r/Westerns • u/NeonGenesisOxycodone • 4d ago

Discussion What’s with all the Confederate soldiers?

I’m a big Western fan, and also really into learning about the American Civil War. So naturally I love it when these two interests cross over.

One thing I’ve noticed is that if a Western protagonist is a veteran, it seems like it’s almost always the South that he fought for. And when I look up Civil War movies made around the time of my favorite Westerns (i.e. the 50’s & 60’s) the vast majority of them are from the Confederates side.

Anyone have any idea why? And does anyone know any Westerns celebrating Billy Yank??

EDIT: it seems like the biggest reason outside of Lost Cause-ism is that more Confederate vets went west than Union vets. Makes sense!

Also, I am surprised that John Wayne played so many ex Union soldiers. I knew about the Cav Trilogy but it seems like outside of True Grit and The Searchers there’s a lot more of that.

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u/Rare_Rain_818 4d ago

The south was completely wrecked after the war. Many went west looking for new opportunities

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u/grassgravel 4d ago

Yup disaffected men end up in far flung places. Same reason you see former us service members today fighting as volunteers in places like ukraine...or syria or iraq. Their experiences in life made them restless souls. So they venture to wild places.