A
person who fought for the South during the American Civil War. They had several nicknames in addition to Confederates, which was their official title, as well as their new "nation". Other nicknames include Grayback, Secesh, Traitor, and Rebel.
The total number of Confederate soldiers who served during the War of Southern Aggression is not exact, but it
said to be somewhere around 750,000 men. They were usually seen wearing four different kinds of uniforms:
gray wool standard, butternut-brown dyed (uniforms captured from Union dead, and then converted), colorful
French-styled "Zouave", and finally (and practically) little or no uniform. Over half of the Confederates and their respective
government were too poor to afford full standard uniforms for even the majority of there soldiers, so they would wear regular civilian clothing mixed with various pieces of Confederate uniform (hats, trousers, etc.) along with their ammunition belts and other
gear.
These Southern soldiers were exceptionally brave and more well-trained with guns; a great number of their commanders, from regiments to corps, were very talented in military strategy and were far beyond competent. Many of the Southerners had colorful, dashing personalities and attitudes. They also knew the land of which they would be defending on throughout most of the Civil War.
However, they didn't have certain qualities that Northerners and Midwesterners fighting for the Union did. These include powerful industrial strength, a population nearly four times greater, a majority of those same people with unflinching determination, many different kinds of uniforms (including some
better looking ones), and easy access to munitions, leather goods, and railroad transportation. In addition, the Unionists also had great courageousness, even if they lacked the flashy and colorful personality traits of the Southerners. Furthermore, the Unionists in the lower Midwest (
Missouri, Kentucky, southern
Indiana) and in
Pennsylvania and
Maryland also knew the ground that they would have to defend a few times during the War. Overall, though, the Confederates had some of the best soldiers that the
world has ever seen.
Now many southerners today are obsessed with this war, these belligerents, and the rebellion in general. Many of them are trying to find out if they had Confederate ancestors who fought in the war. Now there are a lot of southern girls who are militantly Confederate as well, even more than the
women back then. Rebel
flag apparel is
popular with all of them today.