Rear Echelon Troops

[johan_steele]

I suspect PM = Post Master (typically Brigade or Division level). THough the one I can recall was listed as detached w/ mail beside the name. As to Provost I have usually seen on rolls is abrevieted PG (Provost Guard) hence where the modern term "pig" referencing police comes from. Though I seem to remember an officer detached as a PM referencing Provost Marshall. I have seem PM abrevieted to mean "pioneer master" as a skilled artisan in charge of a pioneer detail of some sort. And again I recall PM used to describe "procuring materials" for a man sent off post to a nearby town to purchase items needed at a fort.

The PM could stand for quite a few things but usually the officer made a notation on the roll (or one of the rolls) to define any abreviations. What throws me is the term off duty... I can only recall seeing that in conjunction w/ furlough or leaves.

As an example "Off duty as FG" threw me off for quite a while, couple year IIRC, until I discovered what a furlough guard was.

Keep in mind if you can view the original document (or a copy) you can often discover far more by looking at it in context. To make matters even more entertaining it was not usually profesional soldiers doing the paperwork. Many of the rolls I have seen were obviously quickly and carelessly done and the format copied from a book instead of using any kind of standard form... even then rolls were not always standardized and I know the same is true for abreviations. I've seen an obviously bloodstained roll... taken the morning after a rather sharp fight where the officer signing had been badly wounded. That put shivers down my spine.

Most states have very complete copies or original rolls available in the historical societies. I've looked through some of those in Illinois, Iowa, Minesota, Wisconsin and some from Indiana. It might be worth a visit to the State hysterical society from which your ancestors Regt served.

Originally Posted by Paul L. Hulse

Shane: About 5 years ago I sent off and received my G-G Grandfather's military records from the National Archives. There is one thing in there that I can not find out what it means. He was listed "Off Duty as PM" in January 1862. He was at that time a First Sergeant. I am retired Army and know that senior NCO's sometime fill in for Officers when needed. This PM baffles me and I have asked several people of all walks of life without results. Does PM stand for Provost Marshall or Post Master or some other duty I don't know about?

Paul

[Paul L. Hulse]

Shane: That was supposed to be On Duty not Off Duty; my fault for not proof reading. I'll go along with Post Master--he was an English Scholar.

Paul

[larry_cockerham]

My gg grandfather became post master for about three years in 1870. He was marginally literate! Politics and availability seemed to have been a factor with those jobs.

[custersluck13]

I recently finished a very good book. "The Orphan Brigade" by William C. Davis...as I used to reenact with a KY (CSA) unit, I still collect as much material on this amazing unit as I can. In the case of Johnny Jackman, whose autobiography I also have, he seems to have spent the war detailed as a orderly, due to a combination of factors. not the least being he was a very literate man. From what I can glean since my original posting here, it seems most of these details were assigned pretty much the way they still are. Alot of guys, for one reason or another, not deemed usable or essential to a combat unit, are detailed out for this and that. Doesnt look like there were "full time" support and service personel as far as I can tell.

[gary]

Originally Posted by larry_cockerham

Can you shed any additional light on the set up (organization?) of Confederate medical support troops? Was it a regimental thing? What happened at major battles? You mention 'hospital attendants'. Were there actual hospitals pre-existing as such before the war or are we talking about commandeered large buildings hastily organized?? Certainly folks of all origins and skills must have been involved with that effort? I assume wounded from the major battles from the Confederacy must have received some less than priority care from Union medical sites?

Larry, I've read Confederate muster cards with entries reading "Absent," and followed with "detached as teamster" or something to the extent of "hospital attendant." As for hospitals, some like Chimborazo were set up by the gubmint. You can read Alexander Hunter's book, Johnny Reb and Billy Yank, for his description of Confederate hospitals. As a recovering patient, Hunter even performed surgeries (amputations) when the surgeons were too exhausted.

Now, as to the treatment of Confederates, I believe Union surgeons treated theirs first and then tended to the Confederates. The care didn't change (it was barbaric by today's standards anyhow), but the priority was ours first, yours later. Of course, being a Mason probably helped too.