![]() ![]() Volunteer regiments were denoted by numbers followed by the state they represented, for example, the 99 th Pennsylvania or the 7 th South Carolina. Yet because of undersized companies, especially as the war progressed the average Civil War regiment at mid-war consisted of 300-500 soldiers. Regiments could consist of just a few companies or as many as fourteen, but ten was the official number-ten companies of 100 men meant that regiments, on paper, were composed of 1,000 officers and men. The regiment was the basic maneuver unit of the Civil War. ![]() (Library of Congress)Ĭompanies were grouped together to form regiments-the fighting unit with which soldiers most identified. Generally, infantrymen on both sides would be denoted with blue stripes or piping on the soldiers’ hats, coats and pants. At first, companies had text-based names like the Columbus Rifles or the Mifflin Guards, for example, but after they were further organized they would be assigned a company alphabetic letter, such as “Company G.”Ĭompany G, 93rd New York Infantry. Each company was usually under the command of a captain, who was assisted by a first lieutenant and a second lieutenant. Within each company, the soldiers were further divided into platoons and squads. In practice, due primarily to enlistment issues, illness, casualties, and desertion, they often consisted of closer to 30-50 men. On paper, companies were supposed to contain 100 men. Upon enlistment, infantrymen typically joined companies, usually comprised of men from the same town or county or part of a state. Infantrymen were foot soldiers who wielded muskets and whose officers carried swords and pistols. The majority of servicemen during the Civil War joined the infantry. Confederate soldiers could also join national “C.S.” units, but most were in state-based units. On the Union side units comprised of “regular” soldiers-those established in the armed forces before the Civil War and which bore a “U.S.” designation-or “volunteer” soldiers-those which consisted of men serving in state-based units that were typically created specifically for the Civil War. Over time, leaders on both sides realized that this jumble of responsibilities led to problems on the battlefield. At the outset of hostilities, it was not uncommon to see a brigade that consisted of infantry regiments and cavalry regiments. One of the most significant themes in the evolution of Civil War armies was the gradual division of the three branches. There were three broad branches of the armed forces on land: infantry, cavalry, and artillery. The Civil War codified several elements of army structure that are still used today. Both sides explored a variety of structures throughout the war in response to new currents in strategic thought and the demands of specific circumstances. When the war began, neither side knew exactly which army structure would be most effective. The contending armies in the Civil War were organized with the intent of establishing smooth command and control in camp and on the battlefield.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |