When encamped, Johnny Reb's day would begin at reveille when he would have to get up and go to roll call.

Afterwards, he and his mess mates would pool thier meager rations for breakfast making Confederate coosh. This consisted of frying up what saltpork or fatback they had, mixing each man's cornmeal ration with water, then pouring it into the hot grease to make sort of a corn meal pancake which would be split up equally. The private soldier was lucky to get this. Often during campaigns he would go three or four days without food; foraging, whether legal or not, was often used to supplement their rations.

Sometimes the Confederate soldier got lucky and won a battle or captured some Federal supply wagons. Then they ate the food their enemies ate which consisted mainly of saltpork and hardtack:

The Confederate private was supposed to receive $11 per month in pay from the government, but this was a rare event. It would not be unusual for a unit or individual to go without pay for 4-6 months.

If he were in training camp, the order of the day would be drill, drill, and more drill interupted only for meals. Drill lessons were known to last past sunset. If in camp while in the field, the private soldier may have many details to keep him busy: collecting firewood, collecting water, digging sinks (toilets), digging fortifications, and other such monotonous duties. Often, there would be an inspection or parade for the locals (parades were really held at the River's Bridge, SC fortifications even though it was late in the war and Sherman was on his way).

Although Confederate camps lacked the tentage that their Union counterparts had, they made due with anything, including captured canvas to make their lot more comfortable.

In the evening, after the meal, if there was one, Johnny Reb relaxed with his tobacco and maybe listened to the music provided by his comrades who were musically inclined, or maybe he and other sang songs. Gambling was a favorite pastime as well as "going down the line" if near a big city. He would also spend time reading (or having read to him) letters from home or writing (or having someone write for him) letters to home. They would also talk. The slang and vocabulary of the Civil War soldier is very different from today.

But inevitably, it would be his turn to pull picket duty for the camp to ensure quick warning in case the Yankees decided to attack:

When not on picket duty, he would sleep as much as he could for who knows how long it will be until the next time he can catch a good night's rest.

Despite the technology of steam locomotives, the most used method of transporting Confederate troops from one scene of action to another was by foot. Long forced marches were the order of the day. When the order came down to cook 3 days worth of rations, the private knew a long march was ahead. Often he ate the 3 days rations before the march began figuring it would be easier to carry the food in his stomach than in his haversack. It was nice if your company got the honor of marching at the head of the column because it meant the rest of the regiment had to eat your dust instead of the other way around.

Marches lasted all day covering anywhere from 7-12 miles maybe more. During the Battle of Sharpsburg (9/17/1862), AP Hill marched his division from Harper's Ferry to the battlefield, a distance of 17 miles, in one day. Stonewall Jackson's "foot cavalry" were known to cover even longer distances. Remember, footgear was uncomfortable at best and a lot of soldiers had no shoes at all.

You would march usually for 50 minutes and rest for 10 minutes hoping there was water nearby to fill your canteen. Sometimes fights would break out over wells since more soldiers needed water than could fit around the well. During the march, you would sometimes break ranks to forage the crops along the road. Monotony would sometimes be broken if a popular or unpopular leader road by where you could throw praise or muffled insult as appropriate.

Marches would last well after dark and when you stopped, you didn't bother to pitch camp, you just fell where you stood and fell directly asleep with your comrades all around. Soon dawn would come and another long day's march in the hot and humid climate.

War is 99% boredom and 1% sheer terror. Those soldiers who were new (fresh fish) saw thier first battle as "seeing the elephant;" somewhat intriguing and very terrifying. Veterans were harded to the horrors of battle.

The loud concussions of the artillery, the beating hooves of the cavalry, the shouting of orders from superiors along with the many bugle calls. Then the report of musket fire. Acrid, sulfry smoke filled the air. It was impossible to see your enemy. One could hear the whiz of the minie balls as they flew past. The soldiers load and fire as fast as they can. Some of your comrades fall beside you; others move up to take their place. Bayonets are fixed and the order to advance is given. Artillery shells fly through the ranks like bowling balls. The closer the unit gets the worse the fire becomes as solid shot is replaced by canister (shotgun like shells). Despite the deadly fire the unit makes it to the enemy line and overruns him causing him to retreat.

A counter attack comes, but the Confederates hold. Smoke, explosions, screams of pain, yells for help, horses galloping: a truly chaotic scene. But they hold; just as they always have. But some have fallen from the ranks to rise no more and some others will have to take their place on the line of battle.

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