Robert Lincoln and the military

[Eva Elisabeth]

Herb's post made me wonder about the following:

Robert desired to enlist because he wanted to see something of the war before it was over, and to save his face and standing towards his fellow students.

Actually he only got the jam of it, and this as he liked it. He wanted to see Richmond fall and, of course, was able to. He was at Appomattox. He was, of course, allowed to leave for the inauguration, and at all, was far away from any danger and "real war". He was still privileged overall. (Had he "deserted" - what punishment would he have received?)

Was his service appropriate to match these intentions? Was Robert fine with his "alibi position"? How serious were his ambitions - how anxious was he to actually fight on the battlefield and experience the inconvenient, dirty side of the war?

What are your thoughts on this? (Just to clarify: I do understand one doesn't want to enter the battlefield!)