British military observer Colonel Garnet Wolseley noted a "distinct sense of their own strength" among Confederate soldiers, attributing this to their commanders. Even Federal officers, such as Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Leeman, General Meade's aide-de-camp, remarked on the Confederate officers' inherent dignity and "excellent bearing." "They are somewhat reserved and reserved, not a grain of frivolity," wrote Leeman, "in short, very serious, which suits them very well."
For the Confederacy, this was a struggle for its very existence, so it's not surprising that Confederate officers typically displayed a "serious" and stern demeanor. And their martial fervor and enthusiasm were reinforced by the fearlessness and heroism of the men they led into battle.
Excerpt from the book "An Illustrated History of the American Civil War, 1861-1865" by Brian Pohanka and Don Troiani.
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