Building OoBs - Cleburne's Proposal

[Luke Freet]

Me and @John Wolf Smith have been discussing new thread ideas for our little venture down the paths of madness. Between this and a more radical idea we've been working on (to be announced some other time), we decided to go with a personal favorite scenario of mine: what if Cleburne's Proposal was accepted by the Confederacy?
A few rules and guidelines for this thread:
-Rule 1: No new white regiments. Not many white soldiers left to recruit from, not counting pow's. Maybe reinforce existing regiments with returned POWs.
-Rule 2: No resurrecting any general or officer killed or dying of wounds received before 2nd January 1864.
-Rule 3: Hard cap of 50K black soldiers, due to estimated pool of recruits. That estimate could be questionable, but it is the most reasonable guess I got.
-Rule 4*: Give an average strength for each black regiment. For example: I put mine at around 620 men.
-Rule 5: Troops should be recruited from within Confederate controlled territory. Regiments recruited in mostly occupied stated (Tennessee) or from states with smaller populations of slave (Florida) should be fewer in number.
-Rule 6*: Should put rational behind your choices for commanders.

*More guidelines and suggestions than hard rules.

I've already done a bunch of these, but I need to rework a lot of it for this specific thread.

 

[byron ed]

A good gaming exercise I suppose. But right off, a "recruitment" campaign for slaves wasn't possible. Slaves simply went where they were told to go, and there were thousands that had already been told to go work for the army and who were still there. Since those couldn't have been spared, the only thing left would have been to further impress slaveowners to supply even more of their slaves, this time to raise combat regiments (since the free black population of the South wasn't big enough to fill regiments).

The thing about that was; it was slaveowners and their representatives that had signed on to the Confederacy specifically to assure they would keep their slaves. So such an extensive further impressment of slave property would risk the base support of the Confederacy, which was only a few years old to begin with. In other words slave stealers were slave stealers, and even though only "borrowed" for Confederate military duty those slaves would have come back to their plantations fully trained in field organization and the use of guns. How awkward, not to say frightening, a prospect that would be for the white sons and daughters of the South.

But carry on.

 

[Luke Freet]

A good gaming exercise I suppose. But right off, a "recruitment" campaign for slaves wasn't possible. Slaves simply went where they were told to go, and there were thousands that had already been told to go work for the army and who were still there. Since those couldn't have been spared, the only thing left would have been to further impress slaveowners to supply even more of their slaves, this time to raise combat regiments (since the free black population of the South wasn't big enough to fill regiments).

The thing about that was; it was slaveowners and their representatives that had signed on to the Confederacy specifically to assure they would keep their slaves. So such an extensive further impressment of slave property would risk the base support of the Confederacy, which was only a few years old to begin with. In other words slave stealers were slave stealers, and even though only "borrowed" for Confederate military duty those slaves would have come back to their plantations fully trained in field organization and the use of guns. How awkward, not to say frightening, a prospect that would be for the white sons and daughters of the South.

But carry on.

I know that this scenario is borderline impossible, and requires a change of hearts and mindsets throughout the Confederacy to make it possible. It still, however, interests me to ponder, as it was possibly the last chance for the Confederacy to really pull out a victory in the war.
Though, will say, there is some Lost Causism in this, as it implies that the Confederacy weren't fighting for the express purpose of enshrining slavery (which the rejection of Cleburne's Proposal, along with a mountains of evidence from President Davis to the common citizen, proves beyond a shadow of a doubt was the cause). Asking people to reject the idea that this was what the Confederate government and the societal elite was fighting for would be negligent of me.
That does not stop me from thinking about it, as there were plenty in the Confederacy who, like Cleburne, did put the independence of the south above defending slavery, especially after 3 years of bloody war. If these people had their way, I imagine that the Confederacy could have turned the tide.
With that out of the way, I'm gonna continue my work here.

 

[Luke Freet]

Now, time for me to post my OoB:

Alt Cleburne Proposal Confederate OoB 1864

Eastern Theater Army of Northern Virginia: Gen Robert E. Lee (71230 men; 248 guns) Staff Chief of Staff: Col. Walter Taylor Chief of Engineers: MG Martin L. Smith Chief of Artillery: BG William N. Pendleton 1st Corps: LtG James “Pete” Longstreet (16720 men; 72 guns) 1st Division: BG Joseph Ke...

docs.google.com

 

[John Wolf Smith]

What would happen to the white men in G.T Anderson's brigade? Would they be moved to a new brigade and disband Humphreys' Brigade.

 

[Luke Freet]

What would happen to the white men in G.T Anderson's brigade? Would they be moved to a new brigade and disband Humphreys' Brigade.

Officers and NCO's to fill out the black units in Anderson's new division.

 

[John Wolf Smith]

Officers and NCO's to fill out the black units in Anderson's new division.

What about the regular men in that brigade?

Untitled document

Military Division of the Mississippi: MG Ulysses S. Grant General Staff: Chief of Staff: BG John A. Rawlins Chief of Transportation: BG Joseph D. Webster Army of the Cumberland: MG William Rosecrans General Staff: Chief of Staff: BG James A. Garfield Chief of Artillery: Col James Barnett Chief...

docs.google.com

 

[Luke Freet]

What about the regular men in that brigade?

Untitled document

Military Division of the Mississippi: MG Ulysses S. Grant General Staff: Chief of Staff: BG John A. Rawlins Chief of Transportation: BG Joseph D. Webster Army of the Cumberland: MG William Rosecrans General Staff: Chief of Staff: BG James A. Garfield Chief of Artillery: Col James Barnett Chief...

docs.google.com

They are promoted to NCOs

 

[John Wolf Smith]

My Order of Battle for the Liddell/Lee/Cleburne's Proposal

Confederate States of America:

President: Jefferson Davis
Vice-President: MG John C. Breckinridge
Secretary of State: Judah P. Benjamin
Secretary of the Treasury: George Trenholm
Secretary of War: BG George W. Randolph
Secretary of the Navy: Stephen Mallory
Postmaster-General: John H. Reagan
Attorney-General: George Davis

Commissary General: BG Isaac M. St. John
Quartermaster-General: MG Alexander R. Lawton

Governor of Virginia: MG William Smith
Governor of South Carolina: Francis W. Pickens
Governor of North Carolina: Zebulon B. Vance
Governor of Georgia: Col James M. Smith
Governor of Alabama: John G. Shorter
Governor of Tennessee: Isham G. Harris
Governor of Mississippi: John J. Pettus
Governor of Kentucky: Richard Hawes
Governor of Louisiana: BG Henry W. Allen
Governor of Florida: John Milton
Governor of Missouri: Thomas C. Reynolds
Governor of Arkansas: Henry M. Rector
Governor of Texas: Francis Lubbock

Total: 374,850
White: 294,850
C.S.C.T.: 80,000

Army of Northern Virginia: Gen Robert E. Lee (79,247 and 248 guns)
Staff:
Chief of Staff: BG Walter Taylor
Chief of Engineering: MG Martin L. Smith
Chief of Artillery: BG William N. Pendleton

1st Corps: LG James Longstreet (23,152 and 72 guns)

Kershaw's 1st Division: MG Joseph Kershaw (5,230)
Perrin's 1st Brigade: BG Abner Perrin (SC) (1,590)
Wofford's 2nd Brigade: BG William Wofford (GA) (2,015)
Bryan's 3rd Brigade: BG Goode Bryan (GA) (1,625)

Field's 2nd Division: MG Charles Field (4,700)
Bratton's 1st Brigade: BG John Bratton (SC) (1,590)
Perry's 2nd Brigade: BG William Perry (AL) (1,260)
Benning's 3rd Brigade: BG Henry Benning (GA) (1,000)
Gregg's 4th Brigade: BG John Gregg (AK/TX) (850)

Pickett's 3rd Division: MG George Pickett (5,335)
Terry's 1st Brigade: BG William R. Terry (VA) (1,110)
Hunton's 2nd Brigade: BG Eppa Hunton (VA) (1,660)
Walker's 3rd Brigade: BG Henry Walker (VA) (1,210)
Corse's 4th Brigade: BG Montgomery Corse (VA) (1,355)

Anderson's 4th C.S.C.T. Division: MG George T. Anderson (7,877)
Sorrel's 1st Brigade (7th and 8th GA): BG Moxley Sorrel (GA) (2,480)
Little's 2nd Brigade (9th and 11th GA): BG Francis Little (GA) (2,547)
Brown's 3rd Brigade (59th GA): BG Jackson Brown (GA) (2,860)

2nd Corps: LG Jubal Early (19,220 and 72 guns)

Johnson's 1st Division: MG Edward Johnson (6,025)
Walker's 1st Brigade: BG James A. Walker (VA) (1,320)
Jones' 2nd Brigade: BG John M. Jones (VA) (1,850)
Steuart's 3rd Brigade: BG George Steuart (MD/VA) (1,250)
Hays' 4th Brigade: BG Harry T. Hays (LA) (1,605)

Rodes' 2nd Division: MG Robert Rodes (6,755)
Ramseur's 1st Brigade: BG Stephen Ramseur (NC) (2,080)
Daniel's 2nd Brigade: BG Junius Daniel (NC) (1,500)
Doles' 3rd Brigade: BG George Doles (GA) (1,365)
Battle's 4th Brigade: BG Cullen Battle (AL) (1,810)

Gordon's 3rd Division: MG John B. Gordon (6,470)
Evans' 1st Brigade: BG Clement A. Evans (GA) (2,270)
Pegram's 2nd Brigade: BG John Pegram (VA) (1,520)
Johnston's 3rd Brigade: BG Robert D. Johnston (NC) (1,320)
Lewis' 4th Brigade: BG William G. Lewis (NC) (1,360)

3rd Corps: LG Ambrose P. Hill (22,825 and 80 guns)

Heth's 1st Division: MG Henry Heth (7,750)
Cooke's 1st Brigade: BG John Cooke (NC) (1,960)
Kirkland's 2nd Brigade: BG William Kirkland (NC) (2,150)
Humphreys' 3rd Brigade: BG Benjamin Humphreys (MS/NC) (1,990)
Fry's 4th Brigade: BG Birkett Fry (AL/TN/VA) (1,650)

Wilcox's 2nd Division: MG Cadmus Wilcox (7,915)
Lane's 1st Brigade: BG James H. Lane (NC) (2,350)
McGowan's 2nd Brigade: BG Samuel McGowan (SC) (2,350)
Scales' 3rd Brigade: BG Alfred Scales (NC) (1,735)
Thomas' 4th Brigade: BG Edward Thomas (GA) (1,600)

Mahone's 3rd Division: MG William Mahone (7,160)
Sanders' 1st Brigade: BG John C. C. Sanders (AL) (1,635)
Weiseger's 2nd Brigade: BG David Weiseger (VA) (1,805)
Harris' 3rd Brigade: BG Nathaniel Harris (MS) (2,035)
Wright's 4th Brigade: BG Ambrose Wright (GA) (1,685)

Cavalry Corps: LG James E. B. Stuart (14,050 and 24 guns)

Hampton's 1st Division: MG Wade Hampton (5,550)
Young's 1st Brigade: BG Pierce Young (GA/MS) (1,900)
Gary's 2nd Brigade: BG Martin Gary (SC) (1,200)
Butler's 3rd Brigade: BG Matthew Butler (SC) (2,450)

Lee's 2nd Division: MG Fitzhugh Lee (5,000)
Lomax's 1st Brigade: BG Lunsford L. Lomax (VA) (1,500)
Wickham's 2nd Brigade: BG William C. Wickham (VA) (2,000)
Rosser's 3rd Brigade: BG Thomas Rosser (VA) (1,500)

Lee's 3rd Division: MG Willam H. F. Lee (3,500)
Chambliss' 1st Brigade: BG John Chambliss (VA) (1,500)
Gordon's 2nd Brigade: BG James B. Gordon (NC) (2,000)

Army of Southern Virginia: Gen Pierre G. T. Beauregard (34,184 and 130 guns)

1st Corps: LG Daniel H. Hill (21,784 and 80 guns)

Hoke's 1st Division: MG Robert Hoke (6,800)
Clingman's 1st Brigade: BG Thomas Clingman (NC) (1,610)
Hagood's 2nd Brigade: BG Johnson Hagood (SC) (1,580)
Martin's 3rd Brigade: BG James G. Martin (NC) (1,890)
Colquitt's 4th Brigade: BG Alfred Colquitt (GA) (1,720)

Johnson's 2nd Division: MG Bushrod Johnson (8,854)
Elliot's 1st Brigade: BG Stephen Elliott (SC) (1,887)
Gracie's 2nd Brigade: BG Archibald Gracie (AL) (1,578)
Ransom's 3rd Brigade: BG Matt Ransom (NC) (2,876)
Wise's 4th Brigade: BG Henry Wise (VA) (1,543)
Archer's 5th Brigade: BG James J. Archer (TN) (9,70)

Kemper's 3rd Division: MG James L. Kemper (6,130)
Barton's 1st Brigade: BG Seth Barton (GA/VA) (1,000)
Gardner's 2nd Brigade: BG William M. Gardner (VA/MY) (1,250)
Clark's 3rd Brigade: BG Meriwether L. Clark, Sr. (VA) (1,000)
Colston's 4th Brigade: BG Raleigh Colston (VA) (1,080)
Dearing's Cavalry Brigade: BG James Dearing (GA/NC/VA) (1,800)

2nd (C.S.C.T.) Corps: LG Richard Ewell (12,400 and 50 guns)

Jenkins' 1st C.S.C.T. Division: MG Micah Jenkins (6,200)
Pemberton's 1st Brigade: BG John C. Pemberton (VA) (1,550)
Terrill's 2nd Brigade: BG James B. Terrill (VA) (1,550)
Conner's 3rd Brigade: BG James Conner (VA) (1,550)
Lilley's 4th Brigade: BG Robert D. Lilley (VA) (1,550)

Lee's 2nd C.S.C.T. Division: MG George W. C. Lee (6,200)
Oates' 1st Brigade: BG William C. Oates (AL) (2,480)
Lee's 2nd Brigade: BG Edwin G. Lee (NC) (1,860)
Girardey's 3rd Brigade: BG Victor Girardey (NC) (1,860)

Army of the Valley: MG Samuel Jones (21,717 and 32 guns)

1st Corps: MG Arnold Elzey (14,910)

Vaughn's 1st Division: BG John C. Vaughn (8,010)
Patton's 1st Brigade: BG George S. Patton (VA/NC) (2,085)
Wharton's 2nd Brigade: BG Gabriel Wharton (VA) (1,850)
Browne's 3rd Brigade: BG William E. Browne (VA) (1,650)
Chapman's 4th Brigade: Col Augustus A. Chapman (TN) (1,725)
Harper's Valley Reserves: Col Kenton Harper (700)

Echols' 2nd C.S.C.T. Division: BG John Echols (6,900)
York's 1st Brigade: BG Zebulon York (NC) (1,550)
Love's 2nd Brigade: BG James Love (NC) (1,550)
Forsberg's 3rd Brigade: BG Augustus Forsberg (VA) (1,550)
Douglas' 4th Brigade: BG Henry K. Douglas (VA) (2,250)

Cavalry Corps: MG Robert Ransom (6,807)

Jones' 1st Division: MG William E. Jones (4,520)
Imboden's 1st Brigade: BG John D. Imboden (VA) (1,500)
Johnson's 2nd Brigade: BG Bradley T. Johnson (MD/VA) (1,585)
Carter's 3rd Brigade: BG James E. Carter (GA/TN/VA) (1,435)

Jenkins' 2nd Division: MG Albert Jenkins (2,287)
McCausland's 1st Brigade: BG John McCausland (VA) (1,240)
Jackson's 2nd Brigade: BG William L. Jackson (VA) (1,047)

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Department of the South: Gen Braxton Bragg (56,010)

District of the Carolinas and Florida: MG Mansfield Lovell (24,770)

Whiting's 1st Division: MG William Whiting (6,000)
Garlington's NC Junior Reserves: BG Albert C. Garlington (NC) (2,000)
McElroy's NC Junior Reserves: Bg John W. McElroy (NC) (2,000)
Rains' NC Senior Reserves: George W. Rains (NC) (2,000)

Ripley 's 2nd Division: MG Roswell Ripley (7,254)
Herbert's 1st Brigade: BG Louis Herbert (NC) (1,400)
Taliaferro's 2nd Brigade: BG William Taliaferro (GA) (1,250)
Stovall's 3rd Brigade: BG Marcellus Stovall (NC/VA/GA) (2,332)
Mercer' 4th Brigade: BG Hugh Mercer (GA/SC) (1,272)
Robertson's 5th Cavalry Brigade: BG Beverly Robertson (GA/SC) (1,000)

Taliaferro's 3rd Division: MG Alexander G. Taliaferro (6,000)
Gwynn's SC Junior Reserves: BG Walter Gwynn (2,000)
Saussure's SC Junior Reserves: BG Wilmot G. de Saussure (2,000)
Trapier's SC Senior Reserves: BG James Trapier (2,000)

Finegan's 4th Division: BG Joseph Finegan (5,516)
Perry's 1st Brigade: BG Edward Perry (FL) (1,270)
Harrison's 2nd Brigade: BG George P. Harrison (FL/GA) (1,746)
Lang's 3rd Brigade: BG David Lang (FL) (1,500)
Smith's 4th Cavalry Brigade: BG Caraway Smith (FL/GA) (1,000)

District of Georgia and Alabama: MG James P. Anderson (31,240)

1st Corps: MG Gustavus W. Smith (17,600)

McLaws' 1st Division: MG Lafayette McLaws (6,000)
Wood's 1st Brigade: BG Sterling A. M. Wood (AL) (1,500)
Walker's 2nd Brigade: BG William S. Walker (GA) (1,400)
Wright's 3rd Brigade: BG Marcus J. Wright (AL) (1,500)
Stafford's 4th Brigade: BG Leroy A. Stafford (NC) (1,600)

Wayne's 2nd Georgia Militia Division: BG Henry C. Wayne (6,000)
Carswell's 1st Brigade: BG Reuben W. Carswell (GA) (1,520)
Phillips' 2nd Brigade: BG Pleasant J. Phillips (GA) (1,520)
Anderson's 3rd Brigade: BG Charles D. Anderson (GA) (1,520)
McKay's 4th Brigade: BG Henry K. McKay (GA) (1,520)

Cobb's 3rd Division: MG Howell Cobb (5,600)
Vance's 1st Brigade: BG Robert B. Vance (AL) (1,400)
Dickison's 2nd Brigade: BG John J. Dickison (FL/AL) (1,600)
Anderson's 3rd Brigade: BG Joseph R. Anderson (GA/AL) (1,400)
Bonham's Cavalry Brigade: BG Milledge L. Bonham (AL/GA) (1,200)

2nd C.S.C.T. Corps: LG St. John R. Liddell (13,640)

Blanchard's 1st C.S.C.T. Division: MG Albert Blanchard (6,820)
Hedrick's 1st Brigade: Col John J. Hedrick (AL/NC) (1,860)
Law's 2nd Brigade: BG Evander M. Law (AL) (2,480)
Lamb's 3rd Brigade: Col William Lamb (AL/GA/NC) (2,480)

Law's 2nd C.S.C.T. Division: MG Evander M. Law (6,820)
Taylor's 1st Brigade: Col Thomas H. Taylor (AL/NC) (3,410)
Fiser's 2nd Brigade: Col John C. Fiser (AL/NC) (3,410)

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Army of Georgia: Gen Joseph Johnston (51,585 men and 148 guns)
Staff:
Chief of Staff: BG William Mackall
Chief of Engineers: BG Francis Shoup
Chief of Artillery: BG Robert F. Beckham

1st Corps: LG William Hardee (22,706 and 52 guns)

Cheatham's 1st Division: MG Benjamin Cheatham (5,115)
Maney's 1st Brigade: BG George Maney (TN) (1,385)
Carter's 2nd Brigade: BG John C. Carter (TN) (1,290)
Vaughan's 3rd Brigade: BG Alfred Vaughan (TN) (1,240)
Strahl's 4th Brigade: BG Otho Strahl (TN) (1,200)

Brown's 4th Division: MG John C. Brown (5,000)
Govan's 1st Brigade: BG Daniel Govan (AR) (1,650)
Granbury's 2nd Brigade: BG Hiram Granbury (TX/TN) (1,570)
Lowrey's 3rd Brigade: BG Mark Lowrey (AL/MS) (1,780)

Bate's 3rd Division: MG William Bate (6,230)
Smith's 1st Brigade: BG Thomas B. Smith (TN/GA) (1,620)
Lewis' 2nd Brigade: BG Joseph Lewis (1,375)
Finley's 3rd Brigade: BG Jesse Finley (1,360)
Jackson 's 4th Brigade: BG Henry R. Jackson (1,875)

Walthall's 4th Division: MG Edward Walthall (6,361)
Manigault's 1st Brigade: BG Arthur Manigault (SC/AL) (1,540)
Johnston's 2nd Brigade: BG George D. Johnston (AL) (1,707)
Benton's 3rd Brigade: BG Sam Benton (MS) (1,514)
Tucker's 4th Brigade: BG William Tucker (MS) (1,600)

2nd Corps: LG Alexander P. Stewart (20,159 and 76 guns)

Walker's 1st Division: MG William T.H. Walker (5,940)
Capers' 1st Brigade: BG Ellison Capers (SC/GA) (1,410)
Stevens' 2nd Brigade: BG Clement H. Stevens (2,295)
Jackson's 3rd Brigade: BG John K. Jackson (GA/MS) (2,235)

Clayton's 2nd Division: MG Henry Clayton (6,994)
Holtzclaw's 1st Brigade: BG James Holtzclaw (AL) (1,580)
Baker's 2nd Brigade: BG Alpheus Baker (AL) (1,600)
Gibson's 3rd Brigade: BG Randall Gibson (LA) (2,280)
Smith's 3rd Brigade: BG James A. Smith (1,534)

Stevenson's 3rd Division: MG Carter L. Stevenson (7,225)
Palmer's 1st Brigade: BG Joseph B. Palmer (TN) (1,985)
Pettus' 2nd Brigade: BG Edmund Pettus (AL) (1,950)
Reynolds' 3rd Brigade: BG Alexander W. Reynolds (VA/NC) (1,590)
Cumming's 4th Brigade: BG Alfred Cumming (1,700)

Cavalry Corps: LG Joseph Wheeler (8,720 and 20 guns)

Martin's 1st Division: MG William T. Martin (3,650)
Iverson's 1st Brigade: BG Alfred Iverson (GA) (1,200)
Anderson's 2nd Brigade: BG Robert H. Anderson (AL) (1,450)
Allen's 3rd Brigade: BG William W. Allen (AL) (1000)

Morgan's 2nd Division: BG John T. Morgan (2,000)
Ferguson's 1st Brigade: BG Samuel W. Ferguson (AL/MS) (1000)
Harrison's 2nd Brigade: BG Thomas Harrison (AR/TX) (1,000)

Humes' 3rd Division: MG William Y. C. Humes (3,070)
Ashby's 1st Brigade: BG Henry Ashby (TN) (1,050)
Williams' 2nd Brigade: BG John S. Williams (KY) (1,020)
Dibrell's 3rd Brigade: BG George G. Dibrell (TN) (1,000)

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Army of Mississippi: LG Leonidas L. Polk (55,207 and 68 guns)

1st Corps: LG John B. Hood (15,185 and 36 guns)

1st Division: MG William Loring (6,035)
1st Brigade: BG Winfield Featherston (MS) (1,960)
2nd Brigade: BG John Adams (MS) (2,330)
3rd Brigade: BG Lucius Polk (AL/LA) (1,745)

2nd Division: MG Samuel French (4,765)
1st Brigade: BG Matthew Ector (NC/TX) (1,475)
2nd Brigade: BG Francis Cockrell (MO) (1,630)
3rd Brigade: BG Claudius Sears (MS) (1,660)

3rd Division: MG Stephen D. Lee (4,385)
1st Brigade: BG James Cantey (AL) (1,700)
2nd Brigade: BG Daniel H. Reynolds (AR/MS) (1,000)
3rd Brigade: BG William Quarles (TN/AL/LA) (1,685)

2nd C.S.C.T. Corps: LG Patrick Cleburne (14,260)

Kelly's 1st C.S.C.T. Division: MG John Kelly (7,440)
Dunovant's 1st Brigade: BG Richard G.M. Dunovant (SC) (2,480)
Goggin's 2nd Brigade: BG James Goggin (SC) (2,480)
Hardy's 3rd Brigade: BG Washington Hardy (NC) (2,480)

Withers' 2nd C.S.C.T. Division: MG Jones M. Withers (6,820)
Zinken's 1st Brigade: BG Leon von Zinken (GA) (1,860)
Moore's 2nd Brigade: BG John C. Moore (AL) (2,480)
Murray's 3rd Brigade: BG John E. Murray (GA/TN) (2,480)

Cavalry Corps: LG Nathan B. Forrest (14,722 and 32 guns)

Jackson's 1st Division: MG William H. Jackson (3,365)
Armstrong's 1st Brigade: BG Frank C. Armstrong (MS) (1,200)
Ross' 2nd Brigade: BG Laurence Ross (TX/MS) (1,100)
Crossland's 3rd Brigade: BG Edward Crossland (KY) (1,065)

Bruford's 2nd Division: MG Abraham Bruford (4,162)
Clanton's 1st Brigade: BG James Clanton (AL) (1,100)
Roddey's 2nd Brigade: BG Phillip Roddey (AL) (1,400)
Crews' 3rd Brigade: BG Charles C. Crews (AR) (1,662)

Chalmers' 3rd Division: MG James Chalmers (4035)
Rucker's 1st Brigade: BG Edmund Rucker (TN) (1,235)
Bell's 2nd Brigade: BG Tyree Bell (TN) (1,300)
Breckinridge's 3rd Brigade: BG William C.P. Breckinridge (MS) (1,500)

Adams' 4th Division: MG Daniel W. Adams (3,160)
Hill's 1st Brigade: BG Benjamin Hill (MS) (1,910)
Cosby's 2nd Brigade: BG George Cosby (MS) (1,250)

Department of Mobile: MG Richard H. Anderson (11,040)

1st Division: MG Dabney Maury (4,220)
Bryan's 1st Brigade: BG Bryan Thomas Bryan (1,200)
Page's 2nd Brigade: BG Richard L. Page (1;400)
Anderson's 3rd Militia Brigade: BG Charles D. Anderson (1,000)
Cleveland's Mobile Cavalry: Col G. Huggins Cleveland (620)

Gist's 1st C.S.C.T. Division: MG States R. Gist (6,820)
Deas' 1st Brigade: BG Zachariah C. Deas (MS) (1,860)
Armistead's 1st Brigade: BG Frank Armistead (GA) (2,480)
Davis' 1st Brigade: BG Joseph R. Davis (MS) (2,480)

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Army of the Transmississippi: Gen Edmund K. Smith (70,000)

Army of Louisiana: LG Richard Taylor (37,593 and 48 guns)

1st Corps: MG John G. Walker (10,100 and 32 guns)

Forney's 1st Division: MG William Forney (5,200)
Waul's 1st Brigade: BG Thomas Waul (TX) (1,200)
Randal's 2nd Brigade: BG Horace Randal (TX) (1,100)
Scurry's 3rd Brigade: BG William Scurry (TX) (1,500)
King's 4th Brigade: BG Wilburn King (TX) (1,400)

Mouton's 2nd Division: MG Alfred Mouton (4,900)
Thomas's 1st Brigade: BG Allen Thomas (LA) (1,700)
Polignac's 2nd Brigade: BG Camille A.J.M. Polignac (TX) (1,500)
Gray's 3rd Brigade: BG Henry Gray (LA) (1,700)

2nd C.S.C.T. Corps: LG Franklin Gardner (18,803)

Maxey's 1st C.S.C.T. Division: MG Samuel B. Maxey (7,881)
Debray's 1st Brigade: BG Xavier Debray (LA) (2,281)
Terrell's 2nd Brigade: BG Alexander W. Terrell (LA) (2,280)
Vincent's 3rd Brigade: BG William Vincent (LA) (1,660)
Nicholls' 4th Brigade: BG Francis T. Nicholls (LA) (1,660)

Drayton's 2nd C.S.C.T. Division: BG Thomas Drayton (5,332)
Gause's 1st Brigade: BG Lucien Gause (AK) (2,080)
Shaver's 2nd Brigade: BG Robert G. Shaver (AK) (1,660)
Gordon's 3rd Brigade: BG Benjamin F. Gordon (AK) (1,592)

Roane's 3rd C.S.C.T. Division: BG John S. Roane (5,590)
Jeffers' 1st Brigade: Col William Jeffers (TX) (1,870)
Preston's 2nd Brigade: BG William Preston (TX) (1,860)
Kitchen's 3rd Brigade: Col Solomon Kitchen (AK) (1,860)

Cavalry Corps: MG John Wharton (8,700 and 16 guns)

Green's 1st Division: MG Thomas Green (5,000)
Bee's 1st Brigade: BG Hamilton Bee (TX) (2,000)
Steele's 2nd Brigade: BG William Steele (TX) (1,200)
Buchel's 3rd Brigade: BG Augustus Buchel (LA) (1,800)

Major's 2nd Division: MG James P. Major (3,700)
Lane's 1st Brigade: BG Walter P. Lane (TX) (1,200)
Bagby's 2nd Brigade: BG Arthur Bagby (TX) (1,300)
Gano's 3rd Brigade: BG Richard Gano (TX) (1,200)

Army of Arkansas: LG John Magruder (22,680 and 36 guns)

1st Corps: MG Sterling Price (12,200 and 20 guns)

Hindman's 1st Division: MG Thomas Hindman (5,800)
Clark's 1st Brigade: BG John B. Clark (MO) (2,000)
Burns' 2nd Brigade: Col. Simon P. Burns (MO) (2,000)
Parsons' 3rd Brigade: BG Mosby Parsons (MO) (1,800)

Chruchill's 2nd Division: MG Thomas J. Chruchill (6,400)
Tappan's 1st Brigade: BG James Tappan (AK) (1,600)
Hawthorn's 2nd Brigade: BG Alexander Hawthorn (AK) (1,600)
Dockery's 3rd Brigade: BG Thomas Dockery (AK) (1,400)
McRae' 4th Brigade: BG Dandridge McRae (MO) (1,800)

Cavalry Corps: MG John S. Marmaduke (10,535 and 16 guns)

Fagan's 1st Division: MG James Fagan (4,100)
Cabell's 1st Brigade: BG William L. Cabell (AK) (1,500)
McNair's 2nd Brigade: BG Evander McNair (AK) (1,300)
Phifer's 3rd Brigade: BG Charles W. Phifer (AK) (1,300)

Thompson's 2nd Division: BG M. Jeff Thompson (4,255)
Greene's 1st Brigade: BG Colton Greene (MO) (1,500)
Shelby's 2nd Brigade: BG Joseph O. Shelby (MO) (1,400)
Lewis' 3rd Brigade: BG Levin M. Lewis (MO) (1,355)

Cooper's 3rd Indian Division: MG Daniel H. Cooper (2,180)
Watie's 1st Brigade: BG Stand Watie (1,030)
Walker's 2nd Brigade: BG Tandy Walker (1,150)

Army of Texas: MG Benjamin Huger (9,272)

McCulloch's 1st Division: BG Henry McCulloch (6,078)
Hawes' 1st Brigade: BG James M. Hawes (TX) (1,628)
Price's 2nd Brigade: BG Edwin W. Price (TX) (1,550)
McAdoo's 3rd Brigade: BG John D. McAdoo (TX) (1,400)
McCray's 4th Brigade: BG Thomas McCray (AK) (1,500)

Robertson's 2nd Cavalry Division: MG Jerome Robertson (3,649)
Slaughter's 1st Brigade: BG James Slaughter (TX) (1,863)
Benavides' 2nd Brigade: BG Santos Benavides (TX) (1,786)

 

[Saphroneth]

Since those couldn't have been spared, the only thing left would have been to further impress slaveowners to supply even more of their slaves, this time to raise combat regiments (since the free black population of the South wasn't big enough to fill regiments).

I'm not actually so sure about that. Assuming that the recruitable age is 20-39 and male, the recruitable "free colored" population of Virginia in the 1860 census was:
4,333 20-29
3,081 30-39

The same numbers are:
Louisiana
1,335 20-29
1,402 30-39

South Carolina
2,331 20-29
1,521 30-39

The reason the Louisiana numbers are interesting is because of the 1st Louisiana Native Guard, where about 1,500 free blacks signed up to a CSA militia unit. This suggests that at least one of these is true:

My category on "recruitable population" is overly restrictive.
A huge fraction of the free black population of the state lived in Louisiana.
Well over half of the free blacks who had the opportunity to sign up did.

It wouldn't have been enough to raise 50,000 men, not by any means. But if we expand out the example of Louisiana, it suggests the possibility of recruiting ca. 6,000 free black soldiers from Virginia and South Carolina even if every single Louisianan free black man had the opportunity to sign up to the 1st La Native Guard.


In reality, however, I suspect that many of these men were in fact already in the CS army as part of the logistics (and thus were part of the reason the CSA was always able to mobilize a higher % of their white population).

 

[byron ed]

I'm not actually so sure about that. Assuming that the recruitable age is 20-39 and male, the recruitable "free colored" population of Virginia in the 1860 census...Louisiana...South Carolina... [etc.]

Uh, the census included those that were already engaged in Confederate service, so not somehow a newly-available source of "spares" for Confederate army paid recruitment.

The reason the Louisiana numbers are interesting is because of the 1st Louisiana Native Guard, where about 1,500 free blacks signed up to a CSA militia unit...Well over half of the free blacks who had the opportunity to sign up did...

...and many of whom subsequently joined up for Union service at the first opportunity. That was not a particularly good or reliable source from which to fill Confederate battalions.

In reality, however, I suspect that many of these men were in fact already in the CS army...

Yes, after all.

 

[Saphroneth]

...and many of whom subsequently joined up for Union service at the first opportunity. That was not a particularly good or reliable source from which to fill Confederate battalions.

I'm not really sure that point is relevant? These men were offered the chance to sign up for a volunteer Confederate militia unit and did - they're arguably more reliable than anyone who had to be drafted.

 

[byron ed]

I'm not really sure that point is relevant? These men were offered the chance to sign up for a volunteer Confederate militia unit and did - they're arguably more reliable than anyone who had to be drafted.

The point is that they signed up as a militia, the term native guard implying that they would not be used offensively, so not a hard call to make, they would be defending their homes -- and it was for pay after all. But seeing as they offered themselves to the U.S. when that became available, it's obvious they were quite unreliably committed to the Confederate cause. There were not legions to be raised for the Confederate cause in that area. That's only in my read of it.

 

[Saphroneth]

and it was for pay after all.

Sure? Admittedly my source is Wikipedia, but it seems they supplied their own uniforms and arms - so if anything it would be a financial cost.

The point is that they signed up as a militia, the term native guard implying that they would not be used offensively, so not a hard call to make, they would be defending their homes -- and it was for pay after all. But seeing as they offered themselves to the U.S. when that became available, it's obvious they were quite unreliably committed to the Confederate cause. There were not legions to be raised for the Confederate cause in that area. That's only in my read of it.

The reason I'm not sure about that is because of what may admittedly be peculiar circumstances to Louisiana. Specifically, at the time the only place in the USA where someone black could sign up for a military unit was Louisiana, and that was because they had an opt-out to the provisions of the Militia Act that only white citizens could be enrolled.
What this means is that it's the only place where we have any data at all about how eager black citizens were to volunteer for the CSA, and the data suggests that quite a high percentage were interested.

I was going to write that it was possible that that interest collapsed when they were barred from serving, but the regiment then responded again when called for in emergency as Farragut approached. So who even knows at this point!

 

[Stryker65]

In 1865, Lee proposed a system in which every white regiment would be consolidated into six companies, to which would be added four companies of black troops. As few Confederate regiments had >600 men anytime after 1862, I think that would work best.

 

[Wizard of Cozz]

In 1865, Lee proposed a system in which every white regiment would be consolidated into six companies, to which would be added four companies of black troops. As few Confederate regiments had >600 men anytime after 1862, I think that would work best.

That makes perfect sense.

 

[Saphroneth]

The question to me is really how you can get more effective manpower mobilized out of the CSA. As things stood, there was a fairly sizeable amount of black manpower in Confederate armies anyway doing non-combat roles, and working blacks (free and otherwise) were also doing a lot of the work back home in the CSA that permitted the country to sustain the armies it did.


That said, the best comparator may well be to look at Confederate peak mobilization (summer 1862) and say that they could probably get a comparable percentage of their total working population into fighting armies at later points. So, for example (numbers very approximate):


If we take it as read that Lee, with about 43% of the entire Confederate mobilization, had about 108,000 white men in his army fighting in Summer 1862, and we assume he had another ~12,000 white men in his army who were not fighting and (say) 30,000 black men doing non-combat roles, that gives his army a total "size" of 150,000 men, out of which it's generating 108,000 men who can fight.

So the whole CSA has about 350,000 men in their armies, with their total population being about 9.1 million; if 20% of that population is able bodied working population, then they can put 20% of their able bodied working population into their armies.


So by 1864, the Confederate armies have suffered, say, 250,000 total unrecoverable casualties.

If they can continue to mobilize their population to the same extent they did in Summer 1862, then they should be able to sustain total army sizes of around 300,000 men, dropping Lee's comparable-commitment Army of Northern Virginia to a total size of about 125,000 men and a fighting size of a bit over 80,000 men.




Thing is, this isn't a fair analysis, because over the course of the fighting the CSA has slowly lost territory. To argue that the CSA could have improved on their army size by mobilizing black men is basically to argue that the CSA had more surplus productive capacity than it had men.


And I suspect that the reason why it felt like they were short on men might partly be because you can pull men out of the civilian economy today and you won't feel the pain for a while... but the Confederate civilian economy was also in trouble by 1864.