Originally aired on November 11, 1994 - In part 11 of our Civil War series, Virginia Tech history professor James Robertson provides proof that Johnny Rebs and Billy Yanks came in every size and shape and every background. #11 – Common Soldiers: Ages and Sizes Johnny Rebs and Billy Yanks who fought in the great Civil War came in every shape and size, and from every background. While some regiments were composed predominantly of farmers, or clerks, or students, other units gained attention because of the different occupations of their members. For example, the 19 th Virginia came from the central part of Virginia. Of its 749 original members, 302 were farmers, 80 were laborers, and 56 were machinists. Among the remainder were ten lawyers, fourteen teachers, twenty-four students, three blacksmiths, two artists, a well-digger, a dentist, a bootlegger, and four men who classified themselves as “Gentlemen”. The typical Civil War soldier was five feet, seven inches tall. He was a white,