Jeffrey sighed.  "That which never was," he answered, "cannot be lost.  That that never existed cannot be mourned."
The General stared at him and smiled.  "You're a relative,  all right!"  he managed.  "You sound just like my mother, bless her soul!  She always said the southern way lasted TOO long!  How much I would like to tell her how right she was!"
The General shook himself.  "Come on!"  he snapped.  "I've got to go make arrangements to disappear for 48 hours and it's going to be damned hard explaining to people why I have to go.  Or is it necessary?  Will I come back to the exact time that I left?"
Jeff shook his head.  "You'll be gone the precise amount of time we're in the past," Jeffrey answered, "not a minute less or more.  At least that's what I'm told.  I was the first one to put it to the test.  Hopefully I will be the last!  And when I return I will return to a totally different future than the one I left, which would be very nice because the one I left was quite uncomfortable!"
"Let's get going!"  the General snapped, pushing his plate aside.  "The more you mention the history you came from, the more I want to make sure it never exists, no matter what it costs us!  I want to make sure it never exists!"
He got up, kissed his wife, and they headed out.  His staff was surprised to see him in the office, but they quickly went to work following his instructions.
As they were working, a report came on the radio.  State police officers had gone to arrest The Imperial Dragon Of The Sons Of Purity on charges of complicity in the murder of the General's daughter.  He had decided he wasn't going to be arrested, and a gun battle ensued.  The Grand Dragon and eighteen of his closest associates had been killed.  Jeff listened to the report, muttered "Good work, gentlemen!"  and continued with his efforts.  Some in the office looked startled, others simply nodded and continued their efforts.
Jeffrey continued to search the historical records.  They were almost ready to go home when he came to the General and handed him a photograph and a news story.  The General read it.
"Donald McClain, a well known scientist, known for his eccentricism, reports today that he has successfully traveled in time, gone back to the war of northern aggression, and given the south the means to defeat The Union.  As proof of this he shows a receipt signed by the inventor of the motorized torpedo accepting the blueprints  that have been sold to him for ten Union dollars.  The eccentric professor also showed the ten dollar gold piece with which the plans had been purchased.  Everyone at the gathering was rather amused by the professor's claim."
The General looked at Jeff and nodded.  Now they had a face, and, a name!  They finished up and headed home.  The General wanted to enjoy the evening with his children.  He wanted to enjoy that evening very much, because he didn't know if when he returned those children would still be there.  How different would things be?  No telling in another world what profession he would be in.  There was simply no telling!