With so many families heads away in the fighting war, the South could not manage to feed both civilian and military populations. Food was scarce throughout the war and by the end, parts of the South suffered from starvation. The final dismissal of the army came when men realized that their families were starving and went back to try and help.

Also in short supply in the South were arms and ammunition. Men ended up having to bring their own guns and soldiers scavenged battlefields for Union weapons. Soldiers also lacked necessities such as shoes. In the end, the South lost the war primarily because it ran out of men, money and supplies.