A unique study of an infantry company from North Carolina during the Civil War. The story begins during the antebellum era when the Rowan Rifles were a volunteer militia company. Their service continued with the 4th North Carolina State Troops as part of the Army of Northern Virginia 1861-1865. This work contains many rare and unpublished original soldier diaries and letters. Using extensive analysis of those sources along with quartermaster and ordnance records, the author debunks several common myths about Confederate soldiers, especially the "ragged rebel". This detailed work also includes a wealth of genealogical information about men in the Rowan Rifles, making this study much more personal than a typical unit history. This is a must read for those interested in the soldier's daily life as part of one of Robert E. Lee's most aggressive outfits in the Army of Northern Virginia.