How does life change for the Bardwell family during the Civil War in the novel, Who Comes with Cannons?

In good times, the Bardwell family has plenty of good food to eat, even if some of it, such as cornbread dipped in molasses for breakfast, may seem unusual to modern Americans. After the Civil War begins, times become hard. Matthew Bardwell's sons are forced into the Confederate Army, and their father must try to raise and harvest crops on his own, which he has trouble doing because he is aging. Various soldiers also steal food from the Bardwell's, taking most of their meat.