Quilt Making During The Civil War

April 14, 1861 - "Civil War has finally been declared. War between the two sections of our once happy, prosperous country. The telegraph brought the startling news today that the first gun of Rebellion was fired at Charleston at four clock on Friday morning April 12." 

From the diary of Rebecca Loraine Richmond and included in the book entitled "The Civil War Diary Quilt"

Quilt making was done in two ways for soldiers both Confederate and Union. Many elegant quilts were made to earn money through fairs and auctions to help the war efforts. But most of all, quilts were needed to warm the soldiers in the field and in hospitals.

In The North

There was a long tradition of women making quilts for various causes In the northern states so when the war began their energy simply shifted to raising money for the Union cause. Sanitary Fairs and similar events were held to help buy needed supplies to be distributed by the Sanitary Commission and other organizations. Fancy work from afghans to quilts were sold. But these fairs were far more than just a bazaar. Some included exhibition halls, livestock, and farm equipment. Such events could last a week or more. The grandest fair of all was the 1864 New York Metropolitan Fair. In a time when the average family income was around $500 a year this three week extravaganza netted an amazing $1.2 million dollars!

Silk was fashionable for clothing during this period and silk patchwork was considered quite elegant. The Log Cabin quilt pattern first appeared at this time. 

Antique Log Cabin Quilt

Eagle & Flag

It and other patterns were made up in silk, wool and fine cottons for these events. Fancy appliqued quilts were also popular displaying floral and political motifs including the eagle and flag.

Northern women rallied to the call for clothing, blankets, and quilts. Not only were new quilts made but existing quilts were contributed. Two regular quilts could be remade into three cot quilts. As the war continued on supplies ran short and even precious heirloom quilts were remade into soldier's quilts. When no quilt making supplies were left for families to contribute, fundraising events helped provide money for needed fabric. It is estimated that 250,000 quilts and comforters were made for Union Soldiers.

In The South

The best known confederate quilts were the "gunboat quilts" made to raffle off in order to buy desperately needed gunboats. Quilts were just one of many items made by the women to be sold or auctioned off during the fairs and festivities for the Confederate cause.

Gunboat quilts were truly magnificent often with broderie perse flowers and other motifs appliqued on them. Some piecing was done but fine stitching in both the applique and quilting prevailed. As with the North, fine fabrics were used in these elaborate creations. After the North blockaded the southern ports the money earned went to hospitals for the sick and wounded instead. The sense of optimism reflected in the gunboat quilts dissipated as the war dragged on.  

Example of a Gunboat Quilt

Example of Homespun Dress

Providing quilts for the Confederate soldiers became especially difficult for southern women when their ports were blockaded and fabric became scarce. Although the South grew cotton the North manufactured the cloth. Some rural women and slaves knew how to spin and weave but many women had to learn these skills. One popular song proclaimed, "Three cheers for the homespun dress the Southern ladies wear." Homespun, once considered crude clothing only suitable for slaves and the very poor, became a source of Confederate pride and songs were even written about the homespun dress.

As the war progressed far longer than anyone on either side had imagined it became more and more difficult to supply bedding both for soldiers in the field and their hospital cots.   The challenge was even greater for women in the South as fabric of any kind became extremely scarce. An easy cot quilt pattern that could be made quickly became necessary as the need was urgent. Sometimes a quilt was made by a group and each participant signed a block.  Encouraging words could be included as well.  Few of these quilts survived the war but those that are known leave us with the impression that basic nine patch patterns like the pattern shown here were often used.   

These quilts and those like them are certainly a tribute to the tenacity and resourcefulness of the ladies both North & South, who created these quilts for the brave soldiers they loved.  A fitting memorial to be remembered on this Memorial Day weekend.

Have a Wonderful Holiday Weekend,

GRAMMY

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