100,000 army

[atlantis]

Early on when there were just 7 states in the confederacy a 100,000-man 1 year of service provisional army was established. Between Sumter and end of June, 4 more states joined. I don't see any adjustment in authorized strength until September what was going on?

 

[Dan Kohli]

Double checking census numbers, quota negotiations, and other similar sort of stuff would be like my guess.

 

[Mississippian1861]

There was also a limit on the number of military style arms available. Many companies raised in the summer of 1861 had to wait months to be organized into regiments due to the lack of arms.

 

[RedRover]

Early on when there were just 7 states in the confederacy a 100,000-man 1 year of service provisional army was established. Between Sumter and end of June, 4 more states joined. I don't see any adjustment in authorized strength until September what was going on?

Well, lets see.

The Southern Confederacy, formally organized at Montgomery in February, 1861, in a convention between the seven States of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas established a regular "Army of the Confederate States" to consist of some general and staff officers, and several regiments of infantry, artillery and cavalry (most of which were never recruited or organized). Initially for 10,000 regular troops, and expanded later to 50,000, but almost no recruits were forthcoming. Maybe ca. 900 all told.

Also from Feb. 28, 1861 the "Provisional Army of the Confederate States" which was to be composed of such State regularly enlisted troops or State volunteer troops in service, tendered to the Confederacy fully equipped and organized (which would thenceforth pay, feed, etc.)... in "such numbers as Jefferson Davis might require...

On March 6, 1861 the Confederate Congress provided for the organization of the Confederate Volunteer force, capped at 100,000 in actual service, for one-year enlistments...

The same day enacted the organization of the (regular) Army of the Confederate States, which was not fully organized in any numbers, other than officers. Jefferson Davis noting...

By the Battle of Fort Sumter, April 12, the Confederacy had levied about 36,900 Volunteers from the States. Immediately after, the Davis levied upon the States for another 32,000 volunteers.

By April 16, 1861 there were ca. 69,000 Volunteers enlisted in the Confederate service of the 100K cap, but not all were immediately called into active service, as there was a lack of arms, and means of support.

It might be simply noted that initially the Confederacy distinguished the "Provisional Army" troops, tendered by their States, from the "Volunteers" raised more directly for the Confederacy.

Even the CSA War Department was a little confounded upon the distinction as given in the laws. Without going into detail about the internal discussion on the subject, after the Conscription acts in the spring of 1862, it seems all of the non-regular Confederate troops were classed as in the Provisional Army, including the volunteers reorganized under the conscription acts, or those organized afterward.


From April 17 to June 8 Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina and Tennessee joined the Confederacy. Their standing forces were tendered to the Confederacy and incorporated into the Provisional Army of the CSA, and Volunteer units for the Confederacy subsequently organized in numbers, per a Confederate act of May 6, 1861 which removed the 100K cap on the volunteers, and allowed Davis to call for any number of volunteer troops...

...and a supplementary act on May 11 removed the necessity for the states' consent in the answer to Davis' calls for Volunteers upon the States. And volunteers could be received from non-Confederate States that the Confederacy approved (which had not yet seceded, etc.)...

On the 8th of May was passed an act to raise additional forces to serve during the war, empowering President Davis, in addition to the volunteer force already authorized (serving one year terms), to accept the services of volunteers who might offer themselves without regard to the place of enlistment, (in other words, from wherever they could be had) to serve for and during the war unless sooner discharged. Davis was to accept the volunteers so offering their service in individual companies. The company officers, who were to be elected by the men composing the company; and if accepted, the officers so elected should be commissioned by the president. Davis would then see these companies organized into battalions or regiments of infantry or artillery, or squadrons of cavalry. There was no significant number of long term enlistments immediately forthcoming.

On August 8, Davis was authorized to organized up to 400,000 volunteers under an act of that date...

An act of December 11, 1861 provided that all future enlistments into Confederate active service should be for three years or the war (the exception being troops enrolled for local defense or special service apparently). Also the means to convert the one-year volunteer units interested in reorganization to that longer term upon a reenlistment by their personnel.

From July, 1861 (the month of the battle of Manassas) to January, 1862 the Confederate army tripled in size.

Besides the one-year volunteers in active service, Acts passed in January, 1862 gave Davis authority to raise up to 100,000 three years troops by calls upon the States, including the number of troops already enlisted in long service. An act of January 29 allowed that where the states drafted Militia to fill their quotas for the 3-year or the war volunteers units, they were to serve that full period.
Under these acts on February 2 Davis called upon the states to mobilize fully six percent of the white population. The call embracing some 239,264 troops enlisted for the war.

By March, 1862 the number of 3 year troops organized was lagging, and the time running out on the one-year volunteers of 1861 that comprised two-thirds of all CS troops, and nearly the whole of the experienced and organized force.

Consequently on April 16, 1862 was passed the first conscription act, affecting all white men 18 to 35 years, not exempted, including the one-year volunteer soldiers. Allowed the one-year Volunteers to reorganize their units under the conscription act. Conscription later raised to 45 years, and then from 17 to 50. The States enacted conscription of their own for all 15 to 60 not embraced in the Confederate conscription. And numbers of men and boys outside of the customary military ages (18-45) served in the Provisional Army units.

 

[atlantis]

Well, lets see.

The Southern Confederacy, formally organized at Montgomery in February, 1861, in a convention between the seven States of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas established a regular "Army of the Confederate States" to consist of some general and staff officers, and several regiments of infantry, artillery and cavalry (most of which were never recruited or organized). Initially for 10,000 regular troops, and expanded later to 50,000, but almost no recruits were forthcoming. Maybe ca. 900 all told.

Also from Feb. 28, 1861 the "Provisional Army of the Confederate States" which was to be composed of such State regularly enlisted troops or State volunteer troops in service, tendered to the Confederacy fully equipped and organized (which would thenceforth pay, feed, etc.)... in "such numbers as Jefferson Davis might require...

View attachment 581451


On March 6, 1861 the Confederate Congress provided for the organization of the Confederate Volunteer force, capped at 100,000 in actual service, for one-year enlistments...

View attachment 581450

The same day enacted the organization of the (regular) Army of the Confederate States, which was not fully organized in any numbers, other than officers. Jefferson Davis noting...

View attachment 581461


By the Battle of Fort Sumter, April 12, the Confederacy had levied about 36,900 Volunteers from the States. Immediately after, the Davis levied upon the States for another 32,000 volunteers.

By April 16, 1861 there were ca. 69,000 Volunteers enlisted in the Confederate service of the 100K cap, but not all were immediately called into active service, as there was a lack of arms, and means of support.

It might be simply noted that initially the Confederacy distinguished the "Provisional Army" troops, tendered by their States, from the "Volunteers" raised more directly for the Confederacy.

View attachment 581453

Even the CSA War Department was a little confounded upon the distinction as given in the laws. Without going into detail about the internal discussion on the subject, after the Conscription acts in the spring of 1862, it seems all of the non-regular Confederate troops were classed as in the Provisional Army, including the volunteers reorganized under the conscription acts, or those organized afterward.


From April 17 to June 8 Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina and Tennessee joined the Confederacy. Their standing forces were tendered to the Confederacy and incorporated into the Provisional Army of the CSA, and Volunteer units for the Confederacy subsequently organized in numbers, per a Confederate act of May 6, 1861 which removed the 100K cap on the volunteers, and allowed Davis to call for any number of volunteer troops...

View attachment 581452

...and a supplementary act on May 11 removed the necessity for the states' consent in the answer to Davis' calls for Volunteers upon the States. And volunteers could be received from non-Confederate States that the Confederacy approved (which had not yet seceded, etc.)...

View attachment 581454


On the 8th of May was passed an act to raise additional forces to serve during the war, empowering President Davis, in addition to the volunteer force already authorized (serving one year terms), to accept the services of volunteers who might offer themselves without regard to the place of enlistment, (in other words, from wherever they could be had) to serve for and during the war unless sooner discharged. Davis was to accept the volunteers so offering their service in individual companies. The company officers, who were to be elected by the men composing the company; and if accepted, the officers so elected should be commissioned by the president. Davis would then see these companies organized into battalions or regiments of infantry or artillery, or squadrons of cavalry. There was no significant number of long term enlistments immediately forthcoming.

On August 8, Davis was authorized to organized up to 400,000 volunteers under an act of that date...

View attachment 581455


An act of December 11, 1861 provided that all future enlistments into Confederate active service should be for three years or the war (the exception being troops enrolled for local defense or special service apparently). Also the means to convert the one-year volunteer units interested in reorganization to that longer term upon a reenlistment by their personnel.

From July, 1861 (the month of the battle of Manassas) to January, 1862 the Confederate army tripled in size.

View attachment 581448

Besides the one-year volunteers in active service, Acts passed in January, 1862 gave Davis authority to raise up to 100,000 three years troops by calls upon the States, including the number of troops already enlisted in long service. An act of January 29 allowed that where the states drafted Militia to fill their quotas for the 3-year or the war volunteers units, they were to serve that full period.
Under these acts on February 2 Davis called upon the states to mobilize fully six percent of the white population. The call embracing some 239,264 troops enlisted for the war.

By March, 1862 the number of 3 year troops organized was lagging, and the time running out on the one-year volunteers of 1861 that comprised two-thirds of all CS troops, and nearly the whole of the experienced and organized force.

Consequently on April 16, 1862 was passed the first conscription act, affecting all white men 18 to 35 years, not exempted, including the one-year volunteer soldiers. Allowed the one-year Volunteers to reorganize their units under the conscription act. Conscription later raised to 45 years, and then from 17 to 50. The States enacted conscription of their own for all 15 to 60 not embraced in the Confederate conscription. And numbers of men and boys outside of the customary military ages (18-45) served in the Provisional Army units.

Thanks very much, I wonder how many guys who enlisted for the duration thought this will be over in no time.

 

[RedRover]

Thanks very much, I wonder how many guys who enlisted for the duration thought this will be over in no time.

That was the problem apparently. After the three years or the war enlistments were proffered later in 1861 it was hoped the one-year soldiers would reenlist just so without too much prodding. But they were not doing so in numbers, and it appeared the overwhelming majority of Confederate army units were about to disband after the end of April, 1862 with the close of their one year enlistments.

To keep the veterans and add to their number the conscription was resorted to in mid-April, declaring men soldiers without either enlistment, or recourse to militia laws, etc. Judge Peyton of Mississippi later noted that the conscription was when the people were convinced they were really in for it.

Anyways, regarding the headier times of the year before in 1861, a large part of even the one-year volunteers were already fed up with the war by the time the longer enlistments were proffered to them at the close of the year. As one veteran noted, they were done after Manassas...

Many were called out in early 1861 under the Militia laws of their States for the customary short periods of such corps (a few months) and then ordered to join the Confederate army...

Marion Harland recalled of an acquaintance who held a commission in a Militia unit, who found he would not be allowed to resign it... as his regimental commander had "volunteered" them into the CS Army...

I've seen a couple other similar accounts over the years. One, if I recall correctly, where a fellow says he and his neighbors were called out for a Militia muster, marched to a warehouse, entered, and were told they had just volunteered into the Confederate service. Though enlisted for a year, they were told the war couldn't last more than a few months, etc.

As Sam Watkins of the First Tennessee Volunteers noted in his "Company Aytch" book, the soldiers were looking forward to the end of their one year enlistment, and were "sick" of the war. The conscription kept them in service however.
The conscript acts certainly kept the Confederate army intact, and expanded it, despite their unpopularity. But many of the soldiers were not happy about it and beforehand were looking forward to going home, come what may of the Confederacy.

 

[atlantis]

That was the problem apparently. After the three years or the war enlistments were proffered later in 1861 it was hoped the one-year soldiers would reenlist just so without too much prodding. But they were not doing so in numbers, and it appeared the overwhelming majority of Confederate army units were about to disband after the end of April, 1862 with the close of their one year enlistments.

View attachment 581474

To keep the veterans and add to their number the conscription was resorted to in mid-April, declaring men soldiers without either enlistment, or recourse to militia laws, etc. Judge Peyton of Mississippi later noted that the conscription was when the people were convinced they were really in for it.

View attachment 581473


Anyways, regarding the headier times of the year before in 1861, a large part of even the one-year volunteers were already fed up with the war by the time the longer enlistments were proffered to them at the close of the year. As one veteran noted, they were done after Manassas...

View attachment 581471
View attachment 581472


Many were called out in early 1861 under the Militia laws of their States for the customary short periods of such corps (a few months) and then ordered to join the Confederate army...


View attachment 581476

Marion Harland recalled of an acquaintance who held a commission in a Militia unit, who found he would not be allowed to resign it... as his regimental commander had "volunteered" them into the CS Army...

View attachment 581477

I've seen a couple other similar accounts over the years. One, if I recall correctly, where a fellow says he and his neighbors were called out for a Militia muster, marched to a warehouse, entered, and were told they had just volunteered into the Confederate service. Though enlisted for a year, they were told the war couldn't last more than a few months, etc.

As Sam Watkins of the First Tennessee Volunteers noted in his "Company Aytch" book, the soldiers were looking forward to the end of their one year enlistment, and were "sick" of the war. The conscription kept them in service however.
The conscript acts certainly kept the Confederate army intact, and expanded it, despite their unpopularity. But many of the soldiers were not happy about it and beforehand were looking forward to going home, come what may of the Confederacy.

View attachment 581475

I think cs congress panicked and should have let things play out instead of enacting the conscription.

 

[RedRover]

I think cs congress panicked and should have let things play out instead of enacting the conscription.

That's probably a good way to put it.

Confederate VP Alexander Stephens suggested later that Jefferson Davis accepted the conscription act as enacted, as at least it gave him more authority over the appointment of officers, and presumed that positive might outweigh the more controversial qualities. Once in place, Davis of course defended it to the extent he could, while laboring some to reduce its most vicious effects.

Lt. Col. Charles Marshall (a lawyer) of General Lee's staff (Lee then serving at Richmond in the Confederate inner circle) later stated he had been charged by his chief with writing up the best provisions that would levy troops to the benefit the Confederate Army in the emergency. He noted that it was shortly rather distressing to find that the Congress' "conscription" act had adopted almost none of the recommendations; as the conscription acts were as much about exemptions as otherwise. General Lee himself complained later of the conscription's failure to keep up the strength of the army; and begged for some other measures; as large numbers of troops were employed to enforce it, etc.

Col. Marshall observed that it was attempting a political solution to a military problem: with the Confederate congressmen putting all their eggs in the basket of Northern political disorders or European intervention:

....

Among the political measures of the conscription act, relative to the army itself, was the palliation of the conscripted Volunteer troops, that they might reorganize their units, and vote out their officers, and elect new ones (generally not disciplinarians). Marshall observed later...

Marshall opined...

 

[atlantis]

That's probably a good way to put it.

Confederate VP Alexander Stephens suggested later that Jefferson Davis accepted the conscription act as enacted, as at least it gave him more authority over the appointment of officers, and presumed that positive might outweigh the more controversial qualities. Once in place, Davis of course defended it to the extent he could, while laboring some to reduce its most vicious effects.

Lt. Col. Charles Marshall (a lawyer) of General Lee's staff (Lee then serving at Richmond in the Confederate inner circle) later stated he had been charged by his chief with writing up the best provisions that would levy troops to the benefit the Confederate Army in the emergency. He noted that it was shortly rather distressing to find that the Congress' "conscription" act had adopted almost none of the recommendations; as the conscription acts were as much about exemptions as otherwise. General Lee himself complained later of the conscription's failure to keep up the strength of the army; and begged for some other measures; as large numbers of troops were employed to enforce it, etc.

Col. Marshall observed that it was attempting a political solution to a military problem: with the Confederate congressmen putting all their eggs in the basket of Northern political disorders or European intervention:

View attachment 581479
....
View attachment 581482


Among the political measures of the conscription act, relative to the army itself, was the palliation of the conscripted Volunteer troops, that they might reorganize their units, and vote out their officers, and elect new ones (generally not disciplinarians). Marshall observed later...

View attachment 581480
View attachment 581481

Marshall opined...

View attachment 581483

Marshall nails it IMHO.