When The Yankees Came

In this text the author argues that the coming of the Yankees and the occupation of the South were essential parts of the experience of defeat that helped shape the southern post-war mentality. Topics explored include the evolution of Union occupation policy from leniency to repression. Southerners whose communities were invaded by the Union army during the Civil War endured a profoundly painful ordeal. For most, the coming of the Yankees was a nightmare become real; for some, it was the answer to a prayer. But for all, the author argues, invasion and occupation were essential parts of the experience of defeat that helped shape the southern postwar mentality. This is a study of the occupied South, bringing to light information about the southern home front. Among the topics explored are guerrilla warfare and other forms of civilian resistance; the evolution of Union occupation policy from leniency to repression; the impact of occupation on families, churches and local government; and conflicts between southern aristocrats and poor whites. In analyzing these topics, the author examines events from the perspective not only of southerners, but also of the northern invaders and shows how the experiences of southerners differed according to their distance from a garrisoned town.