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“Economy Rules the Day:”
The Civil War Sacrifices of Judith Walker McGuire
by Tim Sheehan

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Room Hunting in Richmond

For the McGuires, self-sufficiency necessitated obtaining financial security. Richmond, Virginia provided opportunity for employment in the private and public sectors. The McGuires moved to Richmond in January 1862, staying with family until board could be found. (23) Rev. McGuire wrote to C.S.A. Secretary of the Treasury Christopher G. Memminger for an appointment, explaining the arrival of the Union Army forced him to leave Alexandria and find a source of financial support for his family. In this letter, he promotes his “early life” experience as Paymaster at Harpers Ferry and in his work for the Episcopal High School as qualifications for consideration. (24) Judith McGuire did not report this information in the Diary.

Judith McGuire did report in the Diary that Rev. McGuire settled for a position as a clerk in the Confederate States Post Office in Richmond. Judith McGuire believed such a position was not good enough for her husband. “It seems a strange state of things which induces a man who has ministered and served the altar for thirty-six years, to accept joyfully a situation purely secular.” A field chaplainry was unsuitable for the health of a sixty one year old man. Rev. McGuire had no choice but to accept non-spiritual employment in order to support his family. (25)

Many people, especially war refugees, came to Richmond to seek shelter and employment. As a result, the city’s housing stock could not keep up with demand throughout the War. (26) The move to Richmond did not end the McGuire’s status as refugees. Even though the McGuires remained in Richmond for three years, they had to move at least once a year to rooms that provided comfort at a price the McGuires could afford. Each search, averaging a month, often overwhelmed Judith McGuire. In February of 1862, her time was spent looking for rooms while her husband was at work. On the fourth day of her search, she vented her frustrations of not finding an affordable residence to one landlady. McGuire complained about the asking price being “twenty dollars more than the usual price, and three dollars less than our whole salary per month.” Her argument did not persuade this person to lower the rent, so McGuire went elsewhere. She found a room for her husband and herself. Their daughters had to stay with relatives. (27)

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This page last updated 1 January 2008