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The Life of Johnny Reb: The Common Soldier of the Confederacy
Offers a composite portrait of the Southern soldier during the Civil War
444 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1943
33 people are currently reading
1122 people want to read
About the author
Bell Irvin Wiley
81 books10 followersBorn into rural Tennessee and schooled at Asbury College (BA, 1928) and Yale University (PhD, 1933), Bell Irvin Wiley became a historical officer of the Second Army in World War II and taught history the University of Mississippi, Louisiana State University, Oxford University, and Emory University. He published groundbreaking works, such as Southern Negroes, 1861-65 (1938), was named President of the Southern Historians Association (1955), and became chairman of President Eisenhower's National Civil War Centennial Commission (1961). He died in 1980.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 5, 2020
Some allowance has to be made for the fact that this was written in 1943, but it nonetheless remains a classic of social history. An interesting, well-documented and entertaining examination of the common soldier of the Civil War. This volume is on "Johnny Reb" (Southern soldiers), but Wiley also authored an equally interesting look at "Billy Yank."
April 19, 2020
A Pioneering Study Of The Confederate Soldier
Bell Irvin Wiley (1906-1990), a scholar of the American Civil War, is best known for his two early books describing the lives of common soldiers in the Union and Confederate Armies. His book, "The Life of Johnny Reb" appeared in 1943 and was followed in 1952 by its companion volume "The Life of Billy Yank". At the beginning of his career, Wiley tended to concentrate on the Confederate war effort and wrote his book on "Billy Yank" as a result of the fascination he developed from writing his initial work with the common soldier. Ironically, Wiley's book on "Billy Yank" is the stronger of the two in terms of detail, organization, factual material, and analysis. His book on the Confederate soldier remains an important effort, essential to understanding the Southern Civil War experience.
In the Preface to his book, Wiley points out the fascination that the campaigns and personalities of Lee, Jackson, Stuart, and other Southern leaders exert (and continue to exert) on students of the Civil War. He aimed in his book to discuss the life of the soldier "as it really was" including among much else "how the hungry private fried his bacon, baked his biscuit, smoked his pipe". His book succeeds in that aim. Wiley's book gave me a good picture of life in the Southern Army with all its privations and hardships. He does not romanticize his subject or, for all his affection for the Southern soldier, fall prey to "Lost Cause" mythology.
The book opens with a discussion of the enthusiasm of the Southern soldier during the early stages of the War -- largely resulting from the conviction that the War would be short and that the Yankees would go home. He discusses how the dream of a short, decisive conflict quickly faded and how the troops were left with the dangerous, boring, and dehabilitating business of soldiering. Some men continued throughout with their convictions and enthusiasm but for most the War became something that could not end soon enough.
Wiley gives good pictures and stories of the tedium of life in the camps during the winter and during the long periods when the armies were not in combat or on the march. He describes the bad food, shoddy clothes, and low pay that were the lot of the Confederate soldier. He discusses the various ways the troops spent their time. ranging from the sins of gambling, drink, and vice to the repeated attempts at religious revivals. Wiley is sensitive to the instances of cowardice and fear in the Confederate war effort but he rightly praises the valor and courage, overall, of the Confederate soldier. They fought tenaciously and hard. Wiley discusses the loneliness of soldier life as the men in the lines went to great efforts to write letters home and thought of their wives and sweethearts.
I thought Wiley's discussion of the unsanitary conditions of the camps and the toll taken by disease and poor medical treatment among the best sections of the book. He also discusses well the ambivalent relationships that frequently developed between Johnny Reb and his enemy in blue. Although it became a total and brutal combat, the Civil War was marked by attempts at fraternization, and what later writers have termed the "brotherhood of men at arms." The feelings the combatants developed for each other became important in the reconciliation efforts following this devastating conflict. Wiley also offers a good discussion of the various types of shoulder arms used by the Southern troops during the war, their manufacture, and their limitations.
There is a great deal of anecdotal material in this book. The text is repetitive at times. But this book and its companion volume remain essential Civil War reading and will give the student a feel for life in the lines.
Robin Friedman
Bell Irvin Wiley (1906-1990), a scholar of the American Civil War, is best known for his two early books describing the lives of common soldiers in the Union and Confederate Armies. His book, "The Life of Johnny Reb" appeared in 1943 and was followed in 1952 by its companion volume "The Life of Billy Yank". At the beginning of his career, Wiley tended to concentrate on the Confederate war effort and wrote his book on "Billy Yank" as a result of the fascination he developed from writing his initial work with the common soldier. Ironically, Wiley's book on "Billy Yank" is the stronger of the two in terms of detail, organization, factual material, and analysis. His book on the Confederate soldier remains an important effort, essential to understanding the Southern Civil War experience.
In the Preface to his book, Wiley points out the fascination that the campaigns and personalities of Lee, Jackson, Stuart, and other Southern leaders exert (and continue to exert) on students of the Civil War. He aimed in his book to discuss the life of the soldier "as it really was" including among much else "how the hungry private fried his bacon, baked his biscuit, smoked his pipe". His book succeeds in that aim. Wiley's book gave me a good picture of life in the Southern Army with all its privations and hardships. He does not romanticize his subject or, for all his affection for the Southern soldier, fall prey to "Lost Cause" mythology.
The book opens with a discussion of the enthusiasm of the Southern soldier during the early stages of the War -- largely resulting from the conviction that the War would be short and that the Yankees would go home. He discusses how the dream of a short, decisive conflict quickly faded and how the troops were left with the dangerous, boring, and dehabilitating business of soldiering. Some men continued throughout with their convictions and enthusiasm but for most the War became something that could not end soon enough.
Wiley gives good pictures and stories of the tedium of life in the camps during the winter and during the long periods when the armies were not in combat or on the march. He describes the bad food, shoddy clothes, and low pay that were the lot of the Confederate soldier. He discusses the various ways the troops spent their time. ranging from the sins of gambling, drink, and vice to the repeated attempts at religious revivals. Wiley is sensitive to the instances of cowardice and fear in the Confederate war effort but he rightly praises the valor and courage, overall, of the Confederate soldier. They fought tenaciously and hard. Wiley discusses the loneliness of soldier life as the men in the lines went to great efforts to write letters home and thought of their wives and sweethearts.
I thought Wiley's discussion of the unsanitary conditions of the camps and the toll taken by disease and poor medical treatment among the best sections of the book. He also discusses well the ambivalent relationships that frequently developed between Johnny Reb and his enemy in blue. Although it became a total and brutal combat, the Civil War was marked by attempts at fraternization, and what later writers have termed the "brotherhood of men at arms." The feelings the combatants developed for each other became important in the reconciliation efforts following this devastating conflict. Wiley also offers a good discussion of the various types of shoulder arms used by the Southern troops during the war, their manufacture, and their limitations.
There is a great deal of anecdotal material in this book. The text is repetitive at times. But this book and its companion volume remain essential Civil War reading and will give the student a feel for life in the lines.
Robin Friedman
October 24, 2014
Bell Irvin Wiley was a historian but mostly he had a vested interest in the military history of this nation. He served as a historical officer during WWII. He uses the images Johnny Reb representation created by flag-wavers to contrast to the Billy Yank image created by the northern coalition during the Civil War.
Wiley dives deep into a personal historic account of the Civil War, drawing from the personal effects of the soldiers who survived and some who did not survive. His focus through his words was to connect the reader with the soldier. He did not attempt to do this by extensive descriptions of the battles or the political maneuverings happening on and around the battlefields. He shows the reader the humanity in the battlefield and the interactions between the soldiers. Through the mind’s eye, he gives the reader a substantial image of what life was like in the middle of a corn field, as the smell of gun powder and death enveloped the falling soldier:
“Color Sergeant Rice of the Twenty-eighth Tennessee Infantry, downed by a bullet at Murfreesboro, still clung to the flag, holding it aloft as he crawled on his knees until a second shot brought death and delivered him of his trust” (1718).
The book begins with a lot of southern eagerness in regards to a war that they truly believed would be over quickly and those damn Yankees would head back to the north, never to set foot on southern land again. This fantasy quickly dissolves as he describes the task at hand of being a soldier. Wiley wrote a book that was not about the great leaders of the war like Lee and Grant, but about the common soldier. The soldier who "fried his bacon, baked his biscuit, smoked his pipe" (280). Wiley praised the valor of the Confederate soldier yet also touched on the subject of fear and weakness that occurred in battle. Life during the Civil War was lonely for the men and Wiley brings it home in the letters and thoughts of the soldiers and their loved ones. This allows the reader to relate personally to the soldier who fought on the battlefield and the ones who kept the home fires burning for the soldiers safe return.
The Life of Johnny Reb: The Common Soldier of the Confederacy was published in 1943, some seventy-eight years after the last shot was fired, and yet the prose is not dated seventy-one years after the ink dried on the first publication. This book is important to all scholars, historians and students of all ages as it brings a personal interest and understanding of the life of a Civil War soldier to the forefront of the imagination.
(submitted as a review for a History class Fall 2014)
Wiley dives deep into a personal historic account of the Civil War, drawing from the personal effects of the soldiers who survived and some who did not survive. His focus through his words was to connect the reader with the soldier. He did not attempt to do this by extensive descriptions of the battles or the political maneuverings happening on and around the battlefields. He shows the reader the humanity in the battlefield and the interactions between the soldiers. Through the mind’s eye, he gives the reader a substantial image of what life was like in the middle of a corn field, as the smell of gun powder and death enveloped the falling soldier:
“Color Sergeant Rice of the Twenty-eighth Tennessee Infantry, downed by a bullet at Murfreesboro, still clung to the flag, holding it aloft as he crawled on his knees until a second shot brought death and delivered him of his trust” (1718).
The book begins with a lot of southern eagerness in regards to a war that they truly believed would be over quickly and those damn Yankees would head back to the north, never to set foot on southern land again. This fantasy quickly dissolves as he describes the task at hand of being a soldier. Wiley wrote a book that was not about the great leaders of the war like Lee and Grant, but about the common soldier. The soldier who "fried his bacon, baked his biscuit, smoked his pipe" (280). Wiley praised the valor of the Confederate soldier yet also touched on the subject of fear and weakness that occurred in battle. Life during the Civil War was lonely for the men and Wiley brings it home in the letters and thoughts of the soldiers and their loved ones. This allows the reader to relate personally to the soldier who fought on the battlefield and the ones who kept the home fires burning for the soldiers safe return.
The Life of Johnny Reb: The Common Soldier of the Confederacy was published in 1943, some seventy-eight years after the last shot was fired, and yet the prose is not dated seventy-one years after the ink dried on the first publication. This book is important to all scholars, historians and students of all ages as it brings a personal interest and understanding of the life of a Civil War soldier to the forefront of the imagination.
(submitted as a review for a History class Fall 2014)
April 17, 2017
Not your ordinary historical read in that the entire narrative is derived from written correspondence mostly to those at home. As such, there's no central theme such as there would be in recounting a battle or biography. In "The Life of Johnny Reb", each chapter focuses on a separate topic such camp life, the enemy, or sweethearts left at home. The chapters are exhaustive in their comprehensiveness, maybe too much so. On a couple of occasions, I found myself muttering "enough already" and skipped on to the next chapter. All-in-all an informative and interesting read, but not riveting.
September 2, 2011
My great-great grandfather fought in the army of northern Virginia all four years of the civil war. I read this in order to gain a greater understanding of what life would have been like for him and this book did not disappoint.
August 22, 2015
Written in the 1940s by one of the legends of Civil War history, this book holds up remarkably well considering the developments and discoveries in the field in the intervening 70 years. It is effectively one of a pair, with The Life of Billy Yank, which I have yet to read.
You won't find the great names of Civil War history here. Lee, Jackson, Beauregard, Longstreet, barely get a look in here. Even the officer class is scarcely given a mention - this book is very about the grunts, the footsoldiers, the nameless masses that generally escape the attention of history. Yet, as Wiley points out, the War could neither have been won, lost or fought at all without them.
He draws heavily on contemporary records, mostly letters, to reinforce his narrative - which means some challenging passages deciphering the somewhat free use of spelling and grammar! This was an era before wartime censorship of soldiers' letters, and you really get a feel for the thoughts and feelings of the men, where later generations would be more circumspect, aware that their officers would be reading and censoring their missives.
This book covers almost all aspects of the soldiers' lives, from the clothes that they wore to the food that they are, the shelters and huts they built for themselves, their training and drill, their attitude to officers and one another, their backgrounds and education, their heroism and cowardice, and their reaction to battle. It shows its age in places - there is scarcely a mention of 'the Negro' outside of talk of body-servants, and the rights and wrongs of the Confederate cause are not discussed. Native American Confederate troops are described consistently as 'red men' and, whilst acknowledged as brave, dismissed as little more than savages unfit for organised soldiering.
So a good book, well worth the read, albeit a little dated in places. I'll be curious to read its companion, Billy Yank, and see if the author's gentle Southern bias is simply a result of telling the story of the Confederate or whether it comes across in the book about their opponents as well.
You won't find the great names of Civil War history here. Lee, Jackson, Beauregard, Longstreet, barely get a look in here. Even the officer class is scarcely given a mention - this book is very about the grunts, the footsoldiers, the nameless masses that generally escape the attention of history. Yet, as Wiley points out, the War could neither have been won, lost or fought at all without them.
He draws heavily on contemporary records, mostly letters, to reinforce his narrative - which means some challenging passages deciphering the somewhat free use of spelling and grammar! This was an era before wartime censorship of soldiers' letters, and you really get a feel for the thoughts and feelings of the men, where later generations would be more circumspect, aware that their officers would be reading and censoring their missives.
This book covers almost all aspects of the soldiers' lives, from the clothes that they wore to the food that they are, the shelters and huts they built for themselves, their training and drill, their attitude to officers and one another, their backgrounds and education, their heroism and cowardice, and their reaction to battle. It shows its age in places - there is scarcely a mention of 'the Negro' outside of talk of body-servants, and the rights and wrongs of the Confederate cause are not discussed. Native American Confederate troops are described consistently as 'red men' and, whilst acknowledged as brave, dismissed as little more than savages unfit for organised soldiering.
So a good book, well worth the read, albeit a little dated in places. I'll be curious to read its companion, Billy Yank, and see if the author's gentle Southern bias is simply a result of telling the story of the Confederate or whether it comes across in the book about their opponents as well.
January 27, 2013
Hard not to appreciate the level of research Wiley utilized, of firsthand accounts and letters over publications. The best book, beyond fictionalized accounts, for understanding the day to day life of the infantry soldier in the camps, and of their backgrounds. Wiley's love for his subjects, even in all their faults and diversity, comes through very clearly. Interested to see what differences, if any, are in his account of Billy Yank.
August 22, 2011
Examines what the life of a common Confederate soldier would have been like. Much has been written aabout the generals but little of the men ib the ranks.
November 5, 2012
I enjoyed reading about the lives of a Civil War soldier. Good detail on how they dealt with life in the army. A must read for anybody interested in the Civil War
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May 4, 20161) The authors purpose for writing this book is to inform the reader about the horrors of the Civil War. The author indirectly states the purpose because the author wants the reader to think of what war was like.
2) The theme of this book is to believe in what you believe in and don't let anyone tell you what you can't. The author indirectly states the theme because he wants the reader to think of the theme.
3) This book is written in first person. Yes it is effective because the author tells his personal experience in the war. This book is a description because the book is an explanation of a particular time, place, or event. This is also effective because it says the word "I".
4) I really enjoyed this book. I liked that the author gave gruesome detail about how harsh war can be. The only thing I disliked was that the book was a little short. I wouldn't change anything because you can't change history. Yes this book is similar to another book that I have read called Soldier X.
2) The theme of this book is to believe in what you believe in and don't let anyone tell you what you can't. The author indirectly states the theme because he wants the reader to think of the theme.
3) This book is written in first person. Yes it is effective because the author tells his personal experience in the war. This book is a description because the book is an explanation of a particular time, place, or event. This is also effective because it says the word "I".
4) I really enjoyed this book. I liked that the author gave gruesome detail about how harsh war can be. The only thing I disliked was that the book was a little short. I wouldn't change anything because you can't change history. Yes this book is similar to another book that I have read called Soldier X.
April 6, 2016
This book is a must for anyone interested in the day-to-day life of a soldier in the Civil War. While parts of it tend to be a little dry for my taste, other parts are downright fascinating.
The book covers everything from the initial/later reactions of men to the war and becoming soldiers, to morality, to entertainment, to medical practices of the day, to family, to first-person battle accounts, to soldiers' opinions of their leaders, to military law practice, to the everyday interactions between rebel and union soldiers.
It's an extraordinarily comprehensive book, and I recommend it.
The book covers everything from the initial/later reactions of men to the war and becoming soldiers, to morality, to entertainment, to medical practices of the day, to family, to first-person battle accounts, to soldiers' opinions of their leaders, to military law practice, to the everyday interactions between rebel and union soldiers.
It's an extraordinarily comprehensive book, and I recommend it.
October 12, 2012
Willey is still the go to man for the life of the common soldier and you can see why. This essentially a collection of facts, anecdotes, and quotations, yet from this a portrait emerges, one that is commendable, but not without blemishes. Perhaps not the greatest read, but certainly among the best researched.
March 15, 2015
They don't write them like this any more. This 1940s classic considers the day to day lives of common soldiers of the Confederate States Army. We experience Johnny Reb's food, shelter, terrors, travails, entertainments and more. There is plenty of source text and a lot of it is heartrending. In all, a wonderful study.
February 6, 2017
I enjoyed this book. I currently listen to the "The Civil War Podcast: 1861-1865" and this text gave some good insight on the men who fought the war. It was an interesting read but is a very dense volume with tremendous detail and breadth. Highly recommended for those with interest in the Civil War. I plan to pick up the companion volume "The Life of Billy Yank" in the near future.
September 9, 2011
great source for discovering the southern soldier in the civil war. What they went through, thought, felt, acted, why they fought, how, and everything else dealing with the war effort and their societal and family surroundings
May 7, 2008
The camp life of Confederate soldiers during the American Civil War, including many anecdotes of how they interacted, what they did and eat, how they thought and felt, etc.
October 4, 2012
I have read this book many many times.
December 28, 2012
Only for the true American Civil War nerd. Unless you really want to know what is was like...watch a John Jakes film remake.
March 3, 2014
Great book with amazing insight into the life of Johnny Reb.
May 4, 2016
Too dry to finish.
December 1, 2020
This first of two volumes on the life of the ordinary soldier during the Civil War deals with the life of Johnny Reb, the Southern soldier. Wiley relies heavily on first hand accounts of soldiers and families by citing diaries, letters, and journals which jump off the pages of the book as if the soldiers are talking to the reader. The average soldier came from middle-class rural society, mostly non-slave holders. They believed in an early victory but as the war dragged on they became war weary and their spirit sank. Conditions were certainly difficult and at times very crude. Diseases killed more than fighting. Constant hunger was some what alleviated with foraging. Lack of pay, gun shortages, bad powder, pests, scantiness of clothing, inadequacy of rations, and general disorganization led to increased absenteeism, dwindling morale and depression. Diversions to relieve boredom included music, cards, gambling baseball, pranks, shows, and religion. There were a surprising number of recent immigrants fighting, mostly Irish and German. The author concludes that while the Southern soldier was far from perfect, they achieved a lot against great odds, won numerous battles and demonstrated the “greatness as a fighting man.” A good read.
June 25, 2024
I first read this book 20 years ago, when I first got into Civil War re-enacting. I was told this book and The Life of Billy Yank were the bibles for reenactors and should read both to be a well rounded historian. This book is one of the best books to read to really understand the life of a common soldier in the Confederate Army. I reread this book because I like to keep information fresh in my head. And at reenactments or school events we are always asked what was life like for a soldier in the Civil War. I recommend this book to young readers, new re-enactors, or anyone wanting to learn about soldier life. I also wanted to see what was updated in these updated editions. Really it was just the introduction written by James I. Robertson, Jr. about the author Bell Irvin Wiley. The actual content in the book I didn’t see any changes.
June 12, 2019
This military classic looks at the ordinary soldier in the Confederate States Army: how he ate, his punishments, how often he got leave, his attitudes towards his officers, what he fought for, his morale, his weapons, so on and so. The author used primary sources and names the soldiers (when possible) who provided insights into the life of "Johnny Reb." I originally read this book almost 30 years ago and discovered that many of my assumptions about Confederate soldiers are, in fact, based upon what I learned from this book. It provides an excellent cornerstone for any real scholar of the Civil War.
April 29, 2021
This entertaining look at the camp life of a Confederate private and his associates is well worth the time to read if you are a history buff, doing research on the period or just for a reading change of pace.
The author does a fine job of covering many aspects of life of the common soldier from 1861 thru 1865.
Topics include winter camps, campaigning efforts and types of entertainment offered to keep the soldiers from boredom thru the years of the Civil War.
The author does a fine job of covering many aspects of life of the common soldier from 1861 thru 1865.
Topics include winter camps, campaigning efforts and types of entertainment offered to keep the soldiers from boredom thru the years of the Civil War.
August 10, 2021
This is an excellent book that gives the reader deep insight into the lives and back grounds of the men that fought for their beliefs. In each chapter, Wiley takes an aspect of the lives of our veterans and analyzed it using their own words and critical analysis. This is a must read for anyone interested in knowing what was in the minds of our brave ancestors.
December 1, 2023
Some of this book is quite interesting and it’s well written. It gives some good perspective of who a typical private in the Confederate was, and their life during the Civil War. Unfortunately, there is a bit of “Lost Cause” bullshit in the book as well.
February 24, 2018
This book was very informative. After reading this, I wondered how the Confederacy won a battle. I'll be curious to see if "The Life of Billy Yank" will be as negative.
March 2, 2018
Finally I got around to reading Johnny Reb. Totally unlike what I anticipated -- an outstanding book on the lives of the Confederate soldier. Highly recommended. Now on to Billy Yank.
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June 11, 2022I hesitate to buy this book. The title is JOHNNY RED. But you write about in the introduction thaat it is about the daily life of the soldier in BLUE! Is this a typo?
Frank Kello
Frank Kello
February 13, 2023
I read Wiley's book about the Union soldier and the Life of Johnny Reb. I found the Union book to be better because, as far as I know, all my ancestors fought for the Union, so that book was more interesting to me. This is not a bad book by any means. It is well written and deserves to be a classic. Wiley dives into why the Confederate soldier fought, their views on the war and what they did and carried during the war. He was fortunate enough to interview Civil War veterans and that definitely makes his book stronger than other books out there. These books should be read by historians, Civil War students and scholars for years to come.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews