"if Jamie let's us keep going back and forth, that's fine and dandy with me."

Well, debating whether or not what y'all are discussing is related to the war or not is the reason I believe this is on topic. Y'all seem to be going about with respect too so I have no problem with this topic.

James, my closest ancestor was my great-grandfather John F. Roberts. On January 1, 1861 he recieved a land grant, I forget how much he paid, of some 350 or so acres he intended to farm. By April 1861 he was in the armed of forces of the state of Mississippi. On September 27 of 1861 his regiment transferred to Confederate service.

I have a letter on my website he wrote to the Louisiana pension board about what he found when he got home. You can read it if you wish. He describes losing everything from his stock to his buildings and even his wife. All he had was two young children and one eye to support them with.

Needless to say he lost the farm. When he remarried he did so in poverty, to the point that when his new wife died he had to leave their 5 year old son with family while he went to try and find a better place to live. He never found it.

I have to agree with Alan that the poverty inflicted on the south because of reconstruction lasted well into the 20th century. It is my understanding that most scholars of this subject feel that way as well.

Of course we could all be in error. But I bet my grandfather, whose land I live on, would agree with us.