It was against it, as the capital of the Southern States, that the efforts of the Northerners were principally directed, and to it flocked the leading men from all parts of the country.
Although every Virginian family had some of its members at the front, and a feeling of anxiety reigned everywhere, a semblance of gayety was kept up.

The theater was opened, and parties and balls given in order to keep up the spirits of the people by the example of those of higher rank.
These balls differed widely in appearance from those of eighteen months before.

The gentlemen were almost all in uniform, and already calicoes and other cheap fabrics were worn by many of the ladies, as foreign dress materials could no longer be purchased.

Mrs.Wingfield made a point of always attending these entertainments with her daughters, which to the young people afforded a cheerful break in the dullness and monotony of their usual life; for owing to the absence of almost all the young men with the army, there had been a long cessation of the pleasant interchange of visits, impromptu parties, and social gatherings that had formed a feature in the life of Virginia.
The balls would have been but dull affairs had only the residents of Richmond been present; but leave was granted as much as possible to officers stationed with regiments within a railway run of the town, and as these eagerly availed themselves of the change from the monotony of camp life, the girls had no reason to complain of want of partners.
Here, and at the receptions given by President Davis, Vincent met all the leaders of the Confederacy, civil and military.

Many of them had been personal friends of the Wingfields before the Secession movement began, and among them was General Magruder, who commanded the troops round Richmond.
Early in the winter the general had called at the Orangery.