"That goes against what we are taught that the southern soldier fought for greed and the ownership of his slaves."

Some did…

Sometimes I do think we get overzealous in the deification of the WBTS soldier…they were human the same as us.

I know of documentation of a Texas soldier refusing to aim at his enemy, firing in the air to avoid killing anyone. Another soldier complaining of waiting outside of a plantation house for food and water to be brought to him by the owners slave’s, the owner not wishing to show himself, or letting the soldier into his house…the soldier commenting he didn’t like to be treated that way while fighting for that master’s right to own slaves.

We know of whole Companies that were “Conscripted” and they seemed to be watched closely by the others, till they proved themselves in battle. Even today I hear folk talk of a particular Company as “A Conscripted Company” emphasizing they did not volunteer.

Other posters have stated that when in the ranks, fighting for survival, peer pressure, and not wishing to be remembered unfavorably by the others was a true incentive. Underlying it all was a love for State, Country, Duty, and Family. I’m just not sure all of that was always remembered while the bullets were flying!

Even Gen. Pat Cleburne commented on the faint soldiers waiting to give themselves up to the enemy, due to the “imagined hopelessness of the hour” while retreating from Missionary Ridge.

I study the WBTS soldier a lot, and you run into all kinds of motivations for fighting, or in some cases, deserting. I know of Sam Watkins “Rich mans war…poor mans fight comment when those with 20 or more slaves could leave the ranks and go home.

In studying history, we all know that British, German, Japanese and everyone else from all over the world all had soldiers that fought with a tenacity that got noticed…in many wars.
Just my humble opinion.

Kevin Dally