The Women of the Confederacy

WHEN REVERSES FOLLOWED VICTORIES,
WHEN WANT DISPLACED PLENTY,
WHEN MOURNING FOR THE FLOWER OF
SOUTHERN MANHOOD DARKENED
COUNTLESS HOMES,
WHEN GOVERNMENT TOTTERED AND
CHAOS THREATENED,
THE WOMEN WERE STEADFAST AND
UNAFRAID.
THEY WERE UNCHANGED IN THEIR
DEVOTION,
UNSHAKEN IN THEIR PATRIOTISM,
UNWEARIED IN MINISTRATIONS,
UNCOMPLAINING IN SACRIFICES.
SPLENDID IN FORTITUDE,
THEY STROVE WHILE THEY WEPT.
IN THE REBUILDING AFTER DESOLATION
THEIR VIRTUES STOOD AS THE SUPREME
CITADEL
WITH STRONG TOWERS OF FAITH AND HOPE
AROUND WHICH
CIVILIZATION RALLIED AND TRIUMPHED.

From the inscription, written by William Elliott Gonzales,
on the monument to the Women of the Confederacy,
South Carolina State House grounds.