Citizendia

A group of Confederate soldiers
A group of Confederate soldiers
Confederate Battle flag
Confederate Battle flag

The Confederate War Department was established by the Confederate Congress in an act on February 21, 1861. The Congress of the Confederate States was the legislative body of the Confederate States of America, existing during the American Civil War between 1861 and 1865 Events 362 - Athanasius returns to Alexandria. 1245 - Thomas, the first known Bishop of Finland Year 1861 ( MDCCCLXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Confederate States Army was actually three organizations:

Contents

The War plan

Southern Artillery Piece
Southern Artillery Piece

Because of poor record-keeping, there is no accurate number that represents the strength of the Confederate States Army. Estimates range from 500,000 to 2,000,000 men who were involved at any time during the war. Reports from the War Department began at the end of 1861 (326,768 men), 1862 (449,439), 1863 (464,646), 1864 (400,787), and "last reports" (358,692). Estimates of enlistments throughout the war were 1,227,890 to 1,406,180. [2]

The following calls for men were issued:

The CSA was initially a (strategically) defensive army, and many soldiers were resentful when Lee led the Army of Northern Virginia in an invasion of the North in the Antietam Campaign. The Maryland Campaign, or the Antietam Campaign, of September 1862 is widely considered one of the major turning points of the American Civil War. As many as 50,000 men deserted during the start of the campaign, claiming that their enlistments were for defense of their homeland, not invasion. After the losses at Vicksburg and Gettysburg, the number rose to 100,000. Background See also [[Vicksburg Campaign]] After crossing the Mississippi south of Vicksburg at Bruinsburg and driving northeast Grant had won battles at Background and movement to battle See also [[Gettysburg Campaign]] [[Gettysburg Battlefield]] [[Gettysburg Confederate order of battle]] [[Confederate order of battle]]

Command

General Robert Edward Lee, famous Southern General
General Robert Edward Lee, famous Southern General

The army did not have a formal overall military commander, or general-in-chief, until late in the war. Robert Edward Lee (January 19 1807 &ndash October 12 1870 was a career United States Army officer, an Engineer, and among the most celebrated Confederate President Jefferson Davis, himself a former U. The President of the Confederate States of America was the Head of State and Head of Government of the Confederate States of America, which was formed from Jefferson Finis Davis ( June 3, 1808 &ndash December 6, 1889) was an American politician who served as President of the S. Army officer and U. S. Secretary of War, served as commander-in-chief and provided the strategic direction for Confederate land and naval forces. The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington 's administration The following men had varying degrees of control:

The lack of centralized control was a strategic weakness for the Confederacy, and there are few instances of multiple armies acting in concert across multiple theaters to achieve a common objective. (An exception to this was in late 1862 when Lee's invasion of Maryland was coincident with two other actions: Bragg's invasion of Kentucky and Earl Van Dorn's advance against Corinth, Mississippi. The Commonwealth of Kentucky ( is a state located in the East Central United States of America. Earl Van Dorn (September 17 1820 &ndash May 7 1863 was a career United States Army officer fighting with distinction in the Mexican-American War and against Corinth is a city in Alcorn County, Mississippi, United States. All three initiatives were unsuccessful, however. )

Ranks and insignia

For more details on this topic, see Ranks and insignia of the Confederate States. The Ranks and insignia of the Confederate States were a Rank Insignia system devised by the forces of the Confederate States of America during the
Officer Rank Structure of the Confederate Army
GeneralColonelLieutenant ColonelMajorCaptainFirst LieutenantSecond Lieutenant
Image:CSA_Cpt.pngImage:CSA_1Lt.pngImage:CSA_2Lt.png
Major (Medical Corps shown)
Lieutenant-Colonel (Headquarters shown)
Colonel (Infantry shown)
General (CSA)
2nd Lieutenant (Cavalry shown)
1st Lieutenant (Artillery shown)
Captain (Marine Corps shown)

There were four (4) grades of general officer (general, lieutenant general, major general, and brigadier general), but all wore the same insignia regardless of grade. Colonel ( RP ˈkɜnəl GA ˈkɜrnəl is a Military rank of a Commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every country Lieutenant Colonel ( Lieutenant-Colonel in English from the French grade 's spelling is a rank of Commissioned officer in the armies Major is a Military rank the use of which varies according to country First Lieutenant is a Military rank. The rank of Lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations (see Comparative military ranks Second Lieutenant is the lowest commissioned officer Military rank in many Armed forces. Lieutenant General is a Military rank used in many countries The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the Major General or Major-General is a Military rank used in many countries Brigadier General is the lowest ranking General Officer in some countries usually sitting between the ranks of Colonel and Major General. This was a decision made early in the conflict. The Confederate Congress initially made the rank of brigadier general the highest rank. As the war progressed, the other general-officer ranks were quickly added, but no insignia for them was created. (Robert E. Lee was a notable exception to this. He chose to wear the rank insignia of a colonel. ) Only eight men achieved the rank of (full) general; the highest ranking (earliest date of rank) was Samuel Cooper, Adjutant General and Inspector General of the CSA. Samuel Cooper ( June 12, 1798 &ndash December 3, 1876) was a career U

Officers' uniforms bore a braid design on the sleeves and kepi, the number of adjacent strips (and therefore the width of the lines of the design) denoting rank. The kepi is a Cap with a flat circular top and a Visor ( American English) or peak ( British English) The color of the piping and kepi denoted the military branch. The braid was sometimes left off by officers since it made them conspicuous targets. The kepi was rarely used, the common slouch hat being preferred for its practicality in the Southern climate.

Enlisted Rank Structure
Sergeant MajorQuartermaster SergeantOrdnance SergeantFirst Sergeant
SergeantCorporalMusicianPrivate
no insigniano insignia

Branch colors were used for color of chevrons. A Sergeant Major is a rank or appointment in many militaries around the world Quartermaster Sergeant ( QMS) is a class of rank or appointment in some Armed forces, especially those of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth Ordnance Sergeant was an enlisted rank in the US and Confederate armies during the American Civil War era First Sergeant is the name of a military rank used in some countries Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries police forces and other uniformed organizations around the world Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and also by some police forces or other uniformed organizations The rank of Musician was a position held by military band members particularly during the American Civil War. A Private is a Soldier of the lowest Military rank (equivalent to NATO Rank Grades OR-1 to OR-3 depending on the force served in Blue for infantry, yellow for cavalry, and red for artillery. This could differ with some units, however, depending on available resources or the unit commander's desire. Cavalry regiments from Texas, for example, often used red insignia and at least one Texas infantry regiment used black.

The CSA differed from many contemporaneous armies in that all officers under the rank of brigadier general were elected by the soldiers under their command. Brigadier General is the lowest ranking General Officer in some countries usually sitting between the ranks of Colonel and Major General. The Confederate Congress authorized the awarding of medals for courage and good conduct on October 13, 1862, but war time difficulties prevented the procurement of the needed medals. Events 54 - Nero ascends to the Roman throne 409 - Vandals and Alans crossed the Pyrenees Year 1862 was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Monday To avoid postponing recognition for their valor, those nominated for the awards had their names placed on a Roll of Honor, which would be read at the first dress parade after its receipt and be published in at least one newspaper in each state.

Armies and prominent leaders

The CSA was composed of independent armies and military departments that were constituted, renamed, and disbanded as needs arose, particularly in reaction to offensives launched by the Union. During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty-three These major units were generally named after states or geographic regions (in comparison to the Union's custom of naming armies after rivers). Armies were usually commanded by full generals (there were eight in the CSA) or lieutenant generals. Lieutenant General is a Military rank used in many countries The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the Some of the more important armies and their commanders were:

Some other prominent Confederate generals who led significant units operating sometimes independently in the CSA included Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, James Longstreet, J.E.B. Stuart, Jasper Whitlock, Gideon Pillow, and A.P. Hill. The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. Joseph Eggleston Johnston (February 3 1807 &ndash March 21 1891 was a career U Gustavus Woodson Smith ( November 30, 1821 &ndash June 24, 1896) more commonly known as G Robert Edward Lee (January 19 1807 &ndash October 12 1870 was a career United States Army officer, an Engineer, and among the most celebrated The First Corps Army of Northern Virginia was a military unit fighting for the Confederate States of America in the American Civil War. The Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia was a military organization within the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during much of the American The Third Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia was a military organization within the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during much of the American The Fourth Corps was a military unit formed in October 1864 within the Army of Northern Virginia of the Confederate Army. The Fourth Corps was a military unit formed in October 1864 within the Army of Northern Virginia of the Confederate Army. The Cavalry Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia was the only organized Cavalry Corps in the Confederate Army during the American There were three organizations known as the Army of Mississippi in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard (ˈboʊrɪgɑrd ( May 28, 1818 &ndash February 20, 1893) was a Louisiana -born author civil servant Braxton Bragg (March 22 1817 &ndash September 27 1876 was a career United States Army officer and then a General in the Confederate States Army, a William Joseph Hardee ( October 12 1815 &ndash November 6 1873) was a career U Leonidas Polk ( April 10, 1806 &ndash June 14, 1864) was a Confederate general who was once a planter in Maury County Tennessee The Army of Tennessee was the principal Confederate army operating between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River during the Events 284 - Diocletian was chosen as Roman Emperor. 762 - Bögü Khan of the Uyghurs, Year 1862 was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Monday John Clifford Pemberton (August 10 1814 &ndash July 13 1881 was a career United States Army officer who fought in the Seminole Wars and with distinction Earl Van Dorn (September 17 1820 &ndash May 7 1863 was a career United States Army officer fighting with distinction in the Mexican-American War and against William Wing Loring ( December 4, 1818 &ndash December 30, 1886) was a soldier from North Carolina who served in the armies of the William Joseph Hardee ( October 12 1815 &ndash November 6 1873) was a career U Leonidas Polk ( April 10, 1806 &ndash June 14, 1864) was a Confederate general who was once a planter in Maury County Tennessee William Wing Loring ( December 4, 1818 &ndash December 30, 1886) was a soldier from North Carolina who served in the armies of the The Army of Tennessee was the principal Confederate army operating between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River during the Henry Alexander Wise ( December 3, 1806 September 12, 1876) was an American statesman from Virginia. John Buchanan Floyd ( June 1, 1806 August 26, 1863) was a Virginia politician (legislator and governor U Robert Edward Lee (January 19 1807 &ndash October 12 1870 was a career United States Army officer, an Engineer, and among the most celebrated Edmund Kirby Smith (May 16 1824 – March 28 1893 was a career United States Army officer an educator and a general in the Confederate Army during The Army of Central Kentucky was a military organization within Department No Simon Bolivar Buckner ( April 1, 1823 January 8, 1914) was a career U The Army of Missouri was an independent military command during the American Civil War within the Confederate States Army, created in late 1864 under the Sterling Price ( September 20, 1809 September 29, 1867) was a lawyer politician and Militia General from the John Cabell Breckinridge (January 16 1821 &ndash May 17 1875 was a lawyer U The Army of the Tennessee was a Union army in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, named for the Tennessee River. Earl Van Dorn (September 17 1820 &ndash May 7 1863 was a career United States Army officer fighting with distinction in the Mexican-American War and against The Army of New Mexico was a small Confederate army in the American Civil War. Henry Hopkins Sibley ( May 25 1816 &ndash August 23 1886) was a Brigadier general during the American Civil War, fighting Robert Selden Garnett (December 16 1819 &ndash July 13 1861 was a career military officer serving in the United States Army until the American Civil War, when Henry Rootes Jackson ( June 24, 1820 &ndash May 23, 1898) was a Major general in the Confederate States Army during the William Wing Loring ( December 4, 1818 &ndash December 30, 1886) was a soldier from North Carolina who served in the armies of the Edward Johnson (April 16 1816 &ndash March 2 1873 also known as Allegheny Johnson (sometimes spelled Alleghany) was a United States Army officer and John Bankhead Magruder ( May 1, 1807 &ndash February 19, 1871) was a career military officer who served in the armies of three nations Daniel Harvey Hill (July 12 1821 &ndash September 24 1889 was a Confederate general during the American Civil War and a Southern scholar The Confederate Army of the Potomac, whose name was short-lived was the command under Brig Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard (ˈboʊrɪgɑrd ( May 28, 1818 &ndash February 20, 1893) was a Louisiana -born author civil servant Joseph Eggleston Johnston (February 3 1807 &ndash March 21 1891 was a career U The Army of Tennessee was the principal Confederate army operating between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River during the Braxton Bragg (March 22 1817 &ndash September 27 1876 was a career United States Army officer and then a General in the Confederate States Army, a Samuel Gibbs French ( November 22, 1818 &ndash April 20, 1910) was an officer in the U William Joseph Hardee ( October 12 1815 &ndash November 6 1873) was a career U Daniel Harvey Hill (July 12 1821 &ndash September 24 1889 was a Confederate general during the American Civil War and a Southern scholar John Bell Hood ( June 1 or June 29, 1831 &ndash August 30, 1879) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War Joseph Eggleston Johnston (February 3 1807 &ndash March 21 1891 was a career U Richard Taylor ( January 27 1826 &ndash April 12 1879) was a Confederate General in the American Civil War. The First Corps of the Army of Tennessee was officially created on November 20, 1862, and continued in existence until its surrender in April 1865 in Nathan Bedford Forrest ( July 13, 1821 &ndash October 29, 1877) was a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army during The Army of the Trans-Mississippi was the major Confederate field army for the Department of the Trans-Mississippi during the American Civil War. Thomas Carmichael Hindman Jr (January 28 1828 &ndash September 27 1868 was a Lawyer, United States Representative from the 1st Congressional District Edmund Kirby Smith (May 16 1824 – March 28 1893 was a career United States Army officer an educator and a general in the Confederate Army during The Army of the Valley (officially the Army of the Valley District) was the name given to the army of Lt The Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia was a military organization within the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during much of the American Jubal Anderson Early ( November 3 1816 &ndash March 2 1894) was a Lawyer and Confederate general in the American Civil Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (January 21 1824 &ndash May 10 1863 was a Confederate general during the American Civil War, and probably the James Longstreet (January 8 1821 &ndash January 2 1904 was one of the foremost Confederate Generals of the American Civil War and the principal subordinate James Ewell Brown "Jeb" Stuart ( February 6, 1833 &ndash May 12, 1864) was an American soldier from Virginia and a Gideon Johnson Pillow ( June 8, 1806 &ndash October 8, 1878) was an American lawyer politician and Confederate general Ambrose Powell Hill (November 9 1825 &ndash April 2 1865 was a Confederate general in the American Civil War.

Supply

Much like the Continental Army in the American Revolution, state governments were supposed to supply their soldiers. The American Continental Army was an Army formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America The supply situation for most Confederate Armies was dismal even when victorious. The lack of central authority and effective railroads, combined the frequent unwillingness or inability of Southern state governments to provide adequate funding, were key factors in the Army's demise. During the American Civil War, the Confederate States Army depended heavily on Railroads to get supplies to its lines Individual commanders had to "beg, borrow or steal" food and ammunition from whatever sources were available, including captured Union depots and encampments, and private citizens regardless of their loyalties. Foraging theory is a branch of Behavioral ecology that studies the foraging behavior of animals in response to the environment in which the animal lives During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty-three Lee's campaign against Gettysburg and southern Pennsylvania (a rich agricultural region) was driven in part by his desperate need of supplies, namely food. Background and movement to battle See also [[Gettysburg Campaign]] [[Gettysburg Battlefield]] [[Gettysburg Confederate order of battle]] [[Confederate order of battle]] The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern Not surprisingly, in addition to slowing the Confederate advance such foraging aroused anger in the North and led many Northerners to support General Sherman's total warfare tactics as retaliation. Foraging theory is a branch of Behavioral ecology that studies the foraging behavior of animals in response to the environment in which the animal lives Total war is a conflict of unlimited scope in which a Belligerent engages in a total mobilization of all available resources at his disposal Scorched earth policies especially in Georgia, South Carolina and the Virginian Shenandoah Valley proved far more devastating than anything Pennsylvania had suffered and further reduced the capacity of the increasingly-effectively blockaded Confederacy to feed even its civilian population, let alone its Army. A scorched earth policy is a military strategy or operational method (possibly more often referred to as a tactic but this is not entirely correct as there is a difference between The State of Georgia ( is a state in the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule South Carolina ( is a state in the southern region ( Deep South) of the United States of America. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state The Shenandoah Valley region of western Virginia and West Virginia is bounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Appalachian The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern The Union Blockade refers to the naval actions between 1861 and 1865 during the American Civil War, in which the Union Navy maintained a massive effort on the At many points during the war, and especially near the end, Confederate Armies were described as starving and, indeed, many died from lack of food and related illnesses. Towards more desperate stages of the war, the lack of food became a principal driving force for desertion. In Military terminology desertion is the Abandonment of a " Duty " or post without permission from one's Government or superior

African Americans in the Confederate Army

See main article: Military history of African Americans in the U.S. Civil War

"Nearly 40% of the Confederacy's population were unfree . . . the work required to sustain the same society during war naturally fell disproportionately on black shoulders as well. By drawing so many white men into the army, indeed, the war multiplied the importance of the black work force. "[7] Even Georgia's Governor Joseph E. Brown noted that "the country and the army are mainly dependent upon slave labor for support. Joseph Emerson Brown ( April 15, 1821 November 30, 1894) often referred to as Joe Brown, was governor of Georgia " [8] Slave labor was used in a wide variety of support roles, from infrastructure and mining, to teamster and medical roles such as hospital attendants and nurses. [9]

The idea of arming slaves for use as soldiers was speculated on from the onset of the war, but not seriously considered by Davis or others in his administration. [10] Though an acrimonious and controversial debate was raised by a letter from Patrick Cleburne[11] urging the Confederacy to raise black soldiers by offering emancipation, it wouldn't be until Robert E. Lee wrote the Confederate Congress urging them that the idea would take serious traction. Patrick Ronayne Cleburne ( March 16 or March 17, 1828 &ndash November 30, 1864) was an Anglo- Irish soldier serving in Robert Edward Lee (January 19 1807 &ndash October 12 1870 was a career United States Army officer, an Engineer, and among the most celebrated On March 13, the Confederate Congress passed General Order 14, and President Davis signed the order into law. Events 1138 - Cardinal Gregorio Conti is elected Antipope as Victor IV, succeeding Anacletus II. The Congress of the Confederate States was the legislative body of the Confederate States of America, existing during the American Civil War between 1861 and 1865 The order was issued March 23, 1865, but only a few African American companies were raised. Events 1174 - Jocelin, Abbot of Melrose, is elected Bishop of Glasgow. Year 1865 ( MDCCCLXV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Two companies were armed and drilled in the streets of Richmond, Virginia shortly before the besieged southern capital fell. This article is about the city of Richmond the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

See also

References

  1. ^ Eicher, pg. The Confederate States Navy ( CSN) was the naval branch of the Confederate States Armed forces established by an act of the Confederate Congress The Confederate States Marine Corps ( CSMC) a branch of the Confederate Navy, was established by the 23
  2. ^ Eicher, pg. 71
  3. ^ Eicher, pg. 25
  4. ^ Eicher, pg. 26
  5. ^ Eicher, pg. 29
  6. ^ Official Record, Series IV, Vol. III, pg. 1161-62
  7. ^ Levine, Confederate Emancipation. pg 62
  8. ^ Journal of the Senate at an Extra Session of the General Assembly of the State of Georgia,, Convened under the Proclamation of the Governor, March 25th, 1863, p. 6
  9. ^ Levine, Confederate Emancipation p. 62-63
  10. ^ ibid. p. 17-18
  11. ^ Official Records, Series I, Vol. LII, Part 2, pp. 586-92.

External links

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