One thing to consider though is by that point in the war, is that the weak links are gone, they have already deserted and gone. I know that with my ancestors' regiment, the 39th GA, that they had one of the highest desertion rates of any outfit from GA, but by mid to late 1864, they are a hard fighting unit, they are also among the rearguard units in the retreat from Nashville, and then help save Johnston's HQ at Bentonville.

Lee