soldiers and workers, which led them to take these items from civilians. This section contains information about the civilian responses, both positive and negative, to the relief efforts in Fredericksburg.