Civilians

[William G Hendry]

The civilians that fought in the civil war for one side or the other, how did the armies know what side the were on with out any uniforms, when they got in a rough spot they could switch sides .

 

[AndyHall]

I don't think many civilians actively took up arms in the conflict; that's a real good way to get yourself hanged on the spot.

 

[William G Hendry]

I,am a Canadian and did not know that thanks Andy.

 

[Rebforever]

Only one I know for sure was the old man at Gettysburg who fought for the Union. Can't recall his name.

 

[leftyhunter]

The civilians that fought in the civil war for one side or the other, how did the armies know what side the were on with out any uniforms, when they got in a rough spot they could switch sides .

There were quite a few milita and homeguard units and they didn't wear uniforms. Their are many guerrillas and freelance bandits in Union and Confederate territory. Confederate guerrillas often wore Union uniforms.
Their were Unionist milita in Confederate territory and they look and sound just like Confederate guerrillas.
In other words it's not easy to know who's who for soldiers on either side. It's one big mess.
Leftyhunter

 

[leftyhunter]

I don't think many civilians actively took up arms in the conflict; that's a real good way to get yourself hanged on the spot.

James Erwin the author of "Guerrilla Hunters Civil War Missouri" The history press estimates at least 25k milita in Missouri alone. Richard Current "Lincoln's Loyalists Union soldiers from the Confederacy" North Eastern University Press estimates at least 15k Union milita in Tennessee. Many states had militias and more then a few fired their muskets in anger. From time to time militias on both time did fire on conventional troops. Most often they fought guerrillas snd bandits.
Leftyhunter

 

[BillO]

James Erwin the author of "Guerrilla Hunters Civil War Missouri" The history press estimates at least 25k milita in Missouri alone. Richard Current "Lincoln's Loyalists Union soldiers from the Confederacy" North Eastern University Press estimates at least 15k Union milita in Tennessee. Many states had militias and more then a few fired their muskets in anger. From time to time militias on both time did fire on conventional troops. Most often they fought guerrillas snd bandits.
Leftyhunter

Didn't most of the yankee militia get uniform issues?

 

[Tom Elmore]

Only one I know for sure was the old man at Gettysburg who fought for the Union. Can't recall his name.

Actually there were several civilians who joined the armies during the Gettysburg campaign, among them:

John Burns, who became famous, supplied his own gun and was allowed to fight in the Union ranks; wounded.
J. F. McKenrick, a young Pennsylvania lad, was allowed to serve with the medical staff in Confederate ranks, no gun.
Charles Francis Wheatley, was accepted into the Union ranks (12 Mass.) and supplied with a gun; wounded.
Unidentified, man of African descent, who joined during the battle and fought within the Union ranks (5 Ohio).
Unidentified, older man, joined Lang's Florida brigade, Confederate, on the march, but dropped out after one day.

Civilian volunteers seem to have had little trouble convincing their military brethren of their sincerity; I suppose the fact that they were willing to risk death on the battlefield was considered sufficient proof of their loyalty.

In addition, a few civilians were officially enrolled in the Confederate army as it marched northward through Maryland.

 

[AndyHall]

James Erwin the author of "Guerrilla Hunters Civil War Missouri" The history press estimates at least 25k milita in Missouri alone. Richard Current "Lincoln's Loyalists Union soldiers from the Confederacy" North Eastern University Press estimates at least 15k Union milita in Tennessee. Many states had militias and more then a few fired their muskets in anger. From time to time militias on both time did fire on conventional troops. Most often they fought guerrillas snd bandits.
Leftyhunter

OK, although I didn't think of organized militia units as falling under the category of civilians.

 

[leftyhunter]

Didn't most of the yankee militia get uniform issues?

Not necessarily. They weren't paid and their was many informal Unionist homeguards deep inside Confederate territory. I have quotes about them in previous threads about the militas and home guards. There where various informal homeguards in Ohio and Indiana that fought against Morgan's Raiders.
My main point is that during the Civil War their are quite a few non uniformed civilians with various fire types of fire arms running around taking shots at all kinds of people.
Leftyhunter

 

[leftyhunter]

The civilians that fought in the civil war for one side or the other, how did the armies know what side the were on with out any uniforms, when they got in a rough spot they could switch sides .

Civilian milita in Missouri would wear various arm bands to show that they were not Confederate guerrillas. Not a great strategy because Confederate guerrillas would copy their armbands. Both guerrillas and counterinsurgency forces would disguise themselves to look like the other not just in Missouri.
In reality it's very hard in the Civil War to know which side an armed civilian is on.
Leftyhunter

 

[leftyhunter]

I don't think many civilians actively took up arms in the conflict; that's a real good way to get yourself hanged on the spot.

Didn't most of the yankee militia get uniform issues?

"On July 22,1862, the new commander in Missouri , Major General John M. Scofield issued General Order #19 instructing all men of military age to enlist in a new force the Enrolled Missouri Militia(EMM ) intended to relieve the MSM and U.S. Volunteers of garrison duty,mail escort and other simple work" Stiles then points out that disloyal men could pay a $10 commutation tax.
"Clay County's Unionists rapidly filled four EMM companies :across Missouri , more then fifty two thousand men enlisted. They joined an admittedly ad hoc force. They served only as needed, received little or no training, wore their own cloths on duty and elected their own officers."
"He ( Lt. Robert Fleming who led EMM) often disguised his men as guerrillas when he sent them to a farmhouses; they always received a warm welcome and a hot meal before they identified themselves and arrested the occupants".
"Jesse James Last Rebel of the Civil war" T.J. Stiles p. 83-84 Vintage Books a division of Random House Inc
Leftyhunter

 

[leftyhunter]

Didn't most of the yankee militia get uniform issues?

The civilians that fought in the civil war for one side or the other, how did the armies know what side the were on with out any uniforms, when they got in a rough spot they could switch sides .

On p. 80 of "Guerrilla Hunters in Civil War Missouri " James Erwin The History Press Their is a picture from Oct 1864 of EMM guarding a blockhouse. They wear various forms of civilian dress and are wearing white arm and or head bands to distinguish themselves from CSA guerrillas.
Leftyhunter

 

[leftyhunter]

The civilians that fought in the civil war for one side or the other, how did the armies know what side the were on with out any uniforms, when they got in a rough spot they could switch sides .

Interestingly enough even in modern 21st century counterinsurgency wars the same problem remains. Their are groups of armed civilians wearing no uniforms or partial uniforms or full uniforms but are not officially part of their nations armed forces. So the problem of identification remains to this very day. Who is fighting for who and how to tell them apart? Just because they are wearing a uniform may or may not mean anything. The Paw Paw militia of Missouri turned their guns on the Union. At least two Confederate regiments turned their guns on the Confederacy. Numerous Confederate soldiers defected and or became guerrillas or bandits. Troopers of the 2nd Colorado who disguised themselves as guerrillas once shot at each other.
Leftyhunter

 

[bankerpapaw]

Only one I know for sure was the old man at Gettysburg who fought for the Union. Can't recall his name.

John Burns.