text: what can be explained as a 'fake journal' of the civil war, how do i make it realistic?   no easy way out of this one, buddy, you need to do research, and then determine if your soldier is a rebel southerner, or a yankee blue coat from the north. remember most of these soldiers, were young, around 18 years old, and some even younger.they often used young boys as drummers. it's a fascinating time in american history, read up about, who knows you may even learn something about your nation.