The women of the Confederacy were praised for their utter devotion to the cause during the Civil War, helping send more than six hundred thousand soldiers to the front in what was called one of the greatest and most unequal conflicts in history. Their hope and courage never faltered, and they inspired citizen soldiers through their faith in God, their influence, and their good works. Their daughters were credited with preserving the fame of the Confederate dead with unshaken fidelity. In 1934, this tribute was dedicated as a gift of love by William Alexander Smith, who had served in the Anson Guards, the first company in the state to offer its services, later enrolled as Company C, Fourteenth North Carolina Regiment, Confederate States Army, and fought throughout the war.