IN JULY 1864 THE NEWS WAS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, GENERAL ULYSSES S. Grant, butcher whose war of attrition had already cost thousands of lives, was dead. A Texas cavalryman serving in Louisiana shared report with his father. The soldier heard from a friend who claimed that a captain saw an official dispatch from General Robert E. Lee reporting that Grant made desperate assaults upon Richmond and was defeated ... and tis said led last one himself and was killed. The Texan thought story had merit because accords with report of a woman from Vicksburg that flag was at half mast on account of death of Grant. Even better, story was corroborated by a lieutenant colonel who left Richmond shortly before attacks. According to Texan, colonel reported that army was completely routed and that ours was in pursuit. The cavalryman thought, is glorious news, but he admitted that it seems too good to believe. (1) Grant's death was reported again later that month. This time he was watching Union shells explode over Petersburg when a shot from a rebel cannon tore his arm off. Rumors spread that he bled to death on surgeon's table later that day, July 17, 1864. Virginia artilleryman James W. Albright joked, Grant is still dead; but, comes to life occasionally. Despite wisecrack, Albright was unsure of truth. For days he could neither confirm nor disprove report; its elusiveness and optimism teased artilleryman. He started to view other information as clues about Grant's fate. When Federal bombardment slackened, Albright thought could mean enemy had a new commander. (2) Accounts of Grant's death mingled with other positive news for rebels in heady month of July 1864. As an isolated non-event, rumor had little impact on Confederate soldiers. But false report contributed to a heap of misinformation that collectively affected Confederate perceptions of war. In Georgia Confederate general John B. Hood replaced General Joseph E. Johnston as commander of Army of Tennessee. Within days of his promotion, aggressive Hood attacked General William Tecumseh Sherman's army outside gates of Atlanta. Telegrams declared a stunning victory for rebellion. (3) Meanwhile in Maryland, General Jubal A. Early was leading a daring raid on Washington, D.C. A year after Gettysburg and Vicksburg, seemed pendulum of war was swinging in Confederates' favor. As an Alabama infantryman put it, are about to turn joke on Yankees instead of them getting our Capitol we are about to get theirs. (4) Diehard rebels gathered rumors, telegraph dispatches, and newspaper reports. They spun fantastic speculations. While guarding Richmond, a Georgia captain predicted that Grant's death and Early's success would cause forces menacing this place & Petersburg to be withdrawn. He sent his wife a newspaper detailing Early's victories. (5) Days later a North Carolina lieutenant wrote home that enemy was retreating from Richmond. Everything is bright & brightening for us, he exclaimed. (6) As Confederate fortunes declined in 1864 and 1865, remarkably positive rumors swirled through rebel armies, spreading false hopes and postponing reality. As one rebel explained, reports were transmitted to us by 'grape vine telegraph,' a machine that can be worked by any one, and the most ridiculous rumor will be operated as a fact after going a few yards. (7) Anyone could spread potent rumors that promised to unveil conditions obscured by distance, military secrecy, and general uncertainty. By spreading rumors any lowly private or bewildered corporal could express his beliefs and affect his surroundings. In other words, rumors offered soldiers an empowering channel, or grapevine, of expression. Such actions may seem inconsequential within universe of war, but rumors' impact on armies and society was anything but trivial. …