The Loyalty Oath during the Civil War

[BettyO]

I have heard that to a Southerner, it was the worst possible thing to do. I've also heard that right after the war, one (southerners) had to sign the oath in order to draw rations for themselves and their children, if they had no other options for food; i.e. women whose husbands had not yet returned from the war or were dead. I also know that if a white man wanted to vote in the south directly after the war that he had to sign an oath. Lew Powell's father signed such an oath a year after the war. It has also been said that if a soldier signed the Oath, he was exempt from joining any Southern organization; i.e. Confederate Veteran organizations; etc. I do know that today, anyone whose ancestor "signed the oath" cannot join either the SCV or UDC....or so I've been told. Is this true?

   

The lovely and touching Roger's Statue "Taking the Oath and Drawing Rations" depicts a southern matron apparently reluctantly taking the oath so she can feed her child. The Union soldier appears to somewhat pity her.