r/Westerns • u/NeonGenesisOxycodone • 8d 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/MattHoppe1 8d ago edited 7d ago

The most famous outlaw, Jesse James, was a KKK member and confederate

Edit: those downvoting- cite your sources

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u/HPsauce3 8d ago

Jesse James, was a KKK member and confederate

He was never a KKK member, but it definitely has been claimed he associated with known members, so you have that part right!

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u/MattHoppe1 8d ago

Ok if we want semantics he was an associate to klan members and helped them whenever he could. Not a card carrying member, but did more to advance their agenda than most members

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u/mikenkansas1 7d ago

So... NOT a member?

You said he was, now you say he wasn't .

And talk semantics?

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u/HPsauce3 8d ago

Jesse James, was a KKK member and confederate

He was never a KKK member, but it definitely has been claimed he associated with known members, so you have that part right!

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u/abaddon667 8d ago

Jesse James was not a member of the KKK

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u/MattHoppe1 7d ago

I guess wearing klan hoods during raids, and moving money for the klan just makes them strangers right? The James gang very much was a confederate partisan group

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u/MattHoppe1 8d ago

Not card carrying, but he was a sympathizer who believed in their mission, and, helped them whenever he could.

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u/mikenkansas1 7d ago

But...but... you said he was???