Rear Echelon Troops

[custersluck13]

I am familiar with the differences between the ways the North and South took in new recruits, raised units, etc. Here is my question. Where did the teamsters, supply people, admin, etc. com from? Did the North simply use regulars to fill such billets? The South, while I know it had a small force of regulars, where did their support troops come from? I was thinking many may have been combat unusable vets, such as the Invalid Corps, etc....Thanks, Leigh

[ole]

Can't specifically address your question, Leigh (by the way, welcome to the board), but as you will see, that doesn't stop me from weighing in.

Suspect that generally your supposition is correct; namely, both armies attempted to keep battle worthy troops on the front and used, as much as possible, those less fit for rear-echelon duty. The CSA did have an early advantage in that they could use slaves to drive wagons, herd livestock, and dig entrenchments.

As the Federal lines advanced into slave territory, slaves were, at first, hired. After the Emancipation Proclamation took effect, newly-freed blacks were hired. Then came the enlistments and the conscriptions. It didn't always happen, but the intention was to pay them.

I'd be hard put to place a number on the Greybeards and Invalid Battalions in the rear of Union Armies. And most certainly a lot of freedmen, but the addition of USCT and state colored regiments most certainly eased the pressure on rear-echelon troops to be front-line ready.

An interesting question, for which I'm thankful, and one that will surely draw more responses from those more knowledgeable than I.

Ole

[johan_steele]

Each company supplied a wagoneer/teamster... and whenever looking at rolls you will see many men on detached duty to the QM, Hospital, ordnance dept, provost, often to the artillery or even Navy etc. This was a common practice both North and South and it drove many Colonel's and higher to distraction. There was also of coarse the Invalid corps and other such that were generaly used as prison guards or to guard Railways etc.

I've read that a Regiment averaged 10% or so of it's strength detached in non combatant roles, add pickett, skirmisher or provost detachments etc and the number could quickly grow.

I cannot recall the Regiment off hand but at Gettysburg one Union Regiment was reduced to less than 300 effectives, not due to combat losses or even disease (though that was almost certainly a problem) but due to detachments.

A thorough pain in the behind for the average CO.

[Blockaderunner]

During the Spring and Summer of 1864, Lee spent a lot of time combing men out of non front line detachments. He was able to add several thousand men to the trenches around Petersburg. Although with the Confederate records being patchy, the exact number is not clear.

[gary]

Concur with Johan Steele. Both armies detailed men to serve as teamsters, hospital attendants, signal-corps, engineers, provost marshal, recruiters, body snatchers (dragging back deserters), clerical work (especially where the penmanship was excellent), etc.

[custersluck13]

Thanks for the replies. Its not a subject highly discussed. The same problem still exists today to some extent. I remember seeing nearly platoons off on TAD (Temporary Attached Duty) etc...I myself spent a year TAD working at the Generals building in Camp Lejuene, and later I did 3 years of recruiting duty, so I just started thinking on that...Now yes, I have read much of the use of slaves and former slaves, so I had almost forgotten about that. Thanks for all the responses.

[larry_cockerham]

Originally Posted by gary

Concur with Johan Steele. Both armies detailed men to serve as teamsters, hospital attendants, signal-corps, engineers, provost marshal, recruiters, body snatchers (dragging back deserters), clerical work (especially where the penmanship was excellent), etc.

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?

[johan_steele]

Both CS & US medical practices varied from place to place and by time frame. early war practice was to detail musicians to retreive wounded from the field w/ 1 surgeon per Regt... Reality of war quickly changed that. Became more of a case by case basis at first w/ numbers detailed to scour the field for wounded. At Gettysburg Hoods Division detailed at least 250 men from various regts to scour the field looking for wounded to take to hospital.

Details were also sent to scour the field for ammo, shoes etc from the dead & wounded... some times w/out anykind of organization or authorization. Both sides were sometimes lax in discipline in such regards.

At the same time robbing from the dead had a certain stigma... that was from pleasent.

At Iuka a German Sgt detailed himself & 4-5 men to take water to the wounded... and to probably liberate valuables from the dead. Took money & valuables but demanded letters & pics be left. He administered the Coup de gras to a man who had been gut shot and was dieing. One Regiment in line of battle could see it... **** near rioted demanding he be hung. Skirmishers who had been listening to the man beg for mercy for several hours vouched for him & prevented his hanging.

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?

[custersluck13]

In the case of the Confederate soldiers, I'd be a lot more leniant in reguards to "robbing" the dead...I think it was more of a case of resupplying themselfs, esp. in reguards to footwear, equipment and usable weapons. Afterall, for many, esp. in later years, it seems to be one of the main ways of equiping themselfs. Ugly but neccesary, I think.

[Paul L. Hulse]

[quote=johan_steele]Each company supplied a wagoneer/teamster... and whenever looking at rolls you will see many men on detached duty to the QM, Hospital, ordnance dept, provost, often to the artillery or even Navy etc. This was a common practice both North and South and it drove many Colonel's and higher to distraction. There was also of coarse the Invalid corps and other such that were generaly used as prison guards or to guard Railways etc.

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