On April 2, 1863 a group of women congregated and marched on Capitol Square to demand bread. Dismayed at the absence of the Governor, the group became a mob, looting area shops. The riot was dispersed when President Davis arrived with the Public Guard and announced the soldiers would begin firing in five minutes. 

Kimball, William J. "The Bread Riot in Richmond." Civil War History 7 (Sept. 1961), pp. 149-154.

Chesson, Michael. "Harlots or Heroines?: A New Look at the Richmond Bread Riot," Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 92 (April 1984): 131-75.