April 2, 1863: The cry of “Bread or Blood!” filled the streets of Richmond, Virginia as women rioted and broke into stores and warehouses holding food.
By 1863, Richmond, like many other Southern cities, was experiencing a crisis in food shortages. Prices leaped, some by 10 times the normal price, and many items became scarce as hen’s teeth. Confederate President Jefferson Davis had requested March 27 as a day of fasting and prayer for the cause.
Most women felt such a request was a slap in the face, since they were already rationing their meager supplies.
Led by Mary Jackson and Martha Fergussen, a mob of women marched to the Capitol building to speak to the governor. His aide said he was too busy to talk, and when he finally did come out, his dismissive comments only infuriated the women.
Marching to the market area of the city they smashed windows and broke down doors, grabbing any available food supplies.
Both the governor and Jefferson Davis showed up in an attempt to appease the women. Davis reportedly gave what money he had in his pocket to the women, while other reports claim he gave them his last loaf of bread. Neither man could stop the mob until a riot guard arrived with loaded weapons. The women quickly left with their spoils.
Now here comes the irony to the story:
Confederate leaders told local papers not to report the story as it would eventually be read by Unionists and hurt the morale (which was already smarting heavily) with Confederate soldiers. A few Union prisoners who witnessed the event, managed to get word out and week later, the New York Times ran it as a front page story.
Mary Jackson, Martha Fergussen and some other women were arrested and held in jail for a few weeks before being released. Their release was due to the fact that the overcrowded jails could not afford to feed them.