Confederate Soldier Song "Johnny Reb" Johnny Horton John Gale "Johnny" Horton (April 30, 1925 – November 5, 1960) was an American country music and rockabilly singer most famous for his semi-folk, so-called "saga songs" which began the "historical ballad" craze of the late 1950s and early 1960s. With them, he had several major successes, most notably in 1959 with the song "The Battle of New Orleans" (written by Jimmy Driftwood), which was awarded the 1960 Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording. The song was awarded the Grammy Hall of Fame Award and in 2001 ranked No. 333 of the Recording Industry Association of America's "Songs of the Century". His first hit, a number 1 song in 1959, was "When It's Springtime in Alaska (It's Forty Below)". During 1960, Horton had two other successes with "North to Alaska" for John Wayne's movie, North to Alaska and "Sink the Bismarck". Horton is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. You fought all the way Johnny Reb, Johnny Reb You fought all the way Johnny Reb Saw you a marchin' with Robert E. Lee You held your head high tryin' to win the victory You fought for your folks but you didn't die in vain Even though you lost they speak highly of your name 'Cause you fought all the way Johnny Reb, Johnny Reb You fought all the way Johnny Reb I heard your teeth chatter from the cold outside Saw the bullets open up the wounds in your side I saw the young boys as they began to fall You had tears in your eyes 'cause you couldn't help at all But you fought all the way Johnny Reb, Johnny Reb You fought all the way Johnny Reb I heard your teeth chatter from the cold outside Saw the bullets open up the wounds in your side I saw the young boys as they began to fall You had tears in your eyes 'cause you couldn't help at all But you fought all the way Johnny Reb, Johnny Reb You fought all the way Johnny Reb I saw General Lee raise a saber in his hand Heard the cannons roar as you made your last stand You marched into battle with the Grey and the Red When the cannon smoke cleared it took days to count the dead 'Cause you fought all the way Johnny Reb, Johnny Reb You fought all the way Johnny Reb When Honest Abe heard the news about your fall The folks thought he'd call a great victory ball But he asked the band to play the song Dixie For you Johnny Reb and all that you believed 'Cause you fought all the way Johnny Reb, Johnny Reb Yeah you fought all the way Johnny Reb You fought all the way Johnny Reb, Johnny Reb You fought all the way Johnny Reb You fought all the way Johnny Reb, Johnny Reb Yeah you fought all the way Johnny Reb