It seems the search is not about the overall Civil War, but a search for heroes. It seems that the more ancestors who fought in the war, the greater the lineage of the living person.
Of course, not every soldier was a hero. In fact, Robert E. Lee had so much trouble with deserters, are the living going to avoid the fact, that more than a few of the living, had ancestors that actually deserted.
Some look at the time, as some form of perfection. And of course, it was not. Perhaps in their search for perfection, they can avoid some of the real facts.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
August 17, 1863.
His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS,
President of the Confederate States:
Mr. PRESIDENT: The number of desertions from this army is so
great, and still continues to such an extent, that unless some cessa-
tion of them can be caused, I fear success in the field will be endangered.
Immediately on the publication of the amnesty, which I
thought would be beneficial in its effects, many presumed on it, and
absented themselves from their commands, choosing to place on it a;
wrong interpretation. In one corps) the desertions of North Caro-
linians, and, to some extent, of Virginians, has grown to be a very
serious matter. The Virginians go off in many cases to join the
various partisan corps in the State. General Imboden writes that
there are great numbers of deserters in the valley, who conceal
themselves successfully from the small squads sent to arrest them.
Many cross the James River near Balcony Falls, en 'route for the
south, along the mountain ridges. Night before last, 30 went from
one regiment and 18 from another. Great dissatisfaction is reported
among the good men of the army at the apparent impunity of
deserters.
In order to remove all palliation from the offense of desertion, and
as a reward to merit, I have instituted in the army a system of fur-
loughs, which are to be granted, in the most meritorious and urgent
cases, at the rate of one for every 100 men present for duty.
I would now respectfully submit to your excellency the opinion
that all has been done which forbearance and mercy call for, and
that nothing will remedy this great evil which so much endangers
our cause excepting the rigid enforcement of the death penalty in
future in cases of conviction.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, Your Excellency's
obedient servant,
R. E. LEE,
General.
Of course, not every soldier was a hero. In fact, Robert E. Lee had so much trouble with deserters, are the living going to avoid the fact, that more than a few of the living, had ancestors that actually deserted.
Some look at the time, as some form of perfection. And of course, it was not. Perhaps in their search for perfection, they can avoid some of the real facts.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
August 17, 1863.
His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS,
President of the Confederate States:
Mr. PRESIDENT: The number of desertions from this army is so
great, and still continues to such an extent, that unless some cessa-
tion of them can be caused, I fear success in the field will be endangered.
Immediately on the publication of the amnesty, which I
thought would be beneficial in its effects, many presumed on it, and
absented themselves from their commands, choosing to place on it a;
wrong interpretation. In one corps) the desertions of North Caro-
linians, and, to some extent, of Virginians, has grown to be a very
serious matter. The Virginians go off in many cases to join the
various partisan corps in the State. General Imboden writes that
there are great numbers of deserters in the valley, who conceal
themselves successfully from the small squads sent to arrest them.
Many cross the James River near Balcony Falls, en 'route for the
south, along the mountain ridges. Night before last, 30 went from
one regiment and 18 from another. Great dissatisfaction is reported
among the good men of the army at the apparent impunity of
deserters.
In order to remove all palliation from the offense of desertion, and
as a reward to merit, I have instituted in the army a system of fur-
loughs, which are to be granted, in the most meritorious and urgent
cases, at the rate of one for every 100 men present for duty.
I would now respectfully submit to your excellency the opinion
that all has been done which forbearance and mercy call for, and
that nothing will remedy this great evil which so much endangers
our cause excepting the rigid enforcement of the death penalty in
future in cases of conviction.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, Your Excellency's
obedient servant,
R. E. LEE,
General.
Bringing the