The end of the War brought the miseries of Reconstruction to the South. As burdensome as the struggle to adapt to life in the newly reconstituted Union was for most Southerners, it was a near impossibility for many an ex-Confederate soldier. The sentiments expressed in this classic post-war song were probably fairly typical among embittered veterans.

The song was sung to the old Irish tune "Joe Bowers."

Thanks to Jim Whitesell for contributing the lyrics to this song in memory of Peter Emmanuel Whitesell (33rd Virginia Infantry), John Jefferson Whitesell (2nd Virginia Infantry),Samuel Harrison Whitesell (54th Virginia Infantry), and all of the Whitesell and Riedel families of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, who sacrificed and suffered during the War Between The States.

"Good Ol' Rebel Soldier"