[TLI]

DeButts carted them to the Virginia Historical Society in Richmond, which houses the world's largest collection of Lee papers.

Shepard hustled downstairs and deButts showed him what he'd just picked out of the trunk: an envelope containing three cloth stars -- general's stars -- that Lee cut off his Confederate uniform after he surrendered at Appomattox.

That it. I’m headed to the Virginia Historical Society in Richmond on my next batch of vacation days.

Then back down through Louisiana to visit Dad's grave and such in Baton Rouge.

Guess I will need a digital camera fast enough to not need a flash. Any suggestions anyone?

[Non-Sequitur]

ne day, deButts called Shepard's office from the library. "You have got to come down here," he said, sounding excited. Shepard hustled downstairs and deButts showed him what he'd just picked out of the trunk: an envelope containing three cloth stars -- general's stars -- that Lee cut off his Confederate uniform after he surrendered at Appomattox.

Three cloth stars alone indicated a colonel in the confederate army, all general officers regardless of rank wore three stars in a wreath. Lee, for whatever reason, preferred to wear the colonel's rank on his uniform during the war.

[MainFrame65]

==> “ Guess I will need a digital camera fast enough to not need a flash. Any suggestions anyone?” <==

Look for a very high ISO number. This is analogous to film speed, and indicates the effective sensitivity of the sensor to light. However, in digital cameras this is usually achieved by electronic means that introduce noise (random variations) into the picture. The alternative is a better lens that gathers more light, a more expensive solution.