Matrix Morpheus

About 15% of Confederate troops just straight up ditched the fighting and went back to those homes. Highest desertion rate in US military history.

So. They probably didn't believe in that terribly strongly.

Oh is that why many sent their slaves into battle instead?

How many southerners at that time had slaves, you figure?

Well considering the emancipation proclamation was signed two years into the war as a means to diminish confederate numbers I’d say there was a great deal of slave owners.

I doubt the vast majority could afford them. At least the ones fighting.

Many plantation owners dragged their slaves along for the ride when the battles began. Some were forced to fight, others were forced to make cannons and fortifications. So I slightly correct my statement as not all slaves were on the front lines but I believe there were around 6-7000 slaves supporting the confederate army.

The emancipation proclamation kind of rattled that cage a bit, causing many slaves to run away with some even joining the union army to fight back. The disarray really screwed with confederate morale and led to huge losses of territory in battle.

I focused on the battles, not the politics so my knowledge is fuzzy on the topic.

Ah sorry for the history lesson. Did some civil war research recently and it’s still fresh in the head.

No need to apologize. It's always good to get good information.