Just a short note

[John Johnson]

I cannot imagin the guilt or maby the fear of persecution the confederate solder mite have felt. I know in my family the history can only be traced back to about 1865 somewhere in South Carolina. At that point for some reason, that we attribute to the war they mutst have changed thier names and we think moved to Alabama, then on to Texas. There were never any mention of my Great Grand Fathers parents names in any of the family history.

 

[DixieRifles]

Shame from what? Surrendering? Losing? Signing a Loyalty Oath to the Union?
Or do you mean shame of desertion?

If you are saying that ex-Confederate soldier were ashamed for their service in the war, then I think that is incorrect I don't see that at all. I believe the returning veteran was accepted by his family and friends and was given as much respect as they could considering the conditions they were living with. They couldn't exactly through a big party for them and erect monuments because the states and local towns were broke and under the marshall law of the Union gov't.
Maybe I'm wrong and am only viewing this in the light of the later years (1890-1900) when counties and states began erecting monuments. Have you read pension applications? If a soldier (or next of kin) was ashamed of their service, then why would they write letters and document their service through fellow soldiers? That doesn't make sense.