Johnny Reb

"' Checkmate, Lincolnites! ' - Johnny Reb commonly says this at the start of a episode"A Confederate Soldier in the American Civil War who also serves as a stand-in for modern adherents to the myth of the Lost Cause. He argues with Billy Yank. Johnny Reb is the passionate one who throws around patriotic declarations and believes in hyperboly, a sharp-contrast to his straight man foil Billy Yank.

Initially his arguments consisted almost entirely of the hate-comments left by Lost Cause adherents on Atun-Shei's other videos on the Civil War, whose arguments are generally easily debunked and often poorly worded to boot ("South really complex!"). In later videos, he's moved away from this, and his arguments are more nuanced and sophisticated, though still ultimately based on flawed premises and incorrect assumptions.

Confederate DESTROYS Yankee with FACTS and LOGIC
Johnny Reb appears dressed as a Confederate cavalry officer rather than a Confederate soldier as in later episodes; openly supports slavery (even mocking Billy Yank/Atun-Shei for thinking slavery is bad) whereas in later episodes Johnny Reb tried to argue that the war was about other issues and at the end of the first episode he was actually shot by Atun-Shei and presumed dead (given that he bleeds profusely afterwards), but appears alive and well in later episodes. There is a chance the Confederate cavalry officer isn't even Johnny Reb, but this has never truly been confirmed or denied.

Confederate Soldiers DIDN'T Fight for SLAVERY!! (Or Did They?)
Johnny Reb is seen trying to defend the Lost Cause myth that he, the common Confederate soldier, didn't fight to preserve the institution of slavery. Billy Yank lampshades the last point in the second episode by asking if he didn't shoot him in the previous one, and while Johnny Reb denies it, Billy Yank points out that there's a bloodstained Confederate cavalry officer uniform at his feet, with makes Johnny Reb visibly nervous and change the subject.

TARIFFS and TAXES: The REAL Cause of the CIVIL WAR?!
Johnny Reb is seen trying to defend the Lost Cause myth that the American Civil War was fought over taxes and protectionist tariffs. Everytime he tries to divert the conversation by pointing out something bad the Union did, Billy Yank would take a drink.

Was it REALLY the WAR of NORTHERN AGGRESSION?!?!?!
Johnny Reb is seen trying to defend the Lost Cause myths that Abraham Lincoln was a tyrant, that nobody in the North cared about slavery or abolitionism, and that the warmongering Union invaded the South without provocation or just cause during the Civil War.

Out of nowhere the Witchfinder-General appears in Billy Yank's seat to scold Johnny Reb when he argues in favor of those victimized in the Witch Hunts (mainly by comparing the Confederacy to them), the Witchfinder-General claiming that religious segregation is the correct way to live. This causes Johnny Reb to start channeling more Fascistic comments, turning into Klaus the Nazi as a form of Demonic Possession, leading to a harrowing exorcism scene.

When Johnny is unconscious after having the Nazi spirit exorcised, Billy genuinely asks if he's okay. When Johnny wakes up (with a trademark crazy Lost Cause rant taken straight from the comments section), Billy greets him with "Good to have you back, buddy."

Was GENERAL SHERMAN a WAR CRIMINAL?!?!?!?!
Johnny Reb is seen trying to defend the Lost Cause myths surrounding William Tecumseh Sherman during the American Civil War, including the Atlanta Campaign, the March to the Sea, and the burning of Columbia.

Early on in the episode, Billy suddenly gets very aggressive at Johnny and begins to insult modern southerners. Johnny is deeply offended by his comments.

Billy has a another outburst later in the episode and actually pulls a gun and points it in-between Johnny's eyes and demands he repeats himself after he accused General Sherman of burning down old women's houses. After giving Johnny a good scare, he immediately holsters his gun and calmly debunks it without incident.

Were There Really BLACK CONFEDERATES???!!!
Johnny Reb is seen trying to defend the Lost Cause myth that tens of thousands of black men served as soldiers in the Confederate army during the American Civil War. In this episode he is given a book of primary sources as evidence for his claims by Jesus Christ.

Billy and Johnny also exchange gifts for Christmas. Johnny, knowing that Billy just quit smoking, gives him nicotine gum while Billy gives Johnny coffee (so that he could drink that "instead of that chicory crap"). This is a reference to how Union soldiers would often give Confederates coffee in exchange for tobacco. At the end of the episode, after seeing how upset Johnny is at losing another debate, Billy reveals he got him another present: a Civil War-themed chess set. And the episode ends on them exchanging banter as they set up their pieces to play a game together.

Did the CONFEDERACY Have BETTER GENERALS?!?!?!
Billy Yank is seen trying to defend Lost Cause myths – as well as more benign common misconceptions – about the military leadership of the Civil War.

While most Checkmate, Lincolnites! episodes end with Billy Yank and Johnny Reb on good terms with each other, this episode ends with Johnny so offended by Billy's brutal de-mythologizing of Robert E. Lee he just leaves with a cold "See you in Hell, Billy Yank."

You're Probably Wrong About Confederate Monuments
At the start of the video, Johnny Reb reads a newspaper article calling for the removal of Confederate monuments.