I got this out of "The History of the Doles Cook Brigade". It was written by members of the unit and it had this interesting section.....

THE NEGRO.
Members of the brigade have requested that a chapter in this history
be devoted to the negroes who acted as body-servants for the
officers and men of the various regiments composing the Doles-Cook
Brigade, during the "war between the States." Sufficient data is not
at hand to authorize sketches of all who shared the hardships of the
march and camp life with us. While on this subject, the life, habits
and treatment of the good and honest old-fashioned negro will be discussed,
and the part he played during the stormy war period, and the
lelation he bore to the white people before that time. Before this
period the negroes of the South were the happiest and most contented
race of people in the world ; they had no cares or responsibilities
of any kind to make them miserable.
Their houses, clothing, provisions and everything they needed to
make them comfortable and happy were furnished by their owners.
When sick they had the most careful nursing and the best medical
attention that the country afforded, and delicacies suitable for sick
and convalescent were prepared for them until restored to health.
When death invaded their ranks they received decent and Christian
burial from their owners. The majority of the negroes were kindly
and humanely treated, for mutual ties of friendship existed, and common
sympathy and pecuniary considerations alike prompted this course.
Few owners were guilty of cruelty to their slaves, and such were always
regarded by their neighbors with loathing and contempt.
Many instances could be cited where suitable clothing was furnished
and large wedding suppers given slaves by their owners when
they married, and on such occasions the ceremony was witnessed by
large numbers of whites and blacks, and all partook of the bountiful
repast prepared for the occasion, and all had a merry time.
Nearly all of the farmers gave their hands jiatches of land to cultivate,
and often assisted in its cultivation in order to encourage and
furnish them with money to use as they deemed proper. Christmas
week was the happiest and jolliest period of the year, and all looked
eagerly for its comiug. During that time no »vork that could possibly
be avoided was required of them. They visited, danced, frolicked
and lived sumptuously. Their owners purchased and distributed
presents to each of them, and all were happy and contented.
Hog-killing time was another big'event. The boys delighted in blow-^
ing up bladders, frying melts and sweet-bread on the hot stones, then
indulged in eating brains, chitterlings, sausage, souse, spare-ribs and
backbones with plenty of meat on them ; later on hogs-heads and feet
were enjoyed, the negroes sharing in all these luxuries. These were
indeed happy days, but they are gone forever. The Yankee, Western
farmer, and what is termed the ''New South" have done away
with these luxurious and delightful times. A new order of things
has risen, new ideas, new methods, and new people have supplanted
those of the past. But have all of these changes brought greater or
more lasting happiness, or are the people more honest, more industrious
or better citizens? No doubt a very large majority of the older
people of the South, both white and black, recalling ante-bellum times
would promptly answer, no.
Corn-shuckings, house-raisings and log-rollings (of which this generation
is ignorant) were notable events, in either of which both
whites and blacks would travel miles to assist their neighbors. In
husking corn sides were chosen, each with its captain or leader, the
pile of corn divided, the leaders placed on top of their parts and
walking continually from one end to the other shouting with stentorian
voice some of their accustomed ''corn-songs," as they were
called, to which the whole crowd of buskers would respond in like
manner. They would work until midnight, then quit and commence
to dance, sing and eat, the dancing and singing usually lasting until
daylight. The great body of negroes seen at night by the glare of
numerous lightwood fires made a weird and picturesque spectacle.
Their shouting could often be heard four or five miles away. The
corn when husked was thrown to the front and the shucks to the rear,
and to behold the clean white corn flying through the air was a sight
never to be forgotten. As a general rule a drink of good, pure old
corn juice was given to every one present, and then no more until
they had finished their work. Every one went home happier and
more contented, and looked eagerly forward to the next frolic. The
older set understand and appreciate negro character better than the
younger generation ; they know their habits, peculiarities, weakness
and dependence, and overlook many of their faults and shortcomings,
for they were nursed by them, played with and visited their
humble but comfortable cabins at night, listened for hours to their
weird songs, enjoyed their clog or breakdown dances, hunted rabThe
Negro. 609
bits, coons and ''possums" with them, ate potliquor and corn pones
out of the same vessel, listened to their folk-tales and frightful ghost
stories until they were afraid to go home alone for fear of meeting
hobgoblins of which they had heard so much. They deserve and
should receive the gratitude of the Southern people for their good
and exemplary conduct while all of the adults who were fit for military
service, and most of the schoolboys who had reached the age of
fifteen were in the Confederate army. No disorder or disaffection of
any kind occurred in any portion of the South during all those dark
and trying days.
They were kind, gentle and obedient to the orders of the old men
who were unfit for service, and to the women and children who were
striving and using every means within their power to sustain themselves
and the armies in the field battling for the independence of the
South. The negroes were kindly disposed toward these defenseless
people, yea, their devotion, fidelity and loyalty was indeed wonderful
and beautiful. The old men, women and children in the country
were absolutely at their mercy. They could have burned their houses,
destroyed property of all kinds, committed the darkest and most
heinous crimes known, and murdered them in cold blood. Did they
do it ? No, but on the contrary protected them and looked after their
comfort, safety and interests.
Where on earth will you find another race of people situated as
they were, who would have acted and conducted themselves as these
good-hearted and ignorant slaves did ? The negroes of that day and
time were, as a rule, kind, gentle and considerate, and with few exceptions
would have remained the same obedient and trusting people
if it had not been for the teachings of the adventurers who came
South soon after the surrender and fired their hearts with hatred for
their best and truest friends.
The solution of the Negro problem even at this date could be
quickly solved to the satisfaction of all concerned, and the two races
adjust themselves if the Yankees would quit meddling with them, for
each to a certain extent is dependent upon the other. When in
trouble or distress they invariably apply to the Southern man, and not
to their Yankee friends.

W. H. Council (colored). President of the Alabama Agricultural
and Mechanical College at Normal, Ala., says: *'I have found the
white people of the South at all times unstinted in their support of all

institutions for the moral, religious and industrial development of the
negro race An appeal to the Southern heart for any
character of aid for the negro always meets with the warmest encouragement,
while every attempt on the part of the negro to blot out
social lines or take the reins of government is met with bitterness to
extermination."
The slaves were allowed to attend divine service on Sundays, and
were not only comfortably but well dressed. In some instances the
negroes owned their own churches, but as a rule all of the churches
belonging to the whites were provided with galleries for their use, and
often certain seats in the rear of the church were set apart for their
use. Their children attended Sabbath-school, and they were taught in
the Sunday-school by the best ladies and gentlemen of the community.
It is a matter of history that General * 'Stonewall" Jackson
was Superintendent of a negro Sabbath-school at Lexington, Va.,
previous to the war.
While it is true that we have some bad negroes amongst us who
commit heinous crimes and terrible acts of violence, it is also true
that the great majority are law-abiding, good citizens who deserve and
enjoy the respect and friendship of their white neighbors.
When the war commenced Colonel Benjamin Camp, a planter of
Campbell county, Ga., owned a negro man by the name of Will, who
was foreman on the plantation, and which had been given to his wife
on the date of their marriage. Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas C.
Glover, of the Twenty-first Georgia, married a daughter of Colonel
Camp, and when Glover was wounded at Sharpsburg, Md. , Septem.
ber 17, 1862, this negro was sent to Virginia and brought him home.
Before the fall of Atlanta in 1864, a raiding column of Federal
cavalry crossed the Chattahoochee river at McCoy's Ferry, two
miles below the Camp farm. The Federals remained three or four
days just across the river from the Camp plantation, and during that
time Will dug a hole four feet square and six feet deep in the stable,
in which he buried feather beds, clothing, silverware, and numerous
articles of value, then covered it up with boards and a heap of stable
manure on top of them, and a mule stood over the buried articles.
He next went to a remote part of the plantation, dug a hole in which
he placed three large wooden boxes which he filled with over a hundred
bushels each, of corn and wheat. The next day the Yankees
crossed the river, went to the residence of Colonel Camp and arrested
The Negro. 611
him. Will saw the Yankees as they approached the house and made
a break for a skirt of woods about fifty-yards back of the house. The
Yankees soon ran him down and carried him to the house. The cause
of his being captured was that he had badly sprained one of his
ankles in moving the wheat, and in making the sprint he again hurt
it. The road and yard were crowded with cavalrymen when he was
taken to the house, and a major in command of the advance had the
old gentleman a prisoner on the front porch, and his wife, who was a
stout lady, was giving the officer a piece of her mind. Soon after
Will was brought into his presence. This officer was rude and ungentlemanly
enough to curse the old lady. As soon as he did so, the
negro instantly struck the ruffian a terrible blow with his fist under
the burr of the ear and knocked him headlong off the ])orch and half
way to the gate. The enraged major arose, drew his sword and started
to cut Will down, but at that moment the colonel in command rode
up. Colonel Camp gave him a Masonic sign which he recognized and
honored, and at once ordered him released, and placed a guard around
the premises to prevent all pilfering by the soldiers. The only mule
left on the place was taken when they left, and Will was ordered to
mount it and go with them as a guide. They asked him many questions,
among them what he had been hauling away from the plantation?
He replied, nothing; but had started to go to the mill two or
three times that morning, but every time he made the attempt heard
that they were coming and turned back. To all questions about the
country and route to various places he professed profound ignorance,
pretending that he had been so closely confined at home that he knew
nothing of the surrounding country. After going two miles and finding
him to be such a consummate ignoramus he was ordered to get off
the mule and go back home. They then took a negro belonging to a
neighbor of Colonel Camp for a guide ; while he was mounting the
mule Will whispered to him, '* know nothing." Will started back
home limping, but had gotten only about half way when he met General
Ross' Brigade of Texas Cavalry on the Yankees' trail. He told
Ross what he knew of the raiders, their probable number and where
they intended going. He told him that they were making for Fairburn
and Fayetteville, but in order to reach these places would have
to go to Campbellton, and turn at right angles to Fairburn. He also
told the general that he could guide the command by a settlement
road which would enable it to get ahead of the Federals and ambush
to tell on him. Lieutenant Marshall was an officer in a volunteer
company before the war. On one occasion it went into camp at the
Oconee Spring in Putnam county. While on this trip the officers
gave a dinner and invited a number of ladies. Amongst that number
was the lady to whom Lieutenant Marshall was engaged, and afterward
married. Isham was the cook, and had orders to smother a
chicken. Finally dinner was announced, but the chicken was not
brought to the table. After becoming impatient on account of the
delay, Isham was called and asked if he had smothered the chicken.
He answered yes, but said he did not know whether he was dead or
not, but that he ought to be, as he had tied it up in a bag, put it in
a box, and the box under the bed. When the assembled crowd heard
this they roared with laughter, while Marshall was mortified and
angered beyond expression.
At the battle of Alleghany Mountain a shell exploded near Isham,
when he immediately mounted a bare-back mule, his face toward the
tail of the beast, and the mule was rapidly driven to the rear by the
use of Isham's heels and a pole ; both the mule and negro were missing
for two or three days. When he returned Marshall asked him
why he left, when he promptly answered : Because * a good run is better
than a bad stand,' for had I remained and received a wound or
been killed, I could not have served you as I promised old master I
would."
Isham went to his reward several years ago, and it is hoped that he
reached a better and happier home beyond the skies.
Morris, the body-servant of H. W. Thomas of the Putnam Light
Infantry, Company G, Twelfth Georgia Regiment, was a good, true
and faithful man, ever ready to perform any and all duties required
of him. He never crossed the Potomac; would always get permission
to remain in Virginia when our army invaded Maryland and
Pennsylvania for fear of being captured, but came promptly to camp
and reported for duty as soon as the army returned to Virginia.
Whenever bullets commenced to fly and shells to whistle he invariably
sought the rear. When asked why he did not remain with or
near his white friends who had to face the enemy, he would reply,
" You are white and I am a negro and can't stand the racket." He
was at the surrender and walked every step of the way home with his
master, and remained with him until advised to hunt a job and look
out for himself. He was universally liked by the good people of
The Negro. 615
Eatonton because he was polite, accommodating and knew his place.
He died with consumption about eight years after the surrender, and
the writer hopes that the change was a happy one.
It is to be regretted that a complete list of the many negroes who
went into the army as cooks and body-servants with the various members
of this brigade can not be obtained.
It is nothing but simple justice to give each one due credit for services
rendered their owners during the war, for the majority of them
were good and faithful servants. Those who survived the war, and
who attend our annual reunions are treated with the kindest consideration,
and mix and mingle with the boys in the most cordial manner,
and seem to enjoy the meetings fully as much as their white comrades.
Several of them yet attend such meetings, and are honorary
members of our association, and take seats in our convention hall.
All of the survivors of this brigade feel kindly toward them, for they
were constantly together for the greater part of the war, and each was
known by sight if not personally. There is not one of them that the
members of this brigade would not help out of any difficulty or assist
financially if within their power.

Thanks for that reference.  Anyone who would like to read more may be happy to know that it's available on Google Books; the history was published in 1903 and is dedicated
"to the Deceased
and Surviving Members
OF THE DOLES-COOK Brigade,
WHO WON FADELESS LAURELS UNDER LEE, JACKSON, EWELL,
EARLY, GORDON, AND OTHER HEROES OF THE SOUTH,
ON THE BATTLE-FIELDS OF VIRGINIA, MARYLAND
AND PENNSYLVANIA"

I suspect that, like a lot of veterans' histories published north and south, its nostalgic perspective has much more to do with the time it was written than the time it writes about.

Because the book actually tries to present some information on every member of the brigade, it looks like it would be a great source for people who had ancestors in it.  As for its overall objectivity, I think the Preface addresses this better than any reviewer could:

No brigade in the Confederate army did more service, or suffered
more hardships, and none can boast of a prouder or more brilliant record than that made by the Doles-Cook Brigade. Its regiments were amongst the first to take arms in defense of the South, and did not lay them down until General Robert E. Lee surrendered the army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court-house, Virginia, on the 9th day of April, 1865. On that fatal day the remnant of the Doles-Cook Brigade followed the Stars and Bars as gallantly, fought as bravely, and drove the enemy as steadily as they had done in the past. Not until then did they cease to bear arms in defense of the South.
Read the history of all the armies of any nation, and you will not find a single one to compare to that of the Confederate army. They were intelligent, brave, fearless and determined, but kind and gentlemanly in their bearings, respectful to their officers and obedient to orders. They did not fight for conquest or glory, but simply for the protection of their homes and the independence of the South.
The life of the Confederacy was brief, but brilliant and glorious. No nation possesses such a priceless record as that made by her soldiers; none ever contended with so many disadvantages and against such fearful odds; none ever displayed more courage, or exhibited more loyal devotion to any cause than the Confederate soldier.
***
The flag of no country or cause ever went down in defeat with
such a halo of glory. No cause ever had a more devoted, self-sacrificing people to sustain it; while the bravery, the devotion, the energy, the unselfishness and heroism of the noble women of the South, throughout the entire struggle, is unparalleled in the history of the world.
No armies were ever led to battle by greater generals, and no
generals ever commanded better, braver, or more patriotic soldiers.
And last, but not least, no brighter intellect, or purer statesman, no patriot with clearer conscience, purer heart, or more lofty purposes ever wielded power or guided the Ship of State than Jefferson Davis, the gifted and noble President of the Confederate States.