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To: nihil who wrote (46871)	2/16/2000 8:59:00 PM
From: Ilaine	Respond to of 71178

Evans says (pp. 233-234) that several months after Gettysburg, Benjamin received a letter from the brother-in-law of "his old law partner in New Orleans" suggesting arming the slaves. Benjamin took it seriously. Evans says (pp. 268-269) that after the fall of Atlanta, "Desertion and sickness rates were depleting Lee's army to the point where his men had to fight twice their numbers. Benjamin wanted Davis to permit slaves to fight for the South in exchange for their freedom. The key to success was getting Lee to support it. Lee had already been supporting the impressment of slaves as haulers, cooks, teamsters and blacksmiths. Fighting as soldiers was the natural next step. If Lee agreed to write a letter of support, then Varina (Jefferson Davis' wife) and Benjamin would have to convince the President to back it. The President would only be doing what was right, that is, complying with the request of his best general in the field."