805 lines
41 KiB
Plaintext
805 lines
41 KiB
Plaintext
Path: bloom-beacon.mit.edu!nic.hookup.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!moe.ksu.ksu.edu!phys.ksu.edu!jsanders
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From: jsanders@phys.ksu.edu (Justin M. Sanders)
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Newsgroups: alt.war.civil.usa,soc.history,alt.answers,soc.answers,news.answers
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Subject: U.S. Civil War FAQ
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Followup-To: alt.war.civil.usa
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Date: 20 Feb 1994 05:35:32 GMT
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Organization: Department of Physics, Kansas State University, Manhattan KS, USA
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Lines: 789
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Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.Edu
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Message-ID: <2k6sr4$hd4@newserv.ksu.ksu.edu>
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NNTP-Posting-Host: dirac.phys.ksu.edu
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Summary: This article contains a list of frequently asked questions and
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answers about the Civil War in the United States (1861-1865).
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Xref: bloom-beacon.mit.edu alt.war.civil.usa:7064 soc.history:18011 alt.answers:1907 soc.answers:884 news.answers:15452
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Archive-name: civil-war-usa/faq
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Last-modified: 1993/2/19
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Version: 1.55
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alt.war.civil.usa FAQ v1.55 (19 Feb 1993)
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This is a collection of answers to frequently asked questions in
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alt.war.civil.usa (and some not-so-frequently, too!) will be posted
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on or about the 20th of each month. It was compiled by Justin M.
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Sanders (jsanders@orph01.phy.ornl.gov) who tried to be as complete
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and accurate as possible, but who is definitely human and has
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probably made several errors.
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Please send comments, suggestions, or corrections to the address above.
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The topics covered are (a plus means a new entry, an asterisk means a
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revised entry):
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Part 0: alt.war.civil.usa
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Q0.1: What is this group anyway?
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Q0.2: Are the FAQ and Reading List archived somewhere?
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Part 1: The beginning of the War
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Q1.1: When did state X secede?
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Q1.2: Was there a declaration of war or something?
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Q1.3: Who were the U.S. Generals on 1 Jan 1861?
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Part 2: Battles and fighting forces
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Q2.1: What are the alternate names of various battles?
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Q2.2: What were the naval ranks during the Civil War?
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Q2.3: What were the organization and strengths of various units
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in the armies?
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Q2.4: What is the difference between grapeshot and canister?
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Part 3: The end of the War
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Q3.1: When did the war end?
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Q3.2: If the rebel states were never considered legally out of the
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Union, how was Reconstruction justified?
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Part 4: Miscellaneous
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Q4.1: My ancestor fought in the war, how do I find out about
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his service?
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Q4.2: What is the "Stars and Bars"?
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Q4.3: What changes to the U.S. flag occurred during the war?
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Q4.4: How was the state of West Virginia created?
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Q4.5: What war records did the post-war presidents have?
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Q4.6: What are the various alternate names for the war?
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* Q4.7: What is a good Civil War game for a PC?
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Q4.8: What are good books on the war?
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Q4.9: How can I get the soundtrack to Ken Burn's "Civil War"?
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Answers
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Part 0: alt.war.civil.usa
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Q0.1: What is this group anyway?
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The charter of alt.war.civil.usa reads:
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The purpose of this group is the discussion of topics
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related to the United States Civil War (1861-65). Topics can
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involve military, political, social, economic or other factors
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which impacted upon this period of history. This newsgroup will
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also serve as a source of information, assistance, or referral
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for persons seeking guidance via responses from more
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knowledgeable subscribers.
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Q0.2: Are the FAQ and Reading List archived somewhere?
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Yes, the latest versions of the FAQ and Reading List are
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available for anonymous ftp at:
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rtfm.mit.edu /pub/usenet/alt.war.civil.usa/U.S._Civil_War_FAQ
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/pub/usenet/alt.war.civil.usa/U.S._Civil_War_Reading_List
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Part 1: The beginning of the War
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Q1.1: When did state X secede?
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Before Lincoln's call for troops, the following states seceded:
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1. South Carolina, Convention passed Ordinance of Secession,
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20 Dec 1860
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2. Mississippi, Convention passed Ordinance of Secession, 9 Jan 1861
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3. Florida, Convention passed Ordinance of Secession, 10 Jan 1861
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4. Alabama, Convention passed Ordinance of Secession, 11 Jan 1861
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5. Georgia, Convention passed Ordinance of Secession, 19 Jan 1861
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6. Louisiana, Convention passed Ordinance of Secession, 26 Jan 1861
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7. Texas, Convention passed Ordinance of Secession, 1 Feb 1861, to
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take effect 2 Mar 1861 provided it was ratified by the voters
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on 23 Feb 1861. Texas admitted to the Confederacy, 2 Mar 1861.
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After Lincoln's call for troops on 15 Apr 1861, the following
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states seceded:
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8. Virginia, Convention rejected secession 4 Apr 1861, Convention
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passed Ordinance of Secession 17 Apr 1861 and ratified C.S.A.
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Constitution, both subject to ratification of voters 23 May 1861.
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Virginia admitted to CSA 7 May 1861.
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9. Arkansas, Convention rejected secession ordinance on 18 Mar 1861
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and called for referendum in August, Convention passed Ordinance
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of Secession 6 May 1861. Arkansas admitted to C.S.A. 20 May 1861.
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10. North Carolina, Voters rejected calling a Convention 28 Feb 1861,
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Legislature called Convention 1 May 1861, Convention passed
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Ordinance of Secession 20 May 1861. North Carolina provisionally
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admitted to CSA 17 May 1861.
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11. Tennessee, Voters rejected calling a Convention 9 Feb 1861,
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On 6 May 1861 Legislature passed "Declaration of
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Independence" and ratification of CSA Constitution subject
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to referendum on 8 June 1861. Tennessee admitted to CSA
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17 May 1861.
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The following two states never seceded via any mechanism provided
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by a legitimate government:
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12. Missouri, Convention rejected secession 9 Mar 1861, rump
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legislature passed Ordinance of Secession 31 Oct 1861 and
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requested admission to CSA. Missouri admitted to CSA
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28 Nov 1861.
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13. Kentucky, southern sympathizers called for convention Oct 1861,
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Convention passed Ordinance of Secession 18 Nov 1861. Kentucky
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admitted to the CSA 10 Dec 1861.
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Sources: Civil War Day-by-Day; Official Records, Ser. IV, Vol 1.
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Q1.2: Was there a declaration of war or something?
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1. The United States never declared war. This was in keeping with
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its position that the rebel states did not form a new nation,
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rather they were states in which a rebellion was taking place.
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Abraham Lincoln issued a Proclamation that an insurrection
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existed in the states of SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, LA, and TX on
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15 Apr 1861 (Messages & Papers of the Presidents,V,p3214).
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2. The Confederate States passed "An Act recognizing the existence
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of war between the United States and the Confederate States" on
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6 May 1861. This act exempted MD, NC, TN, KY, AR, MO, DE, and
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the territories of AZ and NM, and the Indian Territory south of
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KS.
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Sources: McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom; Official Records, Ser. IV,
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Vol. 1
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Q1.3: Who were the U.S. Generals on 1 Jan 1861?
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From: cwa@sgfb.ssd.ray.com (Carlton W. Andrews)
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USA Generals 1/1/1861
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Winfield Scott M.G. 6/25/1841
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John E. Wool B.G. 6/25/1841
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David E. Twiggs B.G. 6/30/1846
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[Twiggs was dismissed 3/1/1861 for handing/surrendering all
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men and equipment in Texas to the state of Texas]
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William S. Harney B.G. 6/14/1858
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[Harney went to Europe rather than fight for either side]
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Joseph E. Johnston QM-B.G. 6/28/1860 [staff appt.]
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Notes: Albert Sidney Johnston was Colonel of the Second Cavalry and
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brevet Brig. General. I believe he was promoted to B.G. (but
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will have to check) to replace Twiggs. Edwin V. Sumner was
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Colonel of the First Cavalry. He was promoted B.G. US Volunteers
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with a commission date of 3/16/61.
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Part 2: Battles
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Q2.1: What are the alternate names of various battles?
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Union Confederate
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Bull Run, VA Manassas 21 July 1861
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Wilsons Creek, MO Oak Hills 10 Aug 1861
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Logan's Cross Roads, VA Mill Springs 19 Jan 1862
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Pea Ridge, AR Elkhorn Tavern 6-8 Mar 1862
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Pittsburg Landing, TN Shiloh 6-7 Apr 1862
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Bull Run, VA (2nd) Manassas 29-30 Aug 1862
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Antietam, MD Sharpsburg 17 Sept 1862
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Chapell Hills, KY Perryville 8 Oct 1862
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Stones River, TN Murfreesboro 30 Dec 1862-2 Jan 1863
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Elk Creek, Ind. Terr. Honey Springs 17 July 1863
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Sabine Cross Roads, LA Mansfield 8 Apr 1864
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Opequon Creek, VA Winchester 19 Sept 1864
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Q2.2: What were the naval ranks during the Civil War?
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From: roy_wells@qm.vitalink.COM (Roy H. Wells)
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Here is a short discourse from a friend and fellow
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re-enactor, Richard Staley (who commands the 69th NY
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Infantry in the NCWA):
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Todd's American Military Equippage: 1851-1870 lists naval ranks
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during the CW as:
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Admiral (grade created for David Farragut 25 July, 1866)
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Vice Admiral (grade created 21 December, 1864, Farragut being the
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first to hold this rank)
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Flag Officer (title created 16 July, 1862)
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Commodore (courtesy title until 16 July, 1862 when the grade was
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formally adopted)
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Captain
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Commander
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Lieut. Commander (grade created 16 July, 1862)
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Lieutenant
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Master (grade existed throughout the period; originally "sailing
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master"; became a commissioned rank in 1862 and after the
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period was changed to Lieutenant Junior Grade.)
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Ensign (title for a passed Midshipman after 16 July, 1862)
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Passed Midshipman (Midshipman who had passed his examination for
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promotion to Lieutenant; called Ensign after 1862 although
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the term continued in use.)
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Midshipman (grade given undergraduates of the U.S. Naval Academy;
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not strictly in the line of the Navy in the latter part of
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the century).
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Master's Mate
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Shipped or Rated Master's Mate (usually a warrant officer).
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Q2.3: What were the organization and strengths of various units in the
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armies?
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[Compiled with the assistance of:
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Stephen Schmidt <whale@leland.Stanford.EDU> and
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Dominic J. Dal Bello <tecump@fido.ucsb.edu>]
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(A good source of information is Richard Zimmermann, _Unit
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Organizations of the Civil War_.)
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First, always remember that most Civil War units in the field
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were only at anywhere between 20% to 40% of their full strength.
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Thus, while in theory a company contained 100 men, and would be
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recruited at that size, by the time they reached the army they'd
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be down to 60 or so and after the first battle down to 40 or so.
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The full-strength sizes are given below, so remember to knock
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them down by 50% or more when reading about units engaged in
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battles.
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Second, due to casulties among the officers, frequently units
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would find themselves commanded by an officer one or two grades
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below the rank he should have for the job (e.g., a regiment
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commanded by a lieutenant colonel or major).
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Third, keep in mind that in the early stages of the war and in
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the more remote areas (such as the Trans-Mississippi), unit
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organizations tended to deviate more from the norm. What follows
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will be the ideal, your mileage may vary.
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I. Infantry.
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COMPANY.
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The basic unit is the company, commanded by a captain
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100 men = 2 platoons = 4 sections = 8 squads
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A company has the following officers (commissioned and non-coms):
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Captain (1), 1st. Lieut. (1), 2nd. Lieut. (1)
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1st Sgt. (1), Sgts. (4) and Corporals (8).
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When the company was divided into platoons, the captain commanded
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one and the 1st Lt. the other. There was a sergeant for each
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section, and a corporal for each squad. The 1st Sgt. "ran" the
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whole company.
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BATTALION and REGIMENT.
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Battalions and regiments were formed by organizing companies
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together. In the volunteers (Union and Confederate), 10 companies
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would be organized together into a regiment. The regiment was
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commanded by a colonel. A regiment has the following staff (one
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of each):
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Col.; Lt. Col.; Major; Adjutant (1st Lt); Surgeon (maj.);
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Asst Surgeon (capt.); Quartermaster (lieut); Commissary (lieut);
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Sgt-Major; Quartermaster Sgt.
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There were also volunteer organizations containing less than 10
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companies: if they contained from 4-8 companies, they were called
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battalions, and usually were commanded by a major or lieutentant
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colonel.
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The (Union) Regular regts organized before the war (1st-10th)
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were 10 company regiments like the volunteers. When the NEW
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Regular regts. were authorized, a different organization was
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used. The new Regular regts were organized 8 companies to a
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battalion and 2 battalions to the regiment. Thus new Regular
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regts contained 16 companies. These regiments frequently fought
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as battalions rather than as single regiments. However, often
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the 2nd battalion could not be recruited up to strength, in which
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case they fought as a single regiment.
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BRIGADE
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A brigade is formed from 3 to 6 regiments and commanded by a
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brigadier general. The South tended to use more regiments than
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the North, thus having bigger brigades. At some times in the
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war, some artillery would be attached to the infantry brigade:
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see the Artillery section below. Each brigade would also have a
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varying number of staff officers.
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DIVISION
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A division is commanded by a major general and is composed of
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from 2 to 6 brigades. In the North usually 3 or 4, but in the
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South normally 4 to 6. Thus, a Southern division tended to be
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almost twice as large as its Northern counterpart, if the
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regiments are about the same size. At some times in the war, some
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artillery or, less often, cavalry might be attached: see the
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Cavalry and Artillery sections below. Each division would also
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have a varying number of staff officers.
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CORPS.
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A corps is commanded by a major general (Union) or a lieutenant
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general (Confederate) and is composed of from 2 to 4 divisions.
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Again the North tended to have 2 or 3, while the South had 3 or 4.
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Each corps would also have a varying number of staff officers.
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ARMIES.
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Corps within a geographic department were aggregated into armies.
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The number of corps in an army could vary considerably: sometimes
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an army would contain only 1 corps and other times as many as 8.
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Armies were commanded by major generals in the North, and usually
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by full generals in the South. Corps and armies usually had some
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artillery and cavalry attached: again, see below. Each army
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would also have a varying number of staff officers.
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To summarize, the nominal strengths and commanding officers were:
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UNIT MEN Commander Example NAME
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Company 100 Captain Co. A, B-K (not J, looks like I)
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Regiment 1000 Colonel 5th N.Y. Infantry
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Brigade 4000 Brig Genl 3rd Brigade (US) **
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Division 12000 Maj. Genl Cleburne's Division (CS) **
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Corps 36000 Maj. Genl* IIIrd Corps (US) **
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Army Maj. Genl+ Army of Tennessee (CS) ++
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* or Lt. Gen. in the South
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+ or Gen. in the South
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** Numerical designation was used in the North, the Commander's
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name was typically used in the South, e.g. Forrest's Corps
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++ The South mainly used the name of the area or state where the
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army operated. Rivers were used primarily as names in the
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North, e.g. Army of the Cumberland.
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II. Cavalry.
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COMPANY or TROOP.
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The basic unit is the troop or company, organized pretty much the
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same way as an infantry company. The nominal strength was 100.
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If the troop dismounted for battle, 1 man in 4 would stay behind
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to guard the horses.
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BATTALION and REGIMENT.
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In the Union volunteers, 12 cavalry troops form a regiment
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commanded by a colonel. The Confederate Cavalry used a 10
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company regiment. Again, the (Union) Regulars had a different
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organization: in the Regular units 2 troops form a squadron, 2
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squadrons form a battalion, and 3 battalions form a regiment.
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And again, there were groups of 4-8 companies of volunteer
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cavalry which are called battalions.
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Initially, each Union cavalry regiment was assigned to an
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infantry division. The Confederates brigaded their cavalry
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together. The Union eventually adopted this organization as well.
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As the war progressed, both sides formed cavalry divisions (again
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the South took the lead). The North also formed cavalry corps,
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and the South later also adopted this innovation.
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III. Artillery
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BATTERY.
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The basic unit of artillery is the battery, which has 4 to 6
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guns, is commanded by a captain, and has 4 lieutenants, 12 or so
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noncoms, and 120 or so privates. It typically had 4 guns in the
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South and 6 guns in the North. Batteries were a subdivided into
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gun crews of 20 or so, and into sections of 2 gun crews, 2 or 3
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sections per battery. A gun crew was commanded by a sergeant and
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a section by a lieutenant.
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BATTALION or BRIGADE.
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At the start of the war, each side assigned one battery attached
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to each infantry brigade, plus an artillery reserve under the
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army commander. By mid-1862, larger organizations were used. The
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basic unit contained 3 or 4 batteries of artillery; it was called
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a battalion in the South and a brigade in the North (same unit,
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just a different name) and it was commanded by a colonel,
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lieutenant colonel, or major.
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ARTILLERY RESERVE.
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After 1862, it was typical for each infantry division to have an
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artillery battalion attached, and each corps or army to have a
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reserve of two to five battalions. Each division's artillery
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usually fought along side the infantry, while the corps/army
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reserves were used to form the massed batteries. The artillery
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reserve was commanded by a brigadier general or colonel.
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IV. Other Units
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LEGION.
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The Confederacy also organized a number of units known as
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legions. They were mixed-arms units, usually containing 6-8
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companies of infantry, 2-3 companies of cavalry, and a couple
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artillery pieces. Generally as soon as they reached the
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battlefield they were broken apart, the infantry forming a
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battalion, the cavalry being reassigned to some other unit, and
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the artillery joining the reserve. Sometimes the infantry
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retained the name legion, more frequently it got renamed to
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battalion.
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MARINES.
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Both sides had a rudimentary Marine Corps which fought along the
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Atlantic coast. The US Marines contained about 3,000 men and were
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organized into companies. There doesn't seem to have been any
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organization higher than that: they rarely operated in larger
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units than a few companies anyway. The Confederate Marines had a
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strength of about 300 men organized in four companies and was
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nominally commanded by a colonel.
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HEAVY ARTILLERY.
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The Union organized some "heavy artillery" units, regiments
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containing 10 artillery batteries (about 1800 men) which had
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training both as infantry and as artillerists. They were
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organized in much the same way as infantry units, but were quite
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a bit larger to provide enough men to run the guns. Originally
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raised to man the defenses of Washington, in 1864 they joined the
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Grant's army, and then served more as infantry.
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ENGINEERS.
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Both sides raised special regiments of engineers. They were
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organized similarly to the infantry regiments and were expert in
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building forts, entrenchments, bridges, and similar military
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construction. They were combatants but usually didn't do any
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fighting, instead continued to work on construction even when
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under fire.
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SHARPSHOOTERS.
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Both sides raised special sharpshooter units. The Confederate
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units tended to be independent companies, but the Union raised
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two sharpshooter regiments (Berdan's 1st and 2nd US
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Sharpshooters). These regiments were organized as infantry.
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Usually they were assigned to skirmish duty, or they would be
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allowed to roam around the battlefield to find good positions
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from which to shoot at enemy officers in the rear.
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Q2.4: What is the difference between grapeshot and canister?
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Here is a list of the various ammunitions used in the war.
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References are:
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[1] "Ammunition", in Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th ed (1911).
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[2] F.T. Miller, ed., "Photographic History of the Civil War,"
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vol. 5, "Forts and Artillery" (1957 edition).
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[3] "Historical Times Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Civil War"
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The main division is between shot (did not carry its own explosive
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charge) and shell (carried an explosive charge).
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For shot:
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1. solid shot-- the standard cannon ball (or bullet shape in the in
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case of a rifled gun)
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2. canister-- smaller shot placed in a sheet iron cylinder. The
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cylinder disintegrated when the gun was fired.
|
|
3. grape-- smaller shot layered between iron plates and held together
|
|
by a central bolt. Presumably the bolt broke when the gun fired
|
|
allowing the shot to scatter. Examples of grape shot can be seen
|
|
in [2] pp. 76, 76 and 191.
|
|
4. quilted grapeshot-- small shot covered in canvass and tied up with
|
|
rope which a gave it a quilted look. An example of quilted shot
|
|
can be seen in [2], p. 177.
|
|
5. chain shot-- two shot joined by a chain. Used to destroy rigging
|
|
of sailing ships.
|
|
6. bar shot-- two shot joined by a solid bar (like a dumbbell). Used
|
|
to destroy rigging to sailing ships.
|
|
7. red hot shot-- shot heated before firing. Used to start fires on
|
|
ships.
|
|
|
|
For shell:
|
|
1. standard shell-- hollow iron projectile filled with explosive
|
|
2. shrapnel shell-- hollow iron projectile filled with explosive and
|
|
with small solid shot which scattered upon explosion. The
|
|
spherical version of this was called "spherical case" or simply
|
|
"case." The term "case" was also used for the name of the class of
|
|
rounds which scattered small shot, thus canister, grape, and
|
|
spherical case were all classified together as "case shot."
|
|
(confusing, isn't it?)
|
|
Shell was fitted with either a timed fuse (which ignited the charge
|
|
after some fixed delay) or a percussion fuse (which ignited the
|
|
charge upon impact).
|
|
|
|
Standard solid shot and standard shell were primarily for destruction
|
|
of materiel (viz. fortifications or ships). Canister, grape, quilted
|
|
shot and shrapnel were used against personnel. However, there were
|
|
also varieties of (non-shrapnel) shell designed for use against
|
|
personnel (the hollow was shaped so the shell would split into a
|
|
relatively few large pieces about the size of small shot).
|
|
|
|
Part 3: The end of the War
|
|
Q3.1: When did the war end?
|
|
9 April 1865, Gen. R.E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern
|
|
Virginia at Appomattox Courthouse, VA
|
|
26 April 1865, Gen. J.E. Johnston surrendered the Army of
|
|
Tennessee et al. at Greensboro, NC
|
|
4 May 1865, Gen. Richard Taylor surrendered Dept. of Alabama,
|
|
Mississippi, and Eastern Louisiana at Citronelle, AL
|
|
13 May 1865, engagement at Palmito Ranch, near Brownsville, TX,
|
|
often taken to be the last engagement of the war
|
|
2 June 1865, Gen. E.K. Smith surrendered the Trans-Mississippi
|
|
Department at Galveston, TX
|
|
23 June 1865, Brig. Gen. Stand Watie's troops in the Indian
|
|
Territory surrendered at Doaksville. Watie was the last
|
|
general to surrender his troops.
|
|
13 June 1865, Pres. Johnson proclaimed the insurrection in Tennessee
|
|
at an end. (Messages and Papers of the Presidents, V, p3515)
|
|
2 Apr 1866, Pres. Johnson proclaimed the insurrection ended
|
|
in all the former Confederate States except Texas. This was
|
|
his recognition of the legitimacy of the governments formed
|
|
under his Reconstruction proclamation. (Mess. & Pap. V, p3627)
|
|
20 Aug 1866, Pres. Johnson proclaimed that Texas had complied with
|
|
the conditions of his Reconstruction proclamation and declared
|
|
the insurrection in Texas at an end. (Mess. & Pap. V, p3632)
|
|
Q3.2: If the rebel states were never considered legally out of the
|
|
Union, how was Reconstruction justified?
|
|
Although the states remained part of the U.S., they had no
|
|
loyal governments, and the authority for the federal government
|
|
to provide mechanisms to erect loyal state governments was derived
|
|
from Article IV, Sec. 4 of the Constitution. That section provides
|
|
that the United States shall guarantee to each state a republican
|
|
form of government.
|
|
Another provision of the Constitution which is important was
|
|
Article I, Sec. 5 which provides that each House of Congress shall
|
|
be the judge of the qualifications of its members. This allowed
|
|
the Congress to refuse to seat delegations from former rebel states
|
|
until the states had met the conditions of the Reconstruction Acts.
|
|
The authoritative constitutional justification for reconstruction
|
|
can be found in the Supreme Court's decision in Texas v. White
|
|
(74 U.S. 227-243) delivered 12 Apr 1869.
|
|
|
|
Part 4: Miscellaneous
|
|
Q4.1: My ancestor fought in the war, how do I find out about his service?
|
|
First, here are two good reference books that contain much more
|
|
information than can be given in this FAQ:
|
|
George K. Schweitzer, Civil War Genealogy,
|
|
available from: G.K. Schweitzer, 7914 Gleason C-1136,
|
|
Knoxville, TN 37919
|
|
B.H. Groene, Tracing Your Civil War Ancestor
|
|
ISBN 0-345-36192-X
|
|
An additional reference dealing in Confederate records is
|
|
James C. Neagles, Confederate Research Sources: A Guide to
|
|
Archive Collections (ISBN 0-916489-11-6, Ancestry Publications,
|
|
P.O. Box 476, Salt Lake City, UT 84110)
|
|
|
|
The basic information on your ancestor that you will need to know
|
|
is his state, regiment, and (if possible) company, for example:
|
|
Levi Lindsey Sanders, 6th Texas Cavalry (CSA), Company I. If you don't
|
|
know the regiment name, you can often find it in 19th century county
|
|
histories for the county your ancestor lived in. Also be careful
|
|
with Confederate regiments; they were frequently referred to by
|
|
the commander's name when they in fact had a numerical designation,
|
|
for example: 2nd Texas Partisan Rangers a.k.a. Stone's Regiment
|
|
a.k.a. Chisum's Regiment. There are frequently indexes listing all
|
|
the soldiers from a state which were published in the 19th century
|
|
as well (this is almost without exception for the Union states, more
|
|
rare for the Confederate states). The National Archives has published
|
|
a Consolidated Index to Compiled Confederate Service Records on
|
|
microfilm which is available in many large historical libraries (the
|
|
service records themselves are also frequently on microfilm at the
|
|
library). A useful bibliography of regimental and state histories
|
|
is C.E. Dornbusch, Military Bibliography of the Civil War (4 vols).
|
|
|
|
Assuming that you have the above information, you can obtain copies
|
|
of your ancestor's service records by writing to the National
|
|
Archives. Write to:
|
|
Reference Services Branch (NNIR),
|
|
National Archives and Records Service,
|
|
8th and Pennsylvania Ave, NW,
|
|
Washington, DC 20408
|
|
and request NATF Form 80. You may wish to request 3 or more copies,
|
|
especially if you are researching a Union veteran or multiple veterans.
|
|
When you have the forms, fill one out as completely as possible and
|
|
check "military service" (Schweitzer recommends that you write in red
|
|
ink next to the veteran's name "Please send complete contents of
|
|
files.") If your ancestor fought for the Union, he may have a pension
|
|
file; you may fill out a second Form 80 and check "pension record"
|
|
(again Schweitzer recommends requesting the entire contents of the
|
|
file). (The National Archives will not have pension records for
|
|
Confederate veterans, but some former Confederate state did give
|
|
pensions and their archives may have the records, details can be
|
|
found in the above references especially Neagles.) Some weeks later,
|
|
the Archives will send you a letter indicating what they have located
|
|
and how much it will cost to copy it.
|
|
|
|
Q4.2: What is the "Stars and Bars"?
|
|
The "Stars and Bars" IS NOT the familiar "rebel" flag one
|
|
sees adorning license plates and carried by the KKK-- that
|
|
is the CS Naval Jack, based on the CS battle flag.
|
|
The Stars and Bars design was approved by a committee
|
|
of the Provisional Congress on 4 Mar 1861, but was never made
|
|
official by law. The bottom red stripe ran the entire length
|
|
of the flag and was 6 units long and 1 unit wide. Above it,
|
|
and to the left was a blue square, 2 units on a side. In the
|
|
blue square, a circle of stars (one for each state, initially
|
|
seven, to represent the original seven Confederate States,
|
|
eventually thirteen). To the right of the square, two stripes,
|
|
white below, red above, each 1 unit wide and 4 units long.
|
|
The Stars and Bars' similarity to the U.S. flag caused
|
|
problems of mistaken identity at 1st Bull Run/Manassas, so a
|
|
battle flag for the Army of Northern Virginia was designed.
|
|
It was blue saltire ("X" shape) on a red SQUARE field. On the
|
|
saltire was placed stars equal to the number of Confederate
|
|
States (in principle, eleven at the time of the initial design,
|
|
but up to thirteen by the end of 1862). This flag design was
|
|
soon picked up by the other armies and branches of service. The
|
|
CS Navy flew an oblong version as a Naval Jack which is identical
|
|
to the oblong "rebel" flags seen today.
|
|
By a law approved 1 May 1863, a new national flag was
|
|
adopted by the Confederate States-- the "Stainless Banner".
|
|
It was a field of white twice as long as wide, in the upper
|
|
left was the battle flag (square) with a side two-thirds the
|
|
width of the field. This flag had the drawback that when
|
|
partially wrapped around the flagstaff, the non-white part
|
|
was covered. This made it look like a white flag of surrender.
|
|
Furthermore, its length to width ratio of 2 to 1 made it an
|
|
unusually long flag which exacerbated the problem.
|
|
A law approved 4 Mar 1865, modified the "Stainless Banner"
|
|
to correct its problems. The revised flag was 10 units wide and
|
|
15 units long. In the upper left was an oblong battle flag 6
|
|
units wide and 7 units long. The field was white, as before,
|
|
except on the fly end there was a vertical red bar 4 units wide.
|
|
The above dimensions, in terms of units, are derived from the
|
|
much more convoluted description given by the flag act. This
|
|
flag was the last national flag of the Confederacy.
|
|
|
|
Q4.3: What changes to the U.S. flag occurred during the war?
|
|
The admission of two states affected the U.S. flag during the
|
|
war. By the Flag Act of 1818, a new star was added on the 4 July
|
|
following the admission of a state. Stars were added on 4 July
|
|
1861 for Kansas (admitted 29 Jan 1861, the 34th state) and
|
|
on 4 July 1863 for West Virginia (admitted 20 June 1863, the 35th
|
|
state). Nevada, the 36th state, was admitted during the war
|
|
on 31 Oct 1864, so its star was added 4 July 1865 after
|
|
hostilities were over (more or less, see Q3.1).
|
|
|
|
Q4.4: How was the state of West Virginia created?
|
|
The Va Secession Convention passed an ordinance of secession
|
|
(to be ratified by the people) about 17 Apr 1861. A mass meeting
|
|
was held in Clarksburg and called for a Convention of western/unionist
|
|
counties to meet in Wheeling. The 1st Wheeling Convention met
|
|
13 May 1861 with 425 delegates from 25 counties, it decided to
|
|
adjourn until after the vote on the secession ordinance. The
|
|
ordinance of secession was ratified by popular vote on 23 May 1861
|
|
at which time new legislators were also elected.
|
|
The 2nd Wheeling convention met 11 June 1861 and included the
|
|
western counties' members-elect to the VA legis. On 19 June, the
|
|
convention passed an ordinance "reorganizing" the state government
|
|
(creating a "loyal" one), and on 20 June, Francis Pierpont was chosen
|
|
governor. On 1 July 1861, the members of the legislature elected on
|
|
23 May and some holdovers from the old legislature met, finished the
|
|
organization of the Reorganized state govt., and elected 2 U.S.
|
|
Senators-- this government was recognized as legitimate by the U.S.
|
|
On 6 Aug, the Wheeling convention reconvened, and on 20 Aug 1861
|
|
passed an ordinance to divide the state. The division ordinance was
|
|
ratified by the people on 24 Oct. From 26 Nov 1861 to 18 Feb 1862,
|
|
the convention wrote a constitution for the proposed new state which
|
|
was approved by the voters on 11 Apr 1862. Lincoln signed the
|
|
enabling act on 31 Dec 1862 which admitted W.VA on the condition that
|
|
its constitution include a provision for the gradual abolition of
|
|
slavery.
|
|
The Convention reconvened yet again, and amended the state
|
|
constitution to abolish slavery on 12 Feb 1863. This amendment was
|
|
approved by the voters on 26 Mar 1863. Lincoln proclaimed (on 20
|
|
Apr 1863) that W.Va would officially be admitted in 60 days. During
|
|
the interval, W VA elected new officers-- A.I. Boreman was elected 1st
|
|
governor, and VA unionist government under Gov. Pierpont was moved to
|
|
Alexandria. On 20 June 1863, West Virginia was officially admitted
|
|
to the Union.
|
|
In 1866, Virginia repealed the act approving the division, and
|
|
brought suit in the U.S. Sup. Crt. to have the division overturned.
|
|
In particular, it wanted Berkeley and Jefferson Cos. returned.
|
|
On 10 Mar 1866, Congress passed a joint resolution approving the
|
|
previous transfer of the counties to W.Va. In 1871 the Supreme
|
|
Court decided in favor of W.Va., thus settling the matter of division.
|
|
|
|
Source: Virginia and West Virginia articles in Encyclopaedia
|
|
Britannica, 10th ed.
|
|
|
|
Q4.5: What war records did the post-war presidents have?
|
|
From: tecump@sulu.ucsb.edu (Dominic J. Dal bello)
|
|
Date: 23 Apr 93 17:11:42 GMT
|
|
|
|
OK, I have looked up what the presidents after Lincoln and up
|
|
to McKinley did in the war (from _The Complete Book of US
|
|
Presidents or something like that.
|
|
|
|
ANDREW JOHNSON: In March, 1862, President Lincoln appointed
|
|
Johnson military governor of Tennessee with the rank of brigadier
|
|
general.
|
|
|
|
ULYSSES GRANT: No intro necessary (lieut. general)
|
|
|
|
RUTHERFORD B. HAYES: served with the 23d Ohio Infantry from
|
|
June, 1861, entering service as a major. October '61: promoted
|
|
to lt. colonel; Oct. '62 promoted to colonel, commanding the 23d.
|
|
After Cedar Creek (Oct. '64), promoted to brigadier general of vols.
|
|
Received one of the infinitely many brevets dated March 13, 1865
|
|
to major general, vols. Resigned June, 1865.
|
|
|
|
JAMES GARFIELD: Commissioned a lt. col in the 42nd Ohio,
|
|
Aug. 1861, and promoted to Col. in November, '61. Commanded the
|
|
18th Brig. at Middle Creek, Jan. '62, defeating superior numbers,
|
|
and was subsequently promoted to brigadier general. January, 1863--
|
|
appointed Chief of Staff to Rosecrans, "In a daring ride under
|
|
enemy fire, during which his horse was wounded, he conveyed vital
|
|
information from flank to flank. For this he was promoted to major
|
|
general." Rosecrans said of him: "I feel much indebted to him for
|
|
both counsel and assistance in the administration of this army...He
|
|
possesses the instinct and energy of a great commander." Elected to
|
|
Congress in Sept., 1863 Garfield resigned in Dec., 1863.
|
|
|
|
CHESTER A. ARTHUR: Served in New York State militia from Feb. '58
|
|
to Dec. '62, rising from brigade judge advocate to quartermaster
|
|
genl. In Jan, '61, appointed engineer-in-chief with rank of
|
|
brigadier general. Apr, '61, promote asst. QM genl; Feb '62 inspect.
|
|
genl; July `62, QM general. Spring `62 inspected NY troops in
|
|
Virginia. War Gov. Edwin D Morgan said: "He was my chief reliance
|
|
in the duties of equipping and transporting troops and munitions of
|
|
war. In the position of Quarter Master General he displayed not
|
|
only great executive ability and unbending integrity, but great
|
|
knowledge of Army Regulations. He can say No (which is important)
|
|
without giving offense."
|
|
|
|
GROVER CLEVELAND: Drafted, but purchased a substitute. Paid $150
|
|
to George Brinske (or Benninsky), a 32-year-old Polish immigrant
|
|
to serve in his place.
|
|
|
|
BENJAMIN HARRISON: 17th Indiana Infantry, starting as a 2nd Lt in
|
|
July, 1862. Eventually rose to brigadier general. "I am not a
|
|
Julius Caesar, nor a Napoleon, but a plain Hoosier colonel, with no
|
|
more relish for a fight than for a good breakfast and hardly so
|
|
much." Commanded a brigade under Hooker in the Atlanta campaign.
|
|
Hooker recommended him for promotion to brigadier general for
|
|
foresight, discipline and fighting spirit.
|
|
|
|
WILLIAM McKINLEY: 23d Ohio Infantry from June 61 to July '65,
|
|
starting out as a private. April '62 commissary sergeant; for
|
|
valor at Antietam (in getting rations to the men) promoted to 2nd
|
|
Lt. commd'g Co. D, but put on Col. Rutherford Hayes' staff. Feb 63,
|
|
promoted 1st Lt.; July 64, promoted captain. Served on staffs of
|
|
George Crook and Winfield S Hancock. March, 1865, breveted major.
|
|
In uniform, cast his first vote in 1864 (for Lincoln). Hayes said
|
|
of him: "Young as he was, we soon found that in the business of a
|
|
soldier, requiring much executive ability, young McKinley showed
|
|
unusual and unsurpassed capacity, especially for a boy of his age.
|
|
When battles were fought or service was to be performed in warlike
|
|
things, he always filled his place."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Q4.6: What are the various alternate names for the war?
|
|
From: pdunn@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Patrick L Dunn)
|
|
|
|
>From Davis, B. (1982). -The Civil War: Strange and Fascinating Facts
|
|
(Originally published as "Our Incredible Civil War). ISBN 0-517-37151-0
|
|
Chapter 13. Which War?
|
|
pp. 79-80.
|
|
|
|
The War for Constitutional Liberty
|
|
The War for Southern Independence
|
|
The Second American Revolution
|
|
The War for States' Rights
|
|
Mr. Linclon's War
|
|
The Southern Rebellion
|
|
The War for Southern Rights
|
|
The War of the Southern Planters
|
|
The War of the Rebellion
|
|
The Second War for Independence
|
|
The War to Suppress Yankee Arrogance
|
|
The Brothers' War
|
|
The War of Secession
|
|
The Great Rebellion
|
|
The War for Nationality
|
|
The War for Southern Nationality
|
|
The War Against Slavery
|
|
The Civil War Between the States
|
|
The War of the Sixties
|
|
The War Against Northern Aggression
|
|
The Yankee Invasion
|
|
The War for Separation
|
|
The War for Abolition
|
|
The War for the Union
|
|
The Confederate War
|
|
The War of the Southrons
|
|
The War for Southern Freedom
|
|
The War of the North and South
|
|
The Lost Cause
|
|
The War Between the States
|
|
The Late Unpleasantness
|
|
The Late Friction
|
|
The Late Ruction
|
|
The Schism
|
|
The Uncivil War
|
|
|
|
and of course....
|
|
THE War, "as if the planet had not heard a shot fired in anger
|
|
since '65."
|
|
|
|
*Q4.7: What is a good Civil War game for a PC?
|
|
From: pdunn@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Patrick L Dunn)
|
|
|
|
The best one out there, according to the general .net opinion over
|
|
the last few months (and I agree), is "No Greater Glory," from
|
|
Strategic Simulations, Inc. Costs about $60.00; tons of fun.
|
|
*
|
|
* **** This game is now out of print. Contacts with the publisher
|
|
* **** indicate that there are no plans to make any more.
|
|
* **** This entry will be removed from future versions of this FAQ
|
|
* **** unless some other game is recommeded.
|
|
|
|
Q4.8: What are good books on the war?
|
|
Steve Schmidt (whale@leland.Stanford.EDU) has compiled a recommended
|
|
reading list which will be posted periodically as a supplement to
|
|
this FAQ.
|
|
|
|
Q4.9: How can I get the soundtrack to Ken Burn's "Civil War"?
|
|
From Wayne J. Warf (WWARF@ucs.indiana.edu):
|
|
|
|
<Original Soundtrack Recording> The Civil War <A Film by Ken Burns>
|
|
Elektra Nonesuch #9 79256-2 copyright 1990
|
|
ISBN# 0-681-92609-0
|
|
|
|
Songs of the Civil War
|
|
Produced by Ken Burns and Don DeVito
|
|
Columbia #CK 48607
|
|
Copyright 1991 by Sony Music Entertainment
|
|
no ISBN# listed
|
|
|
|
End of alt.war.civil.usa FAQ
|
|
--
|
|
Justin M. Sanders "Nothing is more unfamiliar or
|
|
Research Associate uncongenial to the human mind than
|
|
Physics Division, ORNL thinking correctly about probabilities."
|
|
jsanders@orph01.phy.ornl.gov --S.J. Gould, "Eight Little Piggies"
|