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Protecting Confederate Soldiers and Mothers:Pensions, Gender, and the Welfare State in theU.S. South, a Case Study from FloridaBy: Green, Elna C. | Journal of Social History, Su er !00" | #rticle $etails

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Protecting Confederate Soldiers and Mothers:Pensions, Gender, and the Welfare State in theU.S. South, a Case Study from Florida

reen, lna *+, Journal of Social History

n a$$ition to the ore %isible political chan-es it pro$uce$, the *i%il .ar pro pte$ re%isions in/+S+ social policy that scholars ha%e only recently be-un to in%esti-ate+ he e1i-encies of war

pro$uce$ our first ilitary conscriptions2 they also pro pte$ a chan-e in fe$eral pension policy+ #san incenti%e to potential sol$iers, *on-ress appro%e$ an e1pan$e$ pension pro-ra , which woul$

pro%i$e ore -enerous benefits to a wi$er ran-e of sur%i%ors than ha$ pre%ious fe$eral pensions+ #sol$ier coul$ enter ser%ice 'nowin- that not only his wife an$ chil$ren were co%ere$ but also thatel$erly parents or other $epen$ents woul$ be care$ for in the e%ent of his $eath or $isability+ his$ra atic enlar-e ent of the co it ents a$e by the pension syste resulte$ in a co parably$ra atic -rowth in its costs3 by 4567, ore than 809 of the fe$eral bu$-et went to the support of/nion %eterans, their wi$ows, an$ other $epen$ents+ (4)

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By law, *onfe$erate %eterans an$ their fa ilies were e1e pt fro this fe$eral social welfare pro-ra + So, as white conser%ati%es re-aine$ control o%er the Southern states: le-islatures afterReconstruction, they initiate$ state pension pro-ra s %ery si ilar to those on the national le%el+ Bythe early;twentieth century, Southern states were also co ittin- substantial portions of theirannual bu$-ets to the support of *onfe$erate %eterans an$ their fa ilies+ Hence ilitary pensions,

both North an$ South, constitute$ a cornerstone of the nation:s public welfare policy+ Scholars ha%erecently $e%ote$ consi$erable attention to the i portant place of *i%il .ar pensions in shapin-

o$ern # erican social policy+ *entral to any of these analyses has been a focus on -en$er as afoun$ation of social welfare+ (!)

Howe%er, this wealth of scholarship has lar-ely ne-lecte$ the South an$ its re-ional %ariation on*i%il .ar pensions+ &ittle scholarly wor' has yet been $one on the relationship between *i%il .ar

pensions an$ the $e%elop ent of social welfare in the re-ion, or in fact on social welfare policy inthe South at all+ (7) his essay will analys allestta$pole in the $irty pool of secession,> (8) but it create$ a post;war syste of *onfe$erate welfaresupport that coul$ co pete with;;an$ occasionally e%en best;;those fro states li'e ?ir-inia an$

eor-ia that were ore wi$ely reco-ni


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#fter Reconstruction, as Southern states re-aine$ control of their political syste s an$ social policies, they be-an creatin- a welfare state solely for *onfe$erate %eterans+ he pro-ra s weres all initially+ =or er *onfe$erate states first fun$e$ artificial li bs for the nu erous injure$%eterans, an$ ulti ately a$$e$ sol$iers: an$ wi$ows: pensions, e$ical pro-ra s, an$ sol$iers:ho es+ (6) hese contributions to the aintenance of *onfe$erate %eterans re aine$ relati%ely

s all throu-h the 45 0s an$ 4550s+ (40) #s shown in able 4, =lori$a:s support of *onfe$erate%eterans re aine$ less than A9 of the state bu$-et for ost of the 4550s+

But the rise of the &ost *ause o%e ent of the 4560s helpe$ to chan-e the connotations of*onfe$erate co e oration, an$ ha$ powerful influence on these state welfare pro-ra s+ he>cult of the &ost *ause> celebrate$ the l$ South by honorin- its $efen$ers+ Be-innin- o$estly inthe 45"0s with wo en:s e orial associations $e$icate$ to carin- for the -ra%es of *onfe$eratesol$iers, the e orialiol$ sol$iers: ho es+>@any %eterans: ho es ori-inate$ as pri%ately fun$e$ efforts, with the states an$For cities offerin-subsi$ies2 but ost of these pri%ate ho es (inclu$in- =lori$a:s) were ulti ately ta'en o%er by state-o%ern ents entirely+ Supporters of the *onfe$erate %eterans: ho es trie$ to $istin-uish the fro

charitable institutions, insistin- instea$ that they were a fulfill ent of the states: obli-ation toco pensate their $efen$ers+ hey were to be seen as a >pay ent $ue for ser%ices ren$ere$, not anoutri-ht -ift,> an$ certainly not as a poor house+ (48) Despite the rhetoric, applicants ha$ to eeta$ issions criteria nearly i$entical to those of the poor house+

*onfe$erate or-anilobby, if any of its peopleou-ht, with the State &e-islature> o%er the s all support the state pro%i$e$ for the *onfe$erateHo e+ (4") he -rowin- clout of the %eterans or-ani


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or, as one %eteran put it3 > %enture the pre$iction that the official who -ets so stiff nec'e$ as tone-lect the as has been $one in this State by certain officials will feel the wei-ht of the 1;*onfe$erates or-ani (4 )

=lori$a:s &ost *ause acti%ists belie%e$ that their state reEuire$ lobbyin- an$ interest -roup pressure

tactics ore than others+ he state:s $e o-raphy, topo-raphy, an$ history ha$ co bine$ to a'e=lori$a:s *i%il .ar e1perience an$ post;war e ory proble atic+ =lori$a:s plantation econo y an$sla%e;labor $istrict ha$ been li ite$ to a belt of north;central counties+ *onseEuently %ast portionsof the state ha$ ne%er e%ince$ -reat enthusias about the *onfe$eracy or the *i%il .ar+ (45) n the

post;war years, =lori$a ha$ been the recipient of consi$erable i i-ration fro northern states an$fro forei-n i i-rants, two -roups that hel$ little affection for the &ost *ause+ =or both thesereasons, *onfe$erate a$%ocates belie%e$ =lori$a was >not an easy fiel$, with its chan-in-

population an$ busy present+ @any see al ost ene ies to our historic past, but precept an$e1a ple will $o uch, an$ our chil$ren ust be tau-ht to honor an$ respect the $ee$s of theirforefathers+> (46) .ith years of lobbyin-, an$ with frien$s in powerful places, =lori$a:s &ost *auseacti%ists successfully o%erca e these proble s an$ create$ one of the ost -enerous of the*onfe$erate welfare syste s in the re-ion+

Respon$in- to the pressure of interest -roup lobbyin-, the e1pen$itures on *onfe$erate %eterans-rew to be uch ore si-nificant portions of the Southern states: bu$-ets after the turn of thecentury+ (!0) #s shown in able 4, =lori$a spent ore than !09 of its bu$-et on *onfe$eratewelfare nearly e%ery year between 4608 an$ 464"+ #n$, in 4605, the total reache$ an astrono icalhi-h of 7"9 of the state:s e1pen$itures+ (#n e1planation of the patterns of these statistics follows

below+) By 4648, &ost *ause a$%ocates were praisin- the state for its -enerosity to its %eterans+ he*onfe$erate ?eteran a-a he State of =lori$a pays out ore oney per capita for the support of $epen$ent e1;*onfe$erate sol$iers than any other Southern State+> (!4) #ne1a ination of the politics of pensions in =lori$a will help e1plain why a lesser *onfe$erate stateen$e$ up with the ost -enerous of *onfe$erate welfare states+

he =lori$a Gension Syste

=lori$a:s antebellu social welfare syste ha$ been non;e1istent, an$ its post;bellu syste waslittle better+ (!!) he state ha$ little prece$ent for -enerosity in social welfare, hence its *onfe$erate

pension syste was ore $ri%en by post;Reconstruction politics than by pro-ressi%e social welfareinclinations+ t was a$e possible by the >re$e ption> of the state in the 45 0s an$ the De ocratic

party:s continuin- assault on the Republicans an$ their >fusionist> allies in the 4550s+ By 4558, theconser%ati%e branch of the De ocratic party ha$ soli$ifie$ its control o%er state politics sufficiently

to be able to call a constitutional con%ention to ri$ the state of the so;calle$ >carpetba- constitution>of 45"5+ (!7) he sa e le-islature passe$ the state:s first *onfe$erate pension law in 455A (thesa e year the new constitution was a$opte$)+ he new constitution pro ise$ to soli$ify the

political power of the De ocratic party2 the new pension pro-ra pro ise$ to soli$ify the politicalloyalty of the state:s poor whites, who i-ht be te pte$ by Gopulists or other challen-ers toDe ocratic power+

.ritten by a con%ention $o inate$ by De ocrats, the 455A constitution continue$ the -o%ernor:sthe power to appoint county co issioners+ (!8) he 455A pension act then -a%e those countyco issioners the power to e%aluate pension applications+ i%en that e%ery -o%ernor of =lori$afro the establish ent of the pension pro-ra to the en$ of the century ha$ ser%e$ in the

*onfe$erate ar y, it was unli'ely that any county co issioners woul$ be appointe$ who werehostile to the *onfe$erate welfare syste + (!A) he pension act also create$ the boar$ of pensions,consistin- of the -o%ernor, the co ptroller, an$ the a$jutant -eneral+ #-ain, -i%en that the


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-o%ernors the sel%es were supporters of the *onfe$eracy an$ also continue$ to appoint thea$jutant -eneral, the pension boar$ was always stac'e$ with supporters of the *onfe$erate welfaresyste + heir $ecisions were ore li'ely to err on the si$e of -enerosity+ (!")

he 455A pension act reEuire$ that the %eteran applyin- for benefits ha$ to be a citiol$ sol$ier> shoul$ not be re$uce$ >to a con$ition of

pauperis before he can beco e Eualifie$> for a pension+ (78) Ne%ertheless, this particular chan-e


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pro%o'e$ contro%ersy+ =rancis G+ =le in-, a for er -o%ernor an$ lon-;ter e ber of the Boar$of Gensions, e er-e$ as one of the outspo'en opponents of the chan-e+ (7A) =le in- $etaile$ hisopposition in an e$itorial in the Jac'son%ille i es;/nion3

The levy, of course, bears upon the poor widow and other persons ofsmall means, as well as the wealthy. By what process of reasoning thelegislature came to the conclusion that it was proper to tax thepeople of the State to pay pensions to Confederate soldiers withoutregard to their property[,] income or ability to earn a living isdifficult to understand. od has blessed me with the means of earninga support for myself and family and ! "now of numbers of Confederateveterans in the State who are wealthy, and many others who ma"e goodlivings. #hy, ! as" in all reason, should the taxpayers of the Statebe re$uired to pay a four mill tax to enable me and others who do notneed it for support, to put my hand in the public crib and draw outone hundred dollars a year, on the sole ground that ! served in theConfederate army, performing nothing more than my duty% !t may beanswered that ! need not apply for a pension. That is true, but thelegislature, which gives me the legal right to the pension, can ta"eno credit if ! do not avail myself of it. &ndoubtedly many who do notneed it will avail themselves of the law .... in my opinion, thispension law is wrong and tends to bring the Confederate veteran intodisfavor and to lower him from the high stand which he shouldoccupy. '()*

he en$ of property restrictions also pro$uce$ a rapi$ increase in the cost of the state pension pro-ra + #s shown in able 4, in 4605, the first year the Broo e bill was in effect, the state:s pension costs swelle$ to nearly twice that of the year before+ =lori$a spent o%er C 70,000 on pensions that year, which, to-ether with the e1pen$itures on the *onfe$erate Ho e, represente$ an

astonishin- 7"9 of the state:s total bu$-et+ No other Southern state $e%ote$ such a si-nificant proportion of its resources to its *onfe$erate %eterans+ (7 )

he 4606 le-islature a$$resse$ the financial concerns of =le in- an$ others+ he 4606 pension lawrestore$ the eans test, but raise$ the le%el of that test consi$erably+ ?eterans or wi$ows whose

property was %alue$ un$er CA000 were a$e eli-ible for pensions+ (75) his resulte$ in so ere$uction of the costs of the pension pro-ra , but the state continue$ to pour ore than !09 of itsannual bu$-et into *onfe$erate welfare for the ne1t $eca$e+

he pensions were fun$e$ by eans of a property ta1, set at one ill in 455A an$ -ra$ually raise$to four ills by 460 + S all lan$owners were not e1e pt in any way+ his eant that #frican;# erican lan$owners, who woul$ ne%er be eli-ible to recei%e a pension, were ne%ertheless ta1e$ to

pro%i$e the for *onfe$erate %eterans+ Robert *oo' an$ Geter Brown, for e1a ple, both #frican;# erican lan$owners in &eon *ounty, woul$ ha%e ha$ their s all far s ta1e$+ n 455A, the year ofthe first pension law, *oo' owne$ "0 acres of i pro%e$ lan$ an$ 80 acres of woo$lan$+ o-etherthey were %alue$ at CA00+ Geter Brown owne$ "0 acres of i pro%e$ lan$, another 4A acres inwoo$lan$s, an$ one ule, with a %alue of C500+ (76) Hun$re$s of other s all far ers, both blac'an$ white, also saw ta1 bills on their lan$s, re-ar$less of their position on the war or the &ost *ause+

By relyin- on property ta1es, the *onfe$erate welfare pro-ra s offere$ Southern states li'e =lori$athe opportunity to pro%i$e for poor whites without ha%in- to open state coffers to poor blac's+ By

a'in- honorable *onfe$erate ser%ice the criterion for eli-ibility, Southern states coul$auto atically e1clu$e the %ast ajority of their blac' citi


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#s =lori$a:s welfare pro-ra s e1pan$e$, an un$erstaffe$ state bureaucracy ha$ trouble 'eepin- upwith the paperwor'+ here were constant co plaints about the slow pace of the appro%al process+Hun$re$s of %eterans, an$ their supporters, wrote letters as'in- why their applications were ta'in-so lon-+ By the turn of the century, the bac'lo- ha$ reache$ such a le%el that there were freEuently$elays of ore than a year, an$ the boar$:s secretary ha$ to write nu erous apolo-ies such as this

one3 > here is a lar-e accu ulation of pensions clai s pen$in- before the Boar$, an$ the press ofofficial business has been such as to pre%ent pro pt $isposal of such cases +++ Re-rettin- that theallowance of your clai has been $elaye$ by circu stances +++> (80)

he state ha$ $ifficulty payin- for these %ery e1pensi%e pro-ra s, an$ so use$ the appro%al processto slow $own the nu ber of people a$$e$ to the rolls+ n 460A, o%ernor Browar$ co plaine$ tothe le-islature that there were se%eral hun$re$ applications on file >upon which no action has beenta'en because the fun$s a%ailable for the pay ent of pensions, un$er the present le%y of two ills,is e1hauste$+> (84) .ith these $elays causin- frustration, so e %eterans or their wi$ows atte pte$to use their connections to powerful people to o%e their cases forwar$+ %elyn &iptrott ofJac'son%ille -ot con-ress an R+#+ (&e1) reen to write a supporti%e letter to the pension boar$ onher behalf+ (8!) Geter Rowe an$ @alachi ho pson of Nassau *ounty sent a petition in support oftheir pension application si-ne$ by 88 pro inent en of the county+ (87) ho as =er-uson hope$that a$jutant -eneral Da%i$ &an- (a e ber of the boar$ of pensions) woul$ re e ber that theyha$ ser%e$ to-ether in the *i%il .ar, an$ the fact &an- ha$ helpe$ to carry =er-uson off the

battlefiel$ when woun$e$+ (88) But e%en with well;place$ frien$s, %eterans ha$ to wait out the purposefully slow; o%in- bureaucracy of the pension syste +

he 460A le-islature pro%i$e$ a short;ter fi1 for the pension fun$ proble , esti ate$ at that pointto be C80,000 in the re$+ &e-islators %ote$ to appropriate the C80,000, to be ta'en out of the re%enue>arisin- fro the hire of State con%icts+> (8A) =lori$a: notorious con%ict lease syste , (8") whicho%erwhel in-ly utili


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&ocal businesses co pete$ to be associate$ with the &ost *ause o%e ent+ he annual publicationof the =lori$a *onfe$erate Ho e, calle$ > nfor ation an$ =acts,> ha$ ore a$%ertisin- than te1t+So e businesses trie$ to a'e a $irect lin' between their pro$ucts an$ the &ost *ause+ #n a$ forSuwannee @il' rea$3 >.e, too, ha%e fou-ht for a principle;;the i$ea of Euality in il'+> (A!)#lthou-h open to %eterans fro any part of the state, the Ho e:s location in Jac'son%ille eant that

local businesses benefitte$ ost fro its tra$e+ Gerhaps not coinci$entally, .illia Baya, who ha$hea$e$ up the effort to ha%e the Ho e locate$ in Jac'son%ille, was a erchant there+ &ocal

business en such as the $ru--ist .illia =airlie an$ the $entist .+@+Dancy -ot re-ular clientelefro the Ho e+ he Ho e bou-ht shoes fro *harles @ar%in:s store, an$ clothes fro Stan$ar$*lothin- *o pany+ he bi--est beneficiary was un$oubte$ly *anepa Brothers -rocery, whichrecei%e$ substantial onthly or$ers+ #n$ of course *lar' Burns, the e bal er, also $i$ stea$y

business with the facility+ (A7)

he a$ inistration of the Ho e trie$ to in%o'e a ilitary ilieu+ hey con$ucte$ $aily >roll call>2the resi$ents were ter e$ >co ra$es>2 those co ra$es who left the Ho e te porarily were sai$ to

be on >furlou-h+> (A8) Despite the atte pts to i pose ilitary or$er in the Ho e, other e%i$ence points to a ore co ple1 (often chaotic) settin-+ he in ates ay ha%e all share$ the co one1periences of *onfe$erate ser%ice an$ postbellu po%erty, but that $i$ not a'e the all ali'e+Gersonality conflicts were nu erous+ ne in ate co plaine$ that, > here is no $i-nity or $ecoru

practice$ by so e of the in ates, actin- ore li'e a lot of ho-s an$ wil$ ani als an$ a'in- use of lan-ua-e that is anythin- but pleasant to the ear ore especially in the presence of the @atron+>(AA) n ate *+@+ Hooper co plaine$ that one in ate na e$ Bri$-es woul$ -o to town an$ > ostoften has returne$ ho e in a ost scan$alous con$ition+ his an is the ost e phatic nuisance onthe place, a liar, a ischief a'er, bree$er of $iscor$ an$ whose lou$ tal'in-, $isor$erly con$uct atthe table an$ in the House pre%ents $ecorous con%ersation, or rational enjoy ent +++ as' that he be$is isse$+> (A") Hooper also co plaine$ about in ate Ruffin, for >usin- ore %ul-ar obscene an$

profane lan-ua-e than all the rest of the househol$ put to-ether,> an$ for $run'enness an$ >thein$ecent habit of a'in- water throu-h the win$ow+> (A )

.hile the annual reports of the #ssociation $epicte$ a >cheerful an$ contente$> -roup of>co ra$es> without >any note of $iscor$,> (A5) so e of the in ates clearly felt otherwise+ ettRuffin (A6) co plaine$ that, >althou-h there are rules poste$ up for -o%ernin- of the Ho e>ne%ertheless >there is no $iscipline+> f the rules were >enforce$ an$ respecte$,> Ruffin belie%e$ thatthin-s >woul$ run alon- S oothly an$ the in ates woul$ be as one Happy =a ily+> ("0)

# perennial proble in the Ho e was bore$o , or what one in ate $escribe$ as the > onotony ofi$leness+> ett Ruffin su--este$ that all who were physically able shoul$ be reEuire$ to wor'

four hours a $ay -rowin- %e-etables an$ cereals for the use of the Ho e+ his plan was ne%eri ple ente$, since, by $efinition, all the resi$ents therein were suppose$ to be incapacitate$ foranual labor+ he onotony of i$leness li'ely contribute$ to the constant proble of $run'enness

at the Ho e+ Ruffin belie%e$ there was >too uch $run'enness an$ too uch %isitin- the city, so eof the e%ery $ay, an$ so eti es twice a $ay co e ho e in a au$lin con$ition, an$ brin-in-with hi a half pint or pint to taper off on2 thin' alcoholice sicI liEuors shoul$ not be allowe$ onthe Ho e -roun$s proper e1cept for e$ical or coo'in-+> ("4)

So e of these co plaints reflecte$ a -nawin- concern about the public i a-e of the *onfe$erate%eteran+ n the turn of the century South, *onfe$erate %eterans were re-ularly hel$ up as o$els of

asculinity+ *hil$ren were brou-ht to %isit the %eterans, an$ were ur-e$ to follow in the footsteps

of the >che%aliers in -ray+> ("!) ?eterans an$ their supporters sharply $efen$e$ any assault a-ainst>as -allant a bo$y of en an$ officers as e%er $rew saber or shoul$ere$ rifles +++> ("7) But the%eterans the sel%es ha$ to aintain the $i-nity of the role+ Both the pension syste an$ the


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*onfe$erate Ho e effecti%ely punishe$ those %eterans who woul$ not confor to the anly i$ealof the Rebel sol$ier+ hose who ha$ not ser%e$ with %alor woul$ not be supporte$ by the*onfe$erate welfare state+ @en who beha%e$ in$ecorously i-ht be re o%e$ fro the Ho e+ o be$eser%in- of assistance eant to continue to perfor as a o$el of Southern anhoo$+ ("8)

*onfe$erate .elfare an$ *o unity @ores

.hile the fun$infor *onfe$erate welfare pro-ra s ca e fro the state -o%ern ent, the systereste$ on local authorities who screene$ the applications an$ $eter ine$ eli-ibility+ *ountyco issioners, local physicians, lea$in- citi


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concerns that the state was >bein- i pose$ upon> by se%eral people in &afayette *ounty $rawin- pensions to which they were not entitle$+ > write erely to put you on your -uar$ an$I woul$ prefer y na e shoul$ not be 'nown in the atter as shall ha%e to spen$ a -oo$ $eal of ti e in&afayette soon K they i-ht a con%enient location for e in the Suwannie sicI Ri%er++++> ( 4)

he pool of people in%ol%e$ in the process;;county co issioners, physicians, attorneys;;beca easters of the echanics of the syste + Doctors li'e S+ + %erstreet wrote nu erous affi$a%its o%er

the years, an$ learne$ e1actly what infor ation was nee$e$ an$ what 'in$s of $etails coul$ arousethe suspicions of the re%iew boar$+ ( !) ne applicant relie$ on two local $octors to attest to hisinability to wor'2 but the $octors reporte$ pri%ately to a frien$ that >they $o not thin' fro the

anner in which they wor$e$ their report, that he will -et anythin-+> ( 7) So e attorneys ca e tospecialiGension,Bounty, .ar K *lai #-ent+ ( 8) Such specialists learne$ to coach their clients as well, ana$%anta-e that was often nee$e$ by applicants+ n the in%esti-ation into the clai of Ben =+ Gate of*hipley, the pension boar$ note$ that, >He has e%i$ently been poorly $rille$ on the necessary thin-sto 'now to a'e a clai for a pension+> ( A)

@any people beyon$ the i e$iate *onfe$erate fa ilies ha$ a %este$ interest in the syste +@erchants, $octors, phar acists, an$ others un$erstoo$ that a pension in their custo er:s poc'etalso eant oney in their own+ *re$itors so eti es lobbie$ on behalf of applicants+ John

ra ell, an attorney fro Blountstown, wrote the pension boar$ about the case of eor-e H+*araway+ > will than' you %ery uch to ta'e this atter up with the Boar$ soon as possible+ @r+*araway is consi$erably in $ebt to e, an$ if consistent ail the chec' to e so can ha%e hisi-n before an officer, then can -et y oney +++ f course, $o not thin' he is entitle$ to the

pension erely so he can pay e, but thin' he shoul$ ha%e it the sa e as others who ren$ere$ser%ice+> ( ") ther cre$itors atte pte$ to -ain $irect control o%er a pension+ @erchants Jones KHeiber-er wrote the *o ptroller3 >@r+ .+*+ *rosby has a$e us collectin- a-t+ for hi + Now ifyou cannot a'e his Drafts payable to us please sen$ the in our care, as we are a$%ancin- this-entle an -oo$s, an$ his only chance to pay us, is with his pension oney+> ( )

Golitical consi$erations per eate$ the *onfe$erate welfare syste + Born of the conflict betweenDe ocrats, Republicans, an$ Gopulists, *onfe$erate pensions ser%e$ as a tool to hol$ the loyalty oflocal %oters+ n 4560, for e1a ple, party officials in =ernan$ina too' an acti%e role in pressurin- the

pension boar$ to appro%e the application of one J+#+ .oo$burn+ n a$$ition to the fact that.oo$burn $eser%e$ the pension, wrote +&+ Balt n confi$ence if the pension is -rante$ it willai$ e %ery aterially in a political way+> Still pressin- the case three onths later, Balt@r+ .oo$burn is a an of so e influence a on- the country people, an$ fear

if there is not so e fa%orable action ta'en soon, he will influence so e of the people to %ote orwor' a-ainst us in the ne1t election+> ( 5)

Golitical concerns inspire$ Robert Rei$, who was both chair an of his county De ocratic party an$co an$er of a *onfe$erate %eterans: ca p, to press the pension boar$ to o%e Euic'ly on so eapplications that see e$ to be procee$in- slowly+ >So e are thin'in- har$ of the a$ inistration forthe $elay,> he wrote, >while others are abusin- the $e ocratic party for it+ Such $elays arecalculate$ to hurt the party +++ he opposition in this *o+ are now or-ani


11/25

@any people assu e$ that political affiliation an$ loyalty were unwritten criteria for obtainin- a pension, an$ stresse$ their faithfulness as they a$e their clai + S+.+ =eanan$ wrote his -o%ernorin 45563 > ust say on the "th of last No%+ $one all coul$ for you at the polls+ $o hope you willnot for-et e+> (50) #llen *ain wrote in 45603 > a nothin- but an ol$ poor *onfe$erate sol$ierwho ha$ nothin- an$ -ot nothin- yet whoo sicI sir%e$ sicI the war threw as you well 'now an$

has to the $e ocrats party e%er sence sicI +++> (54)

thers feare$ that the politici-reat frau$ in this *ounty in the Sol$iers Gension bill ,I en$rawin- fro the State that are able bo$ie$ K plenty of eans K c+ un$erstan$ +++ there is a -oo$$eal of $iscretion with the o%ernor butI this business has injure$ the De ocratic party in this*o+> He esti ate$ that there were at least half a $ohas personally ai$e$ K abette$ this frau$+> He conclu$e$3 > t is just this openface$ %illainy that cause$ our $efeat on the "th No%+ in this *o+> (57)

n a$$ition to instances of political aneu%erin-, there were so e cases of real frau$+ ne -roup ofen in ilchrist *ounty create$ a ilitia co pany that ha$ ne%er e1iste$, aroun$ a fictitious

>*aptain /n$erwoo$,> an$ then si-n affi$a%its on behalf of each other:s ser%ice+ he frau$ was$isco%ere$, an$ in =ebruary 4674 one J+ + &in$sey ac'nowle$-e$ his role in this conspiracy+ >a$ it that $i$ si-n an application for a pension about ! years a-o+ was solicite$ to a'e theclai by Hira Saun$ers at Bell =la+ an$ so e others for a year or ore+ tol$ the was notentitle$ to a pension+ ne%er pai$ any attention to what si-ne$ an$ $i$ not 'now wassubscribin- to an affi$a%it++++ ne%er hear$ of *aptain /n$erwoo$ until a few years a-o when thisstir -ot up about pensions+ 'now nothin- about *apt /n$erwoo$ ha%in- or-ani (58)

*ases of blatant frau$ were uch less co on than those of politici


12/25

Sa antha Denha of @arianna was not as fortunate+ Her story hi-hli-hts the -en$ere$ nature ofthe pension syste , as wo en foun$ the sel%es subject to co unity ores that were %ery -en$er specific+ Born Sa antha *utchins in 45"4, she arrie$ #+ + Denha in 4554 in Jac'son *ounty,=lori$a+ Denha ha$ been a far er in #laba a at the outbrea' of the *i%il .ar+ &ea%in- his firstwife, >Barbary,> behin$, Denha %olunteere$ for *onfe$erate ser%ice, sur%i%e$ to the en$ of the

war, an$ settle$ in @arianna to return to far in-+ He an$ Barbary ha$ at least four chil$ren,inclu$in- a son na e$ Robert, before her $eath+ (Sa antha thus beca e a step; other upon her

arria-e to Denha +)

By the ti e of their arria-e in 4554, Denha ha$ alrea$y cease$ far in- an$ ha$ beco e aschool teacher, presu ably because of his $eclinin- health+ n @ay 4555, he applie$ for a pension,

base$ on a war;ti e -unshot woun$ to his shoul$er that ha$ $isable$ hi for anual labor+ .ith allhis affi$a%its in or$er, his application was appro%e$ that Septe ber, an$ he $rew a pension until his$eath in 4564+ (5")

hen a wi$ow with at least one chil$ of her own an$ one or ore stepchil$ren in her care, Sa anthaDenha be-an $rawin- a wi$ow:s pension al ost i e$iately after her husban$:s $eath+ =in$in-that the s all pension was >wholly insufficient to support herself an$ her fa ily,> in 4567Sa antha hire$ herself out as a far laborer to Sa Geacoc' an$ his son lbert D+ Geacoc' innearby *otton$ale+ (5 ) .hile she li%e$ on the Geacoc' far , at least one of her chil$ren, an$

possibly ore, were sent to li%e with her brother;in;law eor-e Denha for three or four onths+So eti e $urin- that perio$, eor-e Denha wrote to the pension boar$ to as' if he coul$ beawar$e$ his $ecease$ brother:s pension since he was carin- for his chil$ren+ (55) his was ani possibility un$er the state laws, but was a tactic that any people trie$ at ti es+

Ru ors be-an to circulate in the nei-hborhoo$ that Sa antha was ha%in- an affair with +D+Geacoc', an$ that his wife ha$ left hi as a result+ ne of her stepsons was cre$ite$ with tellin- thenei-hbors that she was >in a fa ily way by this an> an$ clai e$ to ha%e >cau-ht the his self+>

he ru or ill also clai e$ that the county court was char-in- the with li%inin a$ultery+56 he pension boar$ recei%e$ an affi$a%it, si-ne$ by Robert &a bert an$ Robert Denha (Sa antha:sstep;son), attestin- that

she is of a very bad reputation and we "now that she has been livingin the 3ouse with 4lbert +eacoc" nearly all the time since her 3usbanddied and we further believe that she has been supporting said +eacoc"on +ension allowed her husband by the State of 2lorida and we allso[sic] believe that they are liveing [sic] in adultery and was thecause of the +eacoc"s wife leveing [sic] him and we do "now she giveher Children to .T. 5enham ... '67*

.ithout first con$uctin- an in%esti-ation, the pension boar$ re%o'e$ her pension in June+ (64)

.hile Sa antha Denha :s case i-ht be e1tre e, any other wo en also foun$ their oralssubjecte$ to public scrutiny, so eti es by an anony ous whistle;blower+ ># frien$ to the state>wrote to -o%ernor .illia Blo1ha in 4564 to report >the frau$ that been playe$ on the unte$ sicIstates by -etin- sicI such a lar-e pention sicI for this @rs @ary ho as +I> he uni$entifie$correspon$ent fro Syca ore, =lori$a, continue$3

it is true about her being a widow Thomas but she married him in timeof the war and he was a soldier at the time and they never had thechance of living together and she never had any children for Thomas.


13/25

these children the state is having to provide for are unlawful and areall able to wor" some, some of them are grown8 ! would not mentionedit but it is not right for such a thing to go on, a little pesion[sic] for herself is enough[.] it is reasonable to surpose [sic] themen that has done this thing has a motive for it, as she belong to anyof them in one respect. '69*

he $etails of a arria-e freEuently ha$ to be aire$ in $efense of a challen-e$ pension+ @arthaSe1ton:s nei-hbors in *hipola, =lori$a, ha$ $oubts about the nature an$ le-ality of her arria-e toJa es .+ Se1ton+ S+*+ @ercer wrote that Ja es >ha$ a li%en sicI wife at the ti e the wars +I

preten$e$ are$ sicI +I ha%e surch sicI the recor$ at arianna ther sicI is no $i%orce on rec'or$sicI forI her+> %en if the arria-e ha$ ha$ a le-al be-innin-, @ercer belie%e$ it ha$ ha$ a

Euestionable en$+ >She wars sicI in South =la+ when he $ie$ +I She $i$ not wate sicI near an$Inurse Ja es Se1ton in $eath an$I sic'ness+ Se1ton $ie$ about 40 or 4! iles west of arianna atJeree Jones+> (67) .ithin $ays of the accusation, an an-ry @artha Se1ton ha$ arran-e$ for a copy of her husban$:s $i%orce $ecree, a copy of their arria-e certificates, an$ affi$a%its fro witnesses toaccount for her whereabouts on the $ate of Ja es: $eath+ he e1planation was one that @arthaun$oubte$ly wishe$ not to a'e public, but was co pelle$ to $o in or$er to 'eep her pension+ hecouple ha$ fallen into such po%erty an$ sic'ness that neither coul$ care for the other+ No one in thefa ily coul$ care for the both, so the couple was separate$ an$ each o%e$ in with one of theira$ult chil$ren who a-ree$ to ta'e the in+ (68)

ne of the ost freEuent char-es le%ie$ a-ainst wo en pensioners was bastar$y+ + + @esser wroteto the attorney -eneral to co plain about an >e1 confe$ret sicI wi$$o sicI $rawin- a pension frothe State +I> He char-e$ that

She hav [sic] had ) childron [sic] by and [sic] another man and have

"osed [sic] them all to be grone [sic] and draws money from the Stateand give to them or by [sic] them clothing and nesary [sic] of lifefor them and if there is eny [sic] way or law to stop it ! thin" oughtto be don. [sic]She has had them by an [sic] man by the name of S. +elt and if youwill send me the neseary [sic] papers to have affidavit maid [sic] tothe facts ! will have them filled out and send them to you. ! do notthin" the State have eny [sic] right to furnish money for a gang ofBastards which all have been born sence [sic] the Sivel [sic] warended. '6:*

.o en who applie$ for *onfe$erate pensions foun$ that they ha$ two sets of criteria to eet+ hey

first ha$ to pro%e that their husban$s ha$ been honorable sol$iers+ n a$$ition, they ha$ to$e onstrate that they were worthy wo en+ &ocal co unities ju$-e$ *onfe$erate wi$ows byoral stan$ar$s not applie$ to *onfe$erate %eterans+ he thousan$s of pension applications are

notable for their absence of accusations of se1ual i orality a-ainst en+

he nee$ to $e onstrate >worthiness> so eti es le$ wo en to couch their clai s in the nineteenthcentury:s lan-ua-e of fe inine $eference+ #nnie &un-ren of l$ri$-e use$ a strate-y co on to

poor relief applicants3 she pile$ on the pathos, an$ e phasi.e loste%erythin- we owne$ in the worl$ sa%e the clothes we ha$ on, when =ernan$enia sicI was ta'en++++

$o not 'now of any one who has suffere$ ore than we $i$+ as we lost our allL $o hope aynow recei%e so ethin- as y health is co pleatly sicI broa' sicI $own+ was left with 8 s all

chil$ren to brin- up, ne%er recei%e$ one $ollars worth of ai$ that was raise$ for refu-ees+ Nothin- but nee$ co ples sicI e to write this appeal to you+> (6") By referrin- to her s all chil$ren,&un-ren was $escribin- past nee$ rather than present con$itions, since her chil$ren were by then


14/25

-rown+ But her past stru--les beca e part of her pac'a-e of worthiness, as $i$ the fact that she ha$>ne%er recei%e$ one $ollars worth of ai$+> (6 )

%en ore layers of pathos were pile$ on the case of @ar-aret Jane San$us'ey, who also use$another tra$itional $eferential etho$;;that of ar-uin- her case throu-h an inter e$iary+

San$us'ey:s nei-hbor, @rs+ Nora *re$ille, presente$ a poi-nant i a-e of fe ale po%erty to the-o%ernor+ She wrote that San$us'ey

is ;7 yrs old and $uite feeble, lives with an old maid daughter who isvery delicate and about cra


15/25

*onfe$erate %otes, co pete$ to lay clai to the label of the >true *onfe$erate+> Glatfor pro isesof >liberal pensions> beca e $e ri-eur in early twentieth;century ca pai-ns+ he result was aconstant upwar$ pressure on the state:s e1pen$itures+

=lori$a stru--le$ to fun$ these re%enue;-obblin- pro-ra s+ n 46!4, the state le-islature hope$ to

re$uce its financial bur$en while continuin- to support its sur%i%in- %eterans+ he le-islature as'e$the fe$eral -o%ern ent, in a stron-ly wor$e$ resolution, to ta'e o%er the support of all *onfe$erate%eterans an$ wi$ows+ Describe$ as an act of unity an$ conciliation, the resolution also su--este$that the /nion owe$ so ethin- to Southern states, which ha$ been ta1e$ to support /nion %eterans+(407) he /+S+ *on-ress ne%er >a$opte$> the *onfe$erate %eterans into the fe$eral pension syste ,an$ =lori$a continue$ to pay %eterans an$ their wi$ows until the 46"0s+ (408)

Despite the fact that this was >bi- -o%ern ent,> an$ $espite the fact that this was -o%ern entwelfare, these welfare pro-ra s re aine$ al ost sacre$ to the white South+ his was a for ofwelfare state that they e brace$, 'nowin- that it buttresse$ white supre acy an$ honore$ the l$South+ he Southern states ha$ a lar-e welfare pro-ra in place lon- before the New Deal+ But this$i$ not then pa%e the way for the South:s acceptance of a fe$eral welfare state+ nstea$, Southernersle$ the opposition to the e er-in- New Deal welfare state, an$ re aine$ stalwarts in thatopposition for $eca$es+ he politics of the &ost *ause a$e *onfe$erate welfare;;not all welfare;;hi-hly $esirable+ Southern whites reali*i%il .ar Gensions an$ the Reconstruction of /nion =a ilies,> Journal

of # erican History 57 (Septe ber 466"), 8A5;A6+


16/25

!+ he$a S'ocpol, Grotectin- Sol$iers an$ @others2 he Golitical ri-ins of Social Golicy in the/nite$ States (*a bri$-e, 466!)2 Seth o%en an$ Sonya @ichel (e$s), @others of a New .orl$3@aternalist Golitics an$ the ri-ins of .elfare States (New Mor', 4667)2 @olly &a$$; aylor,@other;.or'3 .o en, *hil$ .elfare an$ the State, 4560;4670 (/rbana, &, 4668)2 &in$a or$on,Gitie$ but not ntitle$3 Sin-le @others an$ the History of .elfare, 4560;467A (New Mor', 4668)2

Joanne &+ oo$win, en$er an$ the Golitics of .elfare Refor 3 @others: Gensions in *hica-o,4644;46!6 (*hica-o, 466 )2 Susan @arie Sterett, Gublic Gensions3 en$er an$ *i%ic Ser%ice in theStates, 45A0;467 ( thaca, N+M+, !007)+

7+ he %ery short list of wor's inclu$es athleen or an, >*onfe$erate Gensions as SouthernSocial .elfare,> in Before the New Deal3 Social .elfare in the South, 4570;4670, e$ite$ by lna *+

reen (#thens, #, 4666)2 @ar' + Ro$-ers, racin- the *i%il .ar ?eteran Gensions Syste in theState of ?ir-inia3 ntitle ent or Gri%ile-e (&ewiston, NM, 4666)2 an$ @ichelle #+ rowl, >:Her JustDues:3 *i%il .ar Gensions of #frican # erican .o en in ?ir-inia,> in Ne-otiatin- Boun$aries ofSouthern .o anhoo$3 Dealin- with the Gowers hat Be, e$ite$ by Janet &+ *oryell, ho as H+#ppleton, Jr+, #nastatia Si s, an$ San$ra ioia rea$way (*olu bia, @o+, !000)+

8+ .hitelaw Rei$, Euote$ by Joe @+ Richar$son, he Ne-ro in the Reconstruction of =lori$a, 45"A;45 ( allahassee, 46"A), 4+

A+ n this co ple1ity see especially &ee J+ #lston an$ Joseph G+ =errie, Southern Gaternalis an$the Rise of the # erican .elfare State3 cono ics, Golitics, an$ nstitutions in the South, 45"A;46"A (*a bri$-e, 4665)+

"+ See for e1a ple3 Geter @c*an$less, @oonli-ht, @a-nolias K @a$ness3 nsanity in South*arolina fro the *olonial Gerio$ to the Gro-ressi%e ra (*hapel Hill, 466")2 Geter .allenstein,=ro Sla%e South to New South3 Gublic Golicy in eor-ia in the Nineteenth *entury (*hapel Hill,465 )+

+ uote$ by racy J+ Re%els, > ran$er in Her Dau-hters3 =lori$a:s .o en Durin- the *i%il .ar,>=lori$a Historical uarterly (.inter 4666), ! 8+

5+ *harlton .+ ebeau, # History of =lori$a (*oral ables, 46 4, 4650), !!"+

6+ here is no -eneral history of the *onfe$erate welfare syste + R+B+ Rosenbur-, &i%in-@onu ents3 *onfe$erate Sol$iers: Ho es in the New South (*hapel Hill, 4667), offers so eco%era-e of the pensions an$ other pro-ra s, while focusin- pri arily on the %eterans: ho es+

40+ n eor-ia, the state:s pension pro-ra represente$ appro1i ately !9 of total statee1pen$itures for the years 455";4556+ Ja es R+ Moun-, >*onfe$erate Gensions in eor-ia, 455";46!6,> eor-ia Historical uarterly "" (Sprin- 465!), p+86 ( able 4)+ n ?ir-inia, the state:se1pen$itures on *onfe$erate pensions staye$ below 89 of the state bu$-et until 4560+ lna *+

reen, his Business of Relief3 *onfrontin- Go%erty in a Southern *ity, 4 80;4680 (#thens, #,!007), #ppen$i1, unpa-inate$, able "+

44+ he classic stu$ies of the &ost *ause are *harles Rea-an .ilson, Bapti


17/25

4!+ $war$ &+ #yers, Gro ise of the New South3 &ife #fter Reconstruction (New Mor', 466!), 777;75+ See also #ntoinette + %an Oel , >?ir-inia .o en as Gublic *iti=lori$a:s *onfe$erate Ho e,> *onfe$erate ?eteran 7 (Dece ber 456A), 75!+

4 + Robert #+ Rei$ to D+ &an-, Septe ber 40, 456A, Boar$ of Gensions, *orrespon$ence, bo1 4+=S#+

45+ eabeau, =lori$a, !!6, !7!2 *antor Brown, Jr+, > he *i%il .ar, 45"4;45"A,> he New History of =lori$a e$ite$ by @ichael annon ( aines%ille, =&, 4667) !7!2 Daniel &+ Schafer, >/+S+ erritoryan$ State,> in he New History of =lori$a e$ite$ by @ichael annon ( aines%ille, =&, 4667), !! +

46+ >=lori$a,> *onfe$erate ?eteran 8 (Dece ber 456"), 805+

!0+ n eor-ia, where earlier %eterans: welfare e1penses a ounte$ to !9 of the bu$-et, the statespent an a%era-e of 4A9 of its annual bu$-et on %eterans $urin- the 4560s+ he followin- $eca$e, itrose to a%era-e 469 of the annual bu$-et+ he hi-hest le%el was reache$ in 4644 an$ 464!, when!!9 of the state:s annual appropriations went to %eterans+ Moun-, >*onfe$erate Gensions in

eor-ia,> 86;A0 ( ables ! an$ 7)+ n ?ir-inia, the state:s e1pen$itures reache$ a hi-h of 449 in464!+ reen, his Business of Relief, #ppen$i1, unpa-inate$, able "+

!4+ >=lori$a:s enerous Gro%isions,> *onfe$erate ?eteran !! (#pril 4648), 485+

!!+ he state la--e$ far behin$ other Southern states in the creation of institutions for the blin$,$eaf, an$ ute, not establishin- a school for these $epen$ents until 4557+ enneth R+ Johnson, > he

#$ inistration of .illia Dunnin-ton Blo1ha , 4554;455A,> (@+#+ thesis, =lori$a State/ni%ersity, 46A6), 40A+

!7+ Jerrell H+ Shofner, >Reconstruction an$ Renewal, 45"A;45 ,> in @ichael annon (e$), he New History of =lori$a ( aines%ille, =&, 466"), !"!;"82 Sa uel Groctor, Napoleon BonaparteBrowar$, =lori$a:s =i-htin- De ocrat ( aines%ille, =&, 46A0), A";A6+

!8+ #lthou-h any obser%ers ha%e note$ that the 455A constitution wea'ene$ the -o%ernor:s powersconsi$erably, the e1ecuti%e:s power to appoint county co issioners eant a continue$ stren-th inlocal politics that coul$ be substantial+

!A+ o%ernors .illia Blo1ha (4554;455A, 456 ;4604), +#+Gerry (455A;4556), =rancis =le in-(4556;4567), an$ Henry @itchell (4567;456 ) all ser%e$ in the *i%il .ar+ .illia Jennin-s, who

beca e -o%ernor in 4604, ha$ been born in 45"7+ SubseEuent -o%ernors also were too youn- to


18/25

ha%e ser%e$+ Ne%ertheless, the ne1t -eneration of lea$ers continue$ to support the *onfe$eratewelfare syste + #s .illia + *ash put it3 >Met the youn-er en who were co in- upon the

political scene were e%er rea$y to pay tribute to the *i%il .ar heroes they were $isplacin-+> .illia+ *ash, History of the De ocratic Garty in =lori$a ( allahassee, =&, 467"), 6A+

!"+ #cts an$ Resolutions #$opte$ by the &e-islature of =lori$a at its hirteenth Session un$er the*onstitution of #+D+ 45"5 ( allahassee, =&, 455A), 48;4A+

! + Deter inin- the e1act nu ber of en an$ wo en eli-ible for state pensions is nearlyi possible+ #ppro1i ately 4",000 sol$iers an$ sailors fro =lori$a ser%e$ the *onfe$eracy+#nother se%eral thousan$ ser%e$ in the Ho e uar$s, which were later a$e eli-ible for support+Scholars ha%e esti ate$ that appro1i ately one;thir$ of these troops $ie$ in the war, lea%in-

perhaps 40,000 en an$ an un'nown nu ber of wo en eli-ible for pensions+ housan$s ore*onfe$erate %eterans or their wi$ows i i-rate$ to the state after the war, an$ this is the nu berthat is i possible to $eter ine+

here is also so e uncertainty about the e1act nu ber of pensions the state of =lori$a ulti ately-rante$+ here are sli-htly ore than 47,000 application files in the =lori$a State #rchi%es+ So e40,A00 are recor$e$ as >appro%e$,> but that nu ber is islea$in- since it so eti es counts asseparate applications each of the %arious re;applications that any %eterans an$ their wi$ows a$e+

hus the fi-ure 40,A00 is too hi-h+

!5+ Secretary of Gension Boar$ to #lfre$ rain-er, #pril !5, 4640+ Boar$ of Gensions, Gension#pplication =iles, Bo1 !! + =S#+

!6+ he =lori$a ho e -uar$s woul$ be a$e eli-ible for pensions in a re%ision of the laws in 460 +

70+ Secretary of Gension Boar$ to @rs+ *aroline Blac'wel$er, ctober 4 , 46!A+ Boar$ of Gensions,Gension #pplication =iles, bo1 !! , =S#+

74+ Boar$ of Gensions, Gension #pplication =iles, bo1 !!A, =S#+

7!+ n Broo e, see Rowlan$ H+ Reric', @e oirs of =lori$a (#tlanta, 460!), %+4, p+ 84+ n the>liberal pension bill,> see > wo &on- an$ Busy Sessions in the =lori$a &e-islature,> (Jac'son%ille)

i es;/nion, 4! @ay 460 , p+4, an$ >New *harter for a pa #r-ue$ to *o ittee,> a paribune, 44 @ay 460 , p+4+

77+ See #cts an$ Resolutions a$opte$ by the &e-islature of =lori$a at its le%enth Re-ular Session(#pril ! to @ay 74, 460 ), /n$er the *onstitution of #+D+ 455A ( allahassee, =&, 460 ), A; 5+

78+ @essa-e of N+B+ Browar$, o%ernor of =lori$a, to the &e-islature, Re-ular Session of 460A( allahassee, =&, 460A) unpa-inate$I+

7A+ =le in- ay ha%e, in fact, ri$$en the pension pro-ra into the o%ernor:s office+ He waswi$ely consi$ere$ the father of the 455A pension law, an$ was easily electe$ in 4555+

7"+ @anuscript copy of letter to the e$itor, =rancis G+ =le in- *onfe$erate ?eterans Gapers, f reelP7+ =S#+ ori-inals house$ at Jac'son%ille Gublic &ibraryI


19/25

7 + ha%e not calculate$ these e1pen$itures for e%ery Southern state+ But in no recor$ of any 'in$ha%e seen a su--estion that any state e%er spent ore than 7"9 of its annual bu$-et on*onfe$erate welfare+

75+ #cts an$ Resolutions a$opte$ by the &e-islature of =lori$a at its welfth Re-ular Session (#pril

" to June 8, 4606), /n$er the *onstitution of #+D+ 455A ( allahassee, =&, 4606), ! +

76+ 455A =lori$a State *ensus, &eon *ounty+ *oo'3 fra es 448 an$ 7"7+ Brown3 fra es 477 an$7"A+ f a%ailable at =S#I

80+ Secretary of Boar$ to @r+ +.+ @c*or ic', @arch 7, 460"+ Boar$ of Gensions,*orrespon$ence, bo1 7+ =S#+

84+ @essa-e of N+B+ Browar$, o%ernor of =lori$a, to the &e-islature, Re-ular Session of 460A( allahassee, =&, 460A) unpa-inate$I+

8!+ His letter $ate$ July 5, 467" is foun$ in her file in Boar$ of Gensions, Gension #pplication =iles, bo1 !! , =S#+

87+ Getition $ate$ =ebruary !8, 4560+ Boar$ of Gensions, *orrespon$ence, bo1 4+ =S#+

88+ Henry J+ Stewart to *ol+ Da%i$ &an-, Septe ber !4, 4564+ Boar$ of Gensions, *orrespon$ence, bo1 4+ =S#+

8A+ #cts an$ Resolutions a$opte$ by the &e-islature of =lori$a at its enth Re-ular Session 460AI,/n$er the *onstitution of #+D+ 455A ( allahassee, =&, 460A), !4+

8"+ See3 N+ or$on *arper, >@artin abert, @artyr of an ra,> =lori$a Historical uarterly A!(!)(46 7), 44A;4742 Jeffrey #+ Drobney, >.here Gal an$ Gine #re Blowin-3 *on%ict &abor in the

North =lori$a urpentine n$ustry, 45 ;46!7,> =lori$a Historical uarterly !(8) (4668), 844;8782an$ ?i%ien @+&+ @iller, *ri e, Se1ual ?iolence, an$ *le ency3 =lori$a:s Gar$on Boar$ an$ GenalSyste in the Gro-ressi%e ra ( aines%ille, =&, !000)+

8 + he ori-inal trustees, in a$$ition to Russell an$ =le in-, were en+ .illia Baya, *apt+ D+ +@a1well, an$ *ol+ .+R+ @oore+

85+ .illia Baya to @ajor #+J+ Russell, #u-ust 4", 456!+ =le in- Gapers+ f reel P4+ =S#+

86+ >=lori$a:s *onfe$erate Ho e,> *onfe$erate ?eteran 7 (Dece ber 456A), 75!+

A0+ #cts an$ Resolutions a$opte$ by the &e-islature of =lori$a at its =ourth Re-ular Session 4567I,/n$er the *onstitution of #+D+ 455A ( allahassee, =&, 4567), 464;6!+ n 460 , e%en that li itationwas re%o'e$+ #cts an$ Resolutions a$opte$ by the &e-islature of =lori$a at its le%enth Re-ularSession 460 I, /n$er the *onstitution of #+D+ 455A ( allahassee, =&, 460 ), 4 "+

A4+ eneral #cts an$ Resolutions #$opte$ by the &e-islature of =lori$a at its i-hteenth Re-ularSession 46!4I /n$er the *onstitution of #+D+ 455A ( allahassee, =&, 46!4), !"!;"8+ Rosenbur-

points out that this chan-e represente$ so ethin- of a political coup for the /D*, which ha$ beenrefuse$ representation on the boar$ because the ori-inal charter ha$ stipulate$ that only %eteranscoul$ ser%e+ Now the /D* coul$ ha%e ore $irect influence on the ana-e ent of the facility+Rosenbur-, &i%in- @onu ents, 48 +


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A!+ =lori$a l$ *onfe$erate Sol$iers an$ Sailors Ho e, nfor ation an$ =acts (Jac'son%illeQ3 n+p+,46!"Q), unpa-inate$+

A7+ See receipts fro these an$ other businesses in =le in- Gapers, f reel P4+ =S#+

A8+ =lori$a l$ *onfe$erate Sol$iers an$ Sailors Ho e nfor ation an$ =acts (no publication $ata-i%en, probably Jac'son%ille, probably 46!"), unpa-inate$, report of @rs+ =ran' wen+

AA+ ett =+ Ruffin to 1; o%ernor =+G+ =le in-, July 6, 4606+ =le in- Gapers, f reel P4+

A"+ *+@+ Hooper to Boar$ of Directors, June !7, 4604+ =le in- Gapers, f reel P4+ =S#+

A + *+@+ Hooper to Q, un$ate$ first pa-e appears to be issin-I+ =le in- Gapers, f reel P4+ tshoul$ be note$ that Hooper co plaine$ a lot about con$itions in the Ho e, an$ the researcherrea$in- throu-h all these letters cannot help but won$er if Hooper hi self i-ht not ha%e been thesource of so e of the friction in the Ho e+

A5+ uotes fro =lori$a l$ *onfe$erate Sol$iers an$ Sailors Ho e nfor ation an$ =acts (no publication $ata -i%en, probably Jac'son%ille, probably 46!"), unpa-inate$, report of @rs+ =ran'

wen+

A6+ Gresu ably this is the sa e Ruffin about who Hooper ha$ co plaine$ supra, althou-h hischaracteri eor-ians in Hoo$:s e1as Bri-a$e,> *onfe$erate ?eteran 46(=ebruary 4644), A7+

"8+ here is a -rowin- bo$y of literature on asculinity in postbellu South, inclu$in-, ostrecently3 # y &ouise .oo$, >&ynchin- Ghoto-raphy an$ the :Blac' Beast Rapist: in the Southern.hite @asculine a-ination,> in @asculinity3 Bo$ies, @o%ies, *ulture e$ite$ by Geter &eh an

(New Mor', !004)2 Stephen antrowit ne @an:s @ob s #nother @an:s @ilitia3 ?iolence,@anhoo$, an$ #uthority in Reconstruction South *arolina,> in Ju pin: Ji *row3 Southern Goliticsfro *i%il .ar to *i%il Ri-hts e$ite$ by Jane li


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"5+ John + @ercer to @r+ + &an-, No%e ber 4!, 456A+ Boar$ of Gensions, *orrespon$ence, bo1 4+=S#+

"6+ he rest of the $etails of this case are in the #pplication file P046A an$ the Boar$ of Gensions,*orrespon$ence, bo1 4+ Both in =S#+

0+ Dr+ S+ + %erstreet to D+ &an-, ctober 7, 4556+ Boar$ of Gensions, *orrespon$ence, bo1 4+=S#+

4+ Dr+ S+ + %erstreet to Dear *olonel, Dece ber !8, 4560+ Boar$ of Gensions, *orrespon$ence, bo1 4+ =S#+ ( phasis ori-inal)

!+ S+ + %erstreet was a physician fro &i%e a' who ha$ also been a pro inent a$%ocate of the pension syste in the 455A le-islature+ Reric', @e oirs of =lori$a, %+4, pp+"8!;87+

7+ J+=+ &atha to Da%i$ &an-, ctober !, 4556+ Boar$ of Gensions *orrespon$ence, bo1 4+ =S#+

8+ &etterhea$+ No%e ber !6, 4567+ Boar$ of Gensions, *orrespon$ence, bo1 4+ =S#+

A+ *lai of Ben =+ Gate+ Boar$ of Gensions, *onfe$erate Gension #pplications, bo1 !!A,PD!7," !+ =S#+

"+ John D+ ra ell to rnest # os, #pril 48, 467!+ Boar$ of Gensions, *onfe$erate Gension#pplications, bo1 !!", PD!750 + =S#+

+ Jones K Heiber-er to .+D+ Barnes, January , 455 + State Boar$ of Gensions, &et;terboo's, %ol+4, letter file$ at pa-e "45+ =S#+

5+ +&+ Balt t is %ery i portant for our *ause here for

o%+ =le in- to act on that pension clai of John #+ .oo$burn at once+> .+.+ =ar er to +J+riay, #u-ust !, 4560+ Boar$ of Gensions, *orrespon$ence, bo1 4+ =S#+ ( phasis ori-inal+)

6+ Robert #+ Rei$ to eneral D+ &an-, #u-ust ! , 456A+ Boar$ of Gensions, *orrespon$ence, bo14+ =S#+

50+ S+.+ =eanan$ to o%ernor =ran' =le in-, Septe ber 48, 4556+ Boar$ of Gensions,*orrespon$ence, bo1 4+ =S#+

54+ #llen *ain to @r+ =le in-, January !0, 4560+ Boar$ of Gensions, *orrespon$ence, bo1 4+ =S#+

5!+ J+&+ *a pbell to .+D+ Barnes, July !!, 4556+ Boar$ of Gensions, *orrespon$ence, bo1 4+ =S#+

57+ N+#+ Gatterson to Dear eneral, Dece ber 8, 4555+ Boar$ of Gensions, *orrespon$ence, bo1 4+=S#+ ccasionally applicants openly char-e$ that party politics ha$ interfere$ in their cases+ n4564, one Republican clai e$ that he ha$ been $enie$ a pension because of his political affiliation+@+H+ .arin- of @a$ison was not able to $o anual labor, but hel$ >a little Gost ffice, which paysabout CA0 per onth+> Since he ha$ obtaine$ that position throu-h a Republican a$ inistration, he

belie%e$, his pension application was passe$ o%er+ > f this a$ inistration ha$ been De ocratic,> hewrote, >no Euestions woul$ ha%e been as'e$+ So e here are -ettin- pensions who ha%e ne%er lost a


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li b, or e%er saw a yan'ee e1cept while -uar$in- the #n$erson%ille prison+ *o e ho e went coonhuntin- lay out in the swa p K contracte$I rheu atis+: #n$ of course throu-h the influence of aone of the party he -ets a pension+> @+H+ .arin- to D+ &an-, No%e ber !8, 4564+ Boar$ ofGensions, *orrespon$ence, bo1 4+ =S#+

58+ #ffi$a%it of J+ + &in$sey, =ebruary 44, 4674+ Boar$ of Gensions, *onfe$erate Gension#pplications, Bo1 !!A, PD!7"7"+ =S#+ ther such frau$s were occasionally unco%ere$ by the

pension boar$+ he boar$ for ally repri an$e$ the county co issioners of sca bia *ounty in4674 for appro%in- pension applications that were the pro$uct of a >conspiracy +++ between S+J+Royals, the Notary Gublic who wor'e$ up this case, an$ Ben H+ Hol an, Jno+ .+ ?ann, an$ Jas+ .+

ho as+> n%esti-ation report+ Boar$ of Gensions, *onfe$erate Gension #pplications, Bo1 !!A,PD!7"75+ =S#+

5A+ Boar$ of Gensions, *onfe$erate Gension #pplication =iles, P#00004+ =S#+

5"+ Boar$ of Gensions, *onfe$erate Gension #pplication =iles, P#4004!+ =S#+

5 + #ffi$a%it of &+#+S+ Sa anthaI Denha , #u-ust 45, 4567, Boar$ of Gensions,*orrespon$ence, bo1 4+ =S#+

55+ + + Denha to D+ &an-, secretary of the pension boar$, #u-ust !6, 4567+ Boar$ of Gensions,*orrespon$ence, bo1 4+ =S#+

56+ + + Denha to D+ &an-, secretary of the pension boar$, #u-ust !6, 4567+ Boar$ of Gensions,*orrespon$ence, bo1 4+ =S#+

60+ #ffi$a%it of Robert &a bert an$ Robert Denha , un$ate$+ Boar$ of Gensions, *orrespon$ence, bo1 4+ =S#+

64+ he Geacoc's foun$ that their arria-e also ha$ to be opene$ up to public scrutiny while thiscase was in%esti-ate$+ hey pro%i$e$ a joint affi$a%it attestin- that the reason @ary Geacoc' wasnot li%in- at their ho e was because she ha$ -one to stay with her parents for her pen$in-confine ent+ So, ironically, it was @rs+ Geacoc' who was with chil$ rather than Sa antha Denha +#ffi$a%it by +D+ Geacoc' an$ @+J+ Geacoc', #u-ust , 4567+ Boar$ of Gensions, *orrespon$ence,

bo1 4+ =S#+ Howe%er, there is so e e%i$ence that Sa antha Denha i-ht in$ee$ ha%e ha$ arelationship with so eone+ he 4600 census shows her li%inin Jac'son *ounty with four chil$ren,the youn-est of who ha$ been born in 456A, four years after her husban$:s $eath+

6!+ ># frien$ to the state,> to .+J+ Blo1ha , @arch !8, 4564+ Boar$ of Gensions, *orrespon$ence, bo1 4+ =S#+ he lac' of $etail in the char-es in this case, with na es as co on as > ho as> an$>@ary,> a'es it i possible to $eter ine whether the accuse$ wi$ow ulti ately lost her pension+

67+ S+ *+ @ercer to Da%i$ #+ &an-, No%e ber !, 456"+ Boar$ of Gensions, *orrespon$ence, bo1 4+=S#+

68+ #ll affi$a%its foun$ in Boar$ of Gensions, *orrespon$ence, bo1 4+ =S#+

6A+ + + @esser to .illia B+ &a ar, Dece ber 6, 456"+ Boar$ of Gensions, *orrespon$ence, bo1

4+ =S#+ he letter ne%er na e$ the wo an in Euestion+I


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6"+ #nnie D+ &un-ren to o%+ =le in-, Septe ber 47, 4560+ Boar$ of Gensions, *orrespon$ence, bo1 4+ =S#+

6 + &un-ren $i$ not ention that she ha$ been born in New Jersey+ his per the 45 0 census for?olusia, =lori$a+I

65+ @rs+ #+#+ *re$ille of Gensacola to o%+ N+B+ Browar$, @ay 5, 460"+ Boar$ of Gensions,*orrespon$ence, bo1 7+ =S#+ *re$ille:s husban$ was chief of police in Gensacola+

66+ @rs+ Rebecca Reese to o%ernor @itchell, June 44, 4568+ Boar$ of Gensions, *orrespon$ence, bo1 4+ =S#+ Reese:s application was finally appro%e$ in 4600+ /nfortunately for her case, herhusban$ ha$ >lin-ere$> for twenty years before finally $yin- of his battle woun$s+ he pension

boar$ apparently ha$ $oubts about the cause of his $eath, which $elaye$ her pension for si1 years+See Boar$ of Gensions, *onfe$erate Gension #pplications, P#448A + =S#+

400+ he 4640 census for Hol es *ounty reporte$ Rebecca Reese as hea$ of househol$ with four-rown chil$ren an$ one $au-hter;in;law li%in- with her+ She liste$ herself as a far er+

404+ &ynn Hollen &ees, he Soli$arities of Stran-ers3 he n-lish Goor &aws an$ the Geople, 4 00;4685 (*a bri$-e, 4665), !!, 77+

40!+ =or e1a ple, e%en thou-h =lori$a establishe$ new colle-es in 460A, they were not >a$eEuatelyfun$e$, an$ they $i$ not ran' with colle-es elsewhere in the South+> Sa uel Groctor, >Grelu$e tothe New =lori$a, 45 ;4646,> in he New History of =lori$a e$ite$ by @ichael annon( aines%ille, =&, 466"), !50+

407+ #cts an$ Resolutions a$opte$ by the &e-islature of =lori$a at its i-hteenth Re-ular Session(#pril A to June 7, 46!4), /n$er the *onstitution of #+D+ 455A ( allahassee, =&, 46!4), 43 884;87+

408+ he state continue$ to operate its *onfe$erate Ho e until the last resi$ent $ie$, in 4675+

By lna *+ reen

=lori$a State /ni%ersity

Confederate #elfare 4xpenditures in 2lorida, >==:?>6()

totalconfederate occasional confederate

year pensions home appropriation welfare

>==: @>,):7.77 @>,):7.77>==) @;,(=:.(7 @;,(=:.(7>==; @6,9:;.=( @6,9:;.=(>=== @(9,);(.9) @(9,);(.9)>==6 @9;,:=6.96 @9;,:=6.96>=67 @(),))6.7: @(),))6.7:>=6> @(),;:(.:: @(),;:(.::>=69 @(=,7A;.A7 @(=,7A;.A7>=6( @A7,)=A.:( @A7,)=A.:(>=6A @:7,A66.:= @:7,A66.:=>=6: @::,>)).9: @A:A.>A @::,)97.(6>=6) @:6,9)).(> @A().=6 @:6,;7(.97


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>67( @>;6,(6:.:> @>,9:9.9; @97,777.77 @977,)A;.;=>67A @9)),;97.>6 @9,;)(.9A @:7,777.77 @(>6,A=(.A(>67: @9;(,=::.=A @>,:;6.A9 @9;:,A(:.9)>67) @96(,6)6.>: @9,7)7.:9 @96),796.);>67; @(:;,7>7.A; @9,9)(.6( @(:6,9;A.A7>67= @;(7,=(:.(> @(,7(7.(> @;((,=):.)9>676 @;9>,(>7.(= @),6:6.6( @;9=,9;7.(>>6>7 @)AA,)7).:9 @A,)69.>= @)A6,96=.;7>6>> @)>),));.=; @A,A6:.;; @)9>,>)(.)A>6>9 @)7>,=9;.:) @),76=.:7 @)7;,69).7)>6>( @)>=,=6;.9A @:,:A9.77 @)9A,A(6.9A>6>A @;9(,:=;.:> @),96(.:7 @;96,==>.7>>6>: @;A:,:A>.96 @),)=7.:7 @;:9,99>.;6>6>) @=(9,()).;9 @;,76A.77 @=(6,A)7.;9>6>; @6;9,>);.A= @;,()>.77 @6;6,:9=.A=>6>= @6(9,9>).77 @;,9>7.:7 @6(6,A9).:7>6>6 @=A>,;)9.=( @6,67>.A6 @=:>,))A.(9>697 @>,>7A,:((.:A @>>,:6>.66 @>,>>),>9:.:(>69( @>,>)7,:=).97 @>9,:(6.A; @>,>;(,>9:.);>69A @>,7=>,=>6.=A @6,;;6.9) @>,76>,:66.>7>69: @>,7;7,A:).(6 @>(,(76.;: @>,7=(,;)).>A>69) @):>,;=9.A; @;,))>.66 @):6,AAA.A)>69)?9; @>,A;;,;9).)9 @>=,A7A.76 @>,A6),>(7.;>>69;?9= @>,AA;,;;9.;( @>9,;>).(( @>,A)7,A=6.7)>69=?96 @>,9=:,>7=.A; none listed @>,9=:,>7=.A;>696?(7 @>,9>9,;;).:: @>(,:A;.)= @>,99),(9A.9(>6(7?(> not published>6(>?(9 @>,7(9,:7:.6: none listed @>,7(9,:7:.6:>6(9?(( @6)7,:>).76 none listed @6)7,:>).76>6((?(A not published>6(A?(: @=A7,;)A.>( none listed @=A7,;)A.>(>6(:?() @;(:,)9A.;: none listed @;(:,)9A.;:

total state Confed welfare asyear disbursements percentage of whole

>==: @:)(,=().99 7.96>==) @A7;,=7).A; >.=>>==; @)=>,>97.9) >.()

>=== @:=(,A)6.)6 :.)7>==6 @;>(,9:>.96 (.=;>=67 @;:>,(:).(6 A.==>=6> @6;6,(;A.)9 (.;:>=69 @;A=,99=.:= :.7=>=6( @=96,=7A.A7 A.67>=6A @;)9,;A7.;) ).)9>=6: @=;=,==(.)A ).((>=6) @;A),:;=.;6 =.77>=6; @;::,7>>.97 =.>9>=6= @;;7,;=6.69 ;.69>=66 @=);,;=:.=) ).6A>677 @6(),6>:.A( A.=:>67> @>,>>;,A7(.76 A.;9>679 @>,7)7,:)=.:( >>.;=>67( @9,(==,)(A.>( =.A7>67A @>,966,>;).=: 9A.:6


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state changed its fiscal year. This report includes only 1an > to 1une

(7SourceD 2lorida /nnual eports.

Select te1t to3

Select te1t to3

• Hi-hli-ht

• *ite a passa-e

• &oo' up a wor$

&earn ore *loseDon:t show this a-ain

uestia, a part of ale, *en-a-e &earnin-+ www+Euestia+coPu lication information: #rticle title3 Grotectin- *onfe$erate Sol$iers an$ @others3 Gensions,

en$er, an$ the .elfare State in the /+S+ South, a *ase Stu$y fro =lori$a+ *ontributors3 reen,lna *+ ; #uthor+ Journal title3 Journal of Social History+ ?olu e3 76+ ssue3 8 Gublication $ate3

Su er !00"+ Ga-e nu ber3 40 6 + !006 Journal of Social History+ * GMR H !00" aleroup+
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Storia Sociale e Stato

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