Trivia: General Robert E. Lee was shown throughout the movie as wearing the three star insignia of a Colonel, rather than the three stars surrounded by a wreath as was the proper insignia for all Confederate generals. General Lee actually wore this throughout most if not all of the war, and this is accurate.
Trivia: Ted Turner can be seen saying "We owe you Texas boys a debt of gratitude ..." in the Bonnie Blue Flag scene on Side B. He is also visible throughout the scene in views of the audience. Ted Turner commissioned the movie. (00:42:30)
Answer: Pride, honor, and respect were some of the characteristics of a Southerner's perspective during the Civil War, and did not change through the war. At this point of the war, however, the Confederates knew they were now on the defensive, no longer fighting for either slavery or states' rights, but the survival of their land, farms, and homes against foreign invaders (Union troops) who were using "scorched earth" tactics to break the South's will and ability to fight. That alone, kept them fighting even though victory was not going to happen for them.
What are scorched earth tactics?
Destruction of farms, crops, livestock. Also destroy every town that the Union troops arrive at.