thesperate need food. their men are living on not even half-rations. they're eating rats. their clothes are rotted. their shoes are falling off their feet. they haven't had any food, so some guys just give up and basically quit the war. >> as his army withers away, davis tries to maintain a confident public image, but there is no relief from the burdens of war. >> mr. president? mr. president, this is my husband, robert baxton. he's with the 8th virginia. he said he was a deserter, and you sentenced him to die, but he hasn't done nothing wrong. he was taking care of his family. >> i know, mrs. baxton. i'll see what i can do. >> thank you. >> desertions were a nightmare for both armies, but when lee loses at gettysburg and now has to pull back into the south, that is a huge, devastating blow to morale, and the confederacy starts losing men like crazy.