Alan, the sources that tell me what Southern military men saw as their needs come not from the North. They come from the Southern military men themselves. A man doesn't ask for more bread if he is full. Or more shoes if he has his boots on.

Cleburne saw a need for more men. He gave a warning that proved quite true. He offered a solution. Oates saw a need. Hindman saw a need. Lee saw a need. They made proposals. They were all rejected until the very end. You quote Davis saying we need no negroes soldiers in November 1864, yet by February 1865 -- just two months later -- he was pleading for the congress to do something anything about getting not just negroes but slaves into the army by any means possible, but them, donate them, offer them freedom, whatever it takes.

And that is my point. My only point. Davis finally came to the realization that Cleburne had propsed a long time earlier. Had Davis acted when Cleburne proposed things might have turned out differently.

George posted information about the bill Davis and Lee begged congress for and yet askes me for proof davis and lee wanted more men. He posts that davis and lee were disappointed that the bill didn't offer Emancipation, and then demands I prove the southern congress chose defeat over Emancipation.

The proof is in the begging and is in the disappontment Davis and Lee expressed in what they were finaly handed. A decisive executive and a decisive congress would have acted early and quickly and would have taken the position if emancipation of 100,000 slaves (out of 4 million) and using them as armed soldiers will help us achieve independence, then let it be done. They didn't.