After the battle

[debwallsmith]

I'm interested in how the Union army accounted for the missing/dead after a battle? Was there a process that was used? How were the dead identified? Are there publications on this topic?

 

[The Ninth Ohio]

And what if they were all killed or wounded? A company would be about 50 men - 'about' because they did not always operate at thet strength. Disease and injuries would always remove a few, sometimes a lot. What you said would apply to a unit before their first action - after that, they would be moved around, added to to bring it up to strength.
Some may not have been able to recall names - or didn't want to - battle fatigue/ADHD. It would bring back too many memories for that 'Band of Brothers'. It was the job of the First Sergeant to call the roll. All sergeants were often less than a 'brother' and more a 'father', otherwise they would not keep their stripes.
Any soldier who has seen action would tell you that, but most keep their mouths shut for that very reason. Memories.

Have you ever actually looked at morning reports, muster rolls, and other administrative forms from companies and regiments that served in the Civil War? Because what you're describing suggests you have not, and is a completely modern understanding of how the army was run.

They didn't just jumble people up. The company was the administrative unit, and those that were recruited into Company N generally remained in Company N unless there were outlying circumstances. Some could be transferred, yes, or assigned to other duties, but that was always noted, and you generally returned back to your company after your duty was up. And companies on detached service generally returned to their regiment after that service was up. Companies were generally only "added to" when an officer from the regiment went on recruiting duty.

And sure, the manuals say the companies are to be evened out, but the manuals say a lot of things. I'm still waiting for someone to provide some firsthand accounts of that actually being done.

But I suggest you spend some time looking over some of the administrative paperwork from the period. For every single one of the regiments I've researched—and I've probably gone through tens of thousands of pages by now—the names in the companies stay largely the same over time. Not saying it doesn't happen, but those cases are very rare in my experience.

 

[debwallsmith]

An additional kinda related question: Is it possible that some of POWs could have been listed as deserters?

 

[huskerblitz]

An additional kinda related question: Is it possible that some of POWs could have been listed as deserters?

Yes, it happened frequently. Eventually this would be corrected with the correct information.

 

[Old Soldier]

Have you ever actually looked at morning reports, muster rolls, and other administrative forms from companies and regiments that served in the Civil War? Because what you're describing suggests you have not, and is a completely modern understanding of how the army was run.

They didn't just jumble people up. The company was the administrative unit, and those that were recruited into Company N generally remained in Company N unless there were outlying circumstances. Some could be transferred, yes, or assigned to other duties, but that was always noted, and you generally returned back to your company after your duty was up. And companies on detached service generally returned to their regiment after that service was up. Companies were generally only "added to" when an officer from the regiment went on recruiting duty.

And sure, the manuals say the companies are to be evened out, but the manuals say a lot of things. I'm still waiting for someone to provide some firsthand accounts of that actually being done.

But I suggest you spend some time looking over some of the administrative paperwork from the period. For every single one of the regiments I've researched—and I've probably gone through tens of thousands of pages by now—the names in the companies stay largely the same over time. Not saying it doesn't happen, but those cases are very rare in my experience.

Yes. I have. As I said, the company was the base unit. Admin was never done in the field of battle, always afterwards. The names will NOT be the same if the unit was involved in the fighting and suffered casualties.

 

[The Ninth Ohio]

Yes. I have. As I said, the company was the base unit. Admin was never done in the field of battle, always afterwards. The names will NOT be the same if the unit was involved in the fighting and suffered casualties.

Okay

 

[Sbc]

This is not an answer, but it IS relevant as an examplt. Edward Porter Alexander, in his book, "Fighting for the Confederacy," tells of a situation during the battle of Chancellorsville, where in early evening he came across a Union Soldier lying by the roadside crying out loudly, "Water, Water, Water!" Alexander went to him and noticed the Union Soldier had been shot in the forehead and his brain was protruding. Alexander asked what state the Union soldier was from, and the soldier began shouting "New York, New York, New York," incessantly, as long as Alexander could hear as he rode away.
We must assume that this particular Union soldier died, but it would be likely that he was at least initially reported "missing."

Judas Priest that's a depressing story. Wish politicians would keep accounts like this open on their desks before engaging in saber rattling policies.