I heard the stories firsthand, my grandfather was born in 1870, great grandfather ran away at age 14 and enlisted in the NC 21st, trying to find his brother. They hadn't heard from him in months. He was gutshot, died a prisoner of war in Point Lookout, Maryland.
Be prepared to raise or grow what you eat. Be prepared for "outliers" who will attack and steal and sometimes just destroy because they don't have it. Be prepared to bury your dead by hand in a pine box, marked with a rock.
For decades.
Good (and sobering) preparatory advice can be found here:
Universal truth in revolution. The best organized side wins.
Pt. Lookout; the Yankee Andersonville.