On 16 Feb 65, R. E. Lee, just elevated to command of all Confederate forces, issued General Order No. 2, which addressed the problem of rampart absenteeism. It provided:
"All enlisted men of the army who are improperly absent from their commands, except those guilty of desertion, or arresterd in the act of deserting to the enemy, or have have deserted after have been once pardoned for the same offense, or who shall hereafter desert or absent themselves without authority, who shall, within twenty days from this date [i.e., 8 Mar 65], voluntarily rejoin their commands or deliver themselves to any regularly-appointed enrolling officer, provost marshal, or other officer on duty, to be forwarded ot their commands, shall be entitled to, and shall receive the benefit of, the pardon promised by the General-in-Chief on the authority of the President of the Confederate States....."
This was amnesty for non-deserters, to encourrage those abwsent without leave to return to their commands for the spring campaign. It was not keyed to April 9, and certainly there were no Confederate "benefits" in the sense of retirement, pensions, or the like authorized by the Confederate Congress. How many men responded to this plea is not known.