Chapter 13

           UnderMrs.Merriwether’sgoading,Dr.Meadetookaction,intheformofalettertothenewspaperwhereinhedidnotmentionRhettbyname,thoughhismeaningwasobvious.Theeditor,sensingthesocialdramaoftheletter,putitonthesecondpageofthepaper,initselfastartlinginnovation,asthefirsttwopagesofthepaperwerealwaysdevotedtoadvertisementsofslaves,mules,plows,coffins,housesforsaleorrent,curesforprivatediseases,abortifacientsandrestorativesforlostmanhood.

           Thedoctor’sletterwasthefirstofachorusofindignationthatwasbeginningtobeheardallovertheSouthagainstspeculators,profiteersandholdersofgovernmentcontracts.ConditionsinWilmington,thechiefblockadeport,nowthatCharleston’sportwaspracticallysealedbytheYankeegunboats,hadreachedtheproportionsofanopenscandal.SpeculatorsswarmedWilmingtonand,havingthereadycash,boughtupboatloadsofgoodsandheldthemforariseinprices.Therisealwayscame,forwiththeincreasingscarcityofnecessities,pricesleapedhigherbythemonth.Thecivilianpopulationhadeithertodowithoutorbuyatthespeculators’prices,andthepoorandthoseinmoderatecircumstancesweresufferingincreasinghardships.Withtheriseinprices,Confederatemoneysank,andwithitsrapidfallthereroseawildpassionforluxuries.Blockaderswerecommissionedtobringinnecessitiesbutnowitwasthehigher-pricedluxuriesthatfilledtheirboatstotheexclusionofthethingstheConfederacyvitallyneeded.