Eugenia aided Rose O’Neal Greenhow and Breckinridge in distributing comforts to Confederate prisoners. She in fact, was imprisoned with two of her daughters in Rose’s home. Rose O’neal Greenhow was a prisoner in her own home in retribution of her support to the South. Although there was no hard evidence against Eugenia her apparent disdain for the North as well as her devotion to the South angered them. Edwin M. Stanton, later Secretary of War, intervened on Eugenia’s behalf.
Before departing from “Greenhow Prison”, Rose was able to pass of a ball of pink wool to Eugenia. Four days later, although carefully searched at Fortress Monroe, Eugenia was able to conceal the ball of pink wool which had a message for the Confederacy within it and delivered it to President Jefferson Davis.
Eugenia Levy Phillips was exiled to the South. The family relocated and established itself in New Orleans, Louisiana. When New Orleans fell to General Benjamin Butler, Eugenia quickly became a thorn in his side. Butler issued Order #28 stating that any female showing contempt for any U.S. officer or soldier would be regarded and held liable to be treated as a woman of the town plying her vocation. Not long after, citizens were notified a funeral procession for a deceased Union solider would pass through the French Quarter. On that particular occasion, Eugenia had a party for her children and was reported to have stood laughing loudly on her balcony as the funeral procession passed.
Butler imprisoned Eugenia on Ships Island, Mississippi where prisoners endured the worst of conditions. She received the same rations as her fellow Confederate prisoners and faced the same threat of disease. Her spirit would not be thwarted as she remarked to Butler that even facing such desolate conditions s he had one advantage not found in New Orleans…”Sir, you will not be there”. Eugenia’s health did suffer but her attitude never faltered.
The family moved to LaGrange, Georgia upon Eugenia’s release. She may have softened her behavior a bit, but she remained steadfast in her devotion and support for the South. Eugenia Levy Phillips died in 1902 after having written the following passage in her journal…”our women were all heroines; everything like dress, amusement, or frivolity was abandoned, until Providence in His wisdom decided against us”.
For additional information regarding the Eugenia Levy Phillips Chapter of Lake Charles, please contact Secretary/Treasurer, Mary Edwards Pace <mepace@suddenlink.net>
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Saturday, August 11, 2007 09:53:17 AM