While the fighting qualities of Johnny Reb were beyond question, he was generally a little less than soldierly about the soldiering side of war. The informal and individualistic Rebels generally ignored what today wouldy today be called the "Mickey Mouse" of military life, including respect for rank. Nothing less than a full general - and then possibly only Robert E Lee - was likely to be held in awe by the average Southern soldier. An incident which occurred in the Army of Northern Virginia illustrates both points quite neatly. The form given here was pieced together from several different versions.
In mid-1863, the 11th Mississippi was transferred to the Army of Northern Virginia, becoming part of Maj. Gen. Henry Heth's division, just in time for Gettysburg and all the hard campaigns which followed it. In the same division there was an Alabama regiment - the 13th Alabama seems to be meant - the colonel of which was a stickler for the minutia of military life. One day this colonel was making the rounds of the division's lines in his capacity as a field officer of the day. As he walked from post to post he came upon a rifleman of the 11th Mississippi sitting on the ground, quietly cleaning his weapon, which he had taken to pieces. The stunned colonel said, "Don't you know as a sentinel, while on duty, should always keep on his feet?"
Without looking up, the Mississippian replied, "That's the way we used to do it when the war first began; but that's played out long ago."
Wondering if the man was, indeed, the sentry, the colonel asked, "Are you the sentinel here?"
Continuing his task, the man replied "Well, I'm sort of a sentinel."
"Well," shouted the now very angry colonel, "I'm sort of officer of the day."
Still not looking, the man replied, "Well, if you'll hold on 'til I sort of git my gun together, I'll give you a sort of salute."
from a "Civil War Treasury" by Albert A Nofi.  | 
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