In her groundbreaking study of the history of the American Civil War, Joan E. Cashin examines the struggle for human and natural resources between civilians and soldiers. At first, civilians were happy to help the troops of the North or South, but the war turned out to be such a difficult test that soon the southerners, regardless of their political views, were entirely focused on their own survival. Both armies took for themselves everything they considered necessary, and ultimately completely destroyed the military potential of the region. In this fierce struggle, civilians were defeated.