ANV re-organization in spring 1864

[Jamieva]

So something that always made me wonder what is going on.

When the Overland campaign starts, the ANV has 8 infantry divisions, Longstreet has 2, Hill and Ewell have 3 each.

So why, if Longstreet is the senior corps commander, and most trusted of the group, does he have the smallest corps? Why was he not assigned one of those other 6 divisions? I understand there are other factors involved in taking a division from another corps, but it seems you would want the most troops in the hands of those you trust the most. He also has the 2 least experienced commanders at the division command level...Field and Kershaw.

 

[gary]

Without checking any books, what about the #s of men in each division? Competence of division commanders? I know Longstreet didn't like McLaws.

 

[GELongstreet]

Without checking any books, what about the #s of men in each division? Competence of division commanders? I know Longstreet didn't like McLaws.

Longstreet liked McLaws a lot, they had been childhood friends and classmates at West Point and later served comparably well together until 1863. But then their relationship seriously detoriated in the west, would stay like this and afterwards would have its ups and downs.

 

[James N.]

Without checking any books, what about the #s of men in each division? Competence of division commanders? I know Longstreet didn't like McLaws.

Longstreet liked McLaws a lot, they had been childhood friends and classmates at West Point and later served comparably well together until 1863. But then their relationship seriously detoriated in the west, would stay like this and afterwards would have its ups and downs.

But of course that was a moot point by the time of the opening of the Overland Campaign, when McLaws was already gone and had been replaced by Kershaw. Longstreet was basically returning to the army the two divisions that had been "leant" to Bragg at the time of Chickamauga and that had wintered in East Tennessee. They didn't actually physically rejoin the rest until during the Wilderness battle. That didn't prevent Lee making some alteration to the command structure and I have no suggestion as to why this wasn't done.

 

[matthew mckeon]

Pickett was part of Longstreet's Corps, and he was on detached duty in North Carolina

 

[GELongstreet]

I think that Lee, for one who often was very determined when it came to making changes to commands or commanders, at times tended to tip-toe around once a decision on corps-level was needed. Of course those decisions had severe consequences and great risks and had to be, or at least should be, well thought out. Also just my opinion.

And yes, assigning one or two more divisions to Longstreet would be logical, in every aspect. Why it didn´t happen? Don´t know but personnel management would suggest having Longstreet with the fewest divisions might possibly make him feel a little sore but taking away a division from one or both of the other corps commanders will very likely be offending to those.

Also Pickett and his division were still part of the corps while being detached.

 

[AUG]

Pickett's division was detached just prior to the corps' transportation west in September 1863 and assigned to the Richmond area, a couple brigades later being sent to eastern North Carolina in early 1864. It did eventually rejoin the First Corps, but not until May 20-21, 1864, after participating in the Bermuda Hundred Campaign.

 

[Jamieva]

Longstreet liked McLaws a lot, they had been childhood friends and classmates at West Point and later served comparably well together until 1863. But then their relationship seriously detoriated in the west, would stay like this and afterwards would have its ups and downs.

Well the downhill slide for McLaws started at Salem Church. He was very passive and Lee was very dissatisfied with his performance, and basically told Longstreet that the had to babysit McLaws. The slide continues and then McLaws becames one of the scapegoats for Knoxville.

 

[OpnCoronet]

When the Overland campaign starts, the ANV has 8 infantry divisions, Longstreet has 2, Hill and Ewell have 3 each.
So why, if Longstreet is the senior corps commander, and most trusted of the group, does he have the smallest corps? Why was he not assigned one of those other 6 divisions? I understand there are other factors involved in taking a division from another corps, but it seems you would want the most troops in the hands of those you trust the most. He also has the 2 least experienced commanders at the division command level...Field and Kershaw.

I though the ANV had be reorganized in 1863, during the Gettysburg Campaign, with three corps of e divisions each. Pickett's division had be decimated on on Day 3 of the Battle.

I would guess, Pickett's division had not been brought up to strength yet, to be included in the line of battle.

 

[ErnieMac]

Field commanded Hood's old division. Hood had been promoted to a corps command in the Army of Tennessee. Longstreet had attempted to place Micah Jenkins, a favorite of his, in command of the division which caused a major blow-up in that command. Net result was Jerome Robertson was cashiered and Evander Law was under arrest. Field had been a competent brigade commander in Jackson's wing of the Army prior to being wounded at Second Manassas. He had been promoted to major general in February, 1864, was now available for duty. Lee elected to sidestep the drama and assigned Field.

 

[James N.]

I though the ANV had be reorganized in 1863, during the Gettysburg Campaign, with three corps of e divisions each. Pickett's division had be decimated on on Day 3 of the Battle.

I would guess, Pickett's division had not been brought up to strength yet, to be included in the line of battle.

Remember that although as you say Pickett's Division was decimated at Gettysburg, it was in fact only 3/5 of the division, two of its five brigades (Eppa Hunton and ???) being on detached duty. So it was able to recover somewhat fairly quickly.

 

[GELongstreet]

... two of its five brigades (Eppa Hunton and ???) ...

Jenkins (but I think it was transferred to Hood afterwards) and M.D. Corse.

 

[ErnieMac]

Remember that although as you say Pickett's Division was decimated at Gettysburg, it was in fact only 3/5 of the division, two of its five brigades (Eppa Hunton and ???) being on detached duty. So it was able to recover somewhat fairly quickly.

The brigades detached from Pickett's command at Gettysburg were commanded by Montgomery Corse and Micah Jenkins. Eppa Hunton was wounded at Gettysburg and eventually assumed command of Garnett's Brigade.

 

[OpnCoronet]

Remember that although as you say Pickett's Division was decimated at Gettysburg, it was in fact only 3/5 of the division, two of its five brigades (Eppa Hunton and ???) being on detached duty. So it was able to recover somewhat fairly quickly.

Then perhaps, Pickett's command was detached for other duties?

Pickett had been detached to guard Lee's supply trains, on Days 1 and 2 at Gettysburg, much like Longstreet and his command had been detached for foraging duties in southern Va., during the Chancellorsville Campaign.

 

[Carronade]

Pickett's division were all Virginia units, so presumably it was easier for them to replenish their losses in their home state; perhaps some wounded men were granted furloughs to recover at home and rejoin their regiments. It seems to have been relatively rare for Virginia troops to serve outside the Virginia theater.

The two divisions Longstreet took south comprised four Georgia brigades, one each from South Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi, and the Texas brigade.

 

[3rd TN Cav USA]

Jenkins (but I think it was transferred to Hood afterwards) and M.D. Corse.

Corse I think was the other brigade, it was at Hanover Junction at the time of Gettysburg.

 

[AUG]

Then perhaps, Pickett's command was detached for other duties?

Pickett had been detached to guard Lee's supply trains, on Days 1 and 2 at Gettysburg, much like Longstreet and his command had been detached for foraging duties in southern Va., during the Chancellorsville Campaign.

Pickett's division did replenish its strength while detached in the Richmond area but, as I said in my above post, in early 1864 part of the division participated in the operations in eastern North Carolina (battle of New Bern) and the Bermuda Hundred Campaign that spring. After Butler's force at Bermuda Hundred was halted by May 20, 1864, that freed up Pickett's division to be returned to the First Corps.

According to Lee's Army in the Overland Campaign by Alfred C. Young, Pickett's division numbered 5,340 men when it rejoined the First Corps that May. At the conclusion of the Overland Campaign it was the largest division in the corps, having suffered fewer losses than Field's and Kershaw's and being continually supplied with new recruits and conscripts from Virginia. From May to December 1864 Pickett's also had the highest desertion and absence rate in the army, with the loss of 450 men over that period, likely due to the large number of conscripts and the fact that they were serving in their home state.

 

[James N.]

Pickett's division were all Virginia units, so presumably it was easier for them to replenish their losses in their home state; perhaps some wounded men were granted furloughs to recover at home and rejoin their regiments. It seems to have been relatively rare for Virginia troops to serve outside the Virginia theater.

The two divisions Longstreet took south comprised four Georgia brigades, one each from South Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi, and the Texas brigade.

Oddly enough, a single Virginia battery served at Vicksburg.