Also, remember that the Confederate government enacted a draft law on April 16, 1862, more than a year before the federal government did the same. Under the Conscription Act, all healthy white men between the ages of 18 and 35 were liable for a three year term of service. The act also extended the terms of enlistment for all one-year soldiers to three years. A September 1862 amendment raised the age limit to 45, and February 1864, the limits were extended to range between 17 and 50.

So consider the possibility that poor Southern white men were NOT willing to die, but had little choice.