Does anyone have a good CSA order of battle for The Carolinas Campaign?

John Wolf Smith

Sergeant
Joined
Nov 6, 2019
Location
Canada
Does anyone have a good CSA order of battle for The Carolinas Campaign (The 89,270 soldiers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida)
 
Do you have information on Forrest's Cavalry Corps or brigades that were with Jefferson Davis at this time or the 7,000 men Division under John Echols?
 
 
Thanks.
 
On April 12, 1865, Brigadier General John Echols disbanded the Department of East Tennessee and Southwestern Virginia at Christiansburg, Virginia, upon learning of Lee’s surrender through a telegram waiting for him when he mustered his forces in Christiansburg. The command’s sixteen artillery piece carriages were cut apart, the gun barrels were spiked, and the ammunition was destroyed. All who wished were allowed to return home.

After Echols dissolved the Department, Brigadier General George Blake Cosby took the remainder of his brigade west into Kentucky to surrender to federal authorities. Echols led the remaining troops of Brigadier General John Crawford Vaughn’s Brigade and Brigadier General Basil Wilson Duke’s Brigade, toward North Carolina hoping to link up with General Joseph Eggleston Johnston and the Army of Tennessee. The former Department’s District of Western North Carolina remained unaffected and intact.

On April 16, 1865, the remnant force from East Tennessee-Southwest Virginia split, with some few following Brigadier General Echols toward the Army of Tennessee and the remaining majority, under the overall command of Brigadier General Vaughn, hoping to meet up with Lieutenant General Joe Wheeler’s cavalry.

The two brigades under Echols joined the bodyguard of President Jefferson Davis on April 19, 1865, under command of General John C. Breckenridge made up of Brigadier General George Gibbs Dibrell’s Brigade, Brigadier General. Samuel Wragg Ferguson’s Brigade and Colonel William C. P. Breckenridge’s Brigade.


On April 26, 1865, General Joseph E. Johnston surrendered the Division of the West under himself, the Army of Tennessee and etc. Brigadier General Echols, formerly of the Department of East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, was by this time with Johnston, having left the column of Vaughn’s and Duke’s brigades on April 16.

Staying with Jefferson Davis into Georgia, on May 9, 1865, Brigadier General John C. Vaughn surrendered his remnant brigade to Captain Lot Abraham of the 4th Iowa Cavalry at Washington, Georgia, and the next day Brigadier General Basil Duke surrendered the remnant of his brigade to Captain Lot Abraham of the 4th Iowa Cavalry at Washington, Georgia.

Hope this helps!
 
So in summary, the 7000 men division under Echols were organized as follows:

Cosby's Brigade -
Vaughn's Brigade -
Duke's Brigade -

The division then split, Cosby's Brigade heading west into Kentucky to surrender. Echols and his two remaining brigades under Vaughn and Duke headed south to join Johnston. Echols left with small contingent to join Johnston on April 16, surrendering with him ten days later. Vaughn and Duke's brigades continued south and linked up with Jefferson Davis three days later on April 29th, joining the the three brigades travelling with him (Breckinridge, Fergurson, and Dibrell's brigades). They all continued together until May 5th, when Jefferson Davis held last cabinet meeting in Washington, GA before heading west on his own. The next day, May 6th, the first three brigades that were with Davis surrendered in Washington, GA, and three days later, May 9th Vaughn and Duke's brigades surrendered as well.
 
So in summary, the 7000 men division under Echols were organized as follows:

Cosby's Brigade -
Vaughn's Brigade -
Duke's Brigade -

The division then split, Cosby's Brigade heading west into Kentucky to surrender. Echols and his two remaining brigades under Vaughn and Duke headed south to join Johnston. Echols left with small contingent to join Johnston on April 16, surrendering with him ten days later. Vaughn and Duke's brigades continued south and linked up with Jefferson Davis three days later on April 29th, joining the the three brigades travelling with him (Breckinridge, Fergurson, and Dibrell's brigades). They all continued together until May 5th, when Jefferson Davis held last cabinet meeting in Washington, GA before heading west on his own. The next day, May 6th, the first three brigades that were with Davis surrendered in Washington, GA, and three days later, May 9th Vaughn and Duke's brigades surrendered as well.
Question, do you know the regiments and artillery battalions in this force??
 
Negative. That force, or division, was commanded by John Breckinridge, in person. Alfred Iverson was in command in North Carolina during this time and at the end of the war.
 
That was the formal designation, yes. But once Jefferson Davis flees into NC and it becomes apparent that surrender is inevitable, those brigades join Davis as an escort, with Breckinridge in overall command, and Alfred Iverson remains in Greensboro, North Carolina and watched as his Garrison slips away, allowing parts of the city to be plundered by fugitive soldiers.
 
That was the formal designation, yes. But once Jefferson Davis flees into NC and it becomes apparent that surrender is inevitable, those brigades join Davis as an escort, with Breckinridge in overall command, and Alfred Iverson remains in Greensboro, North Carolina and watched as his Garrison slips away, allowing parts of the city to be plundered by fugitive soldiers.
Is The Nafziger Collection of Orders of Battle a good source??
 
Yes, for the most part. The accuracy of it is not in question, but alot of times a basic order of Battle, especially one like that, is based on a report return, which this one you are showing was January 25, 1865. These returns are pretty much orders of battle and troop reports that are requested and sent in to the Confederate War Department, and often a week later some details or listings might not be accurate anymore, due to the fluid situation of things, a reassignment, troop movement, etc. Normally the most accurate orders of battles you can always count on are specific ones in reference to a specific battle in time (the record then is strictly accurate and order of Battle for that day, on that battle).

alot of times, it takes further research and doing your homework to find out inaccuracies, and cross referencing the material. I found out the correct information from the Official Records, which is always correct. Also, now that we see that was the situation and order of Battle in Jan 65, that was the last order of Battle and alot had changed in the three months after it, from January to April.
 
So in summary, the 7000 men division under Echols were organized as follows:

Cosby's Brigade -
Vaughn's Brigade -
Duke's Brigade -

The division then split, Cosby's Brigade heading west into Kentucky to surrender. Echols and his two remaining brigades under Vaughn and Duke headed south to join Johnston. Echols left with small contingent to join Johnston on April 16, surrendering with him ten days later. Vaughn and Duke's brigades continued south and linked up with Jefferson Davis three days later on April 29th, joining the the three brigades travelling with him (Breckinridge, Fergurson, and Dibrell's brigades). They all continued together until May 5th, when Jefferson Davis held last cabinet meeting in Washington, GA before heading west on his own. The next day, May 6th, the first three brigades that were with Davis surrendered in Washington, GA, and three days later, May 9th Vaughn and Duke's brigades surrendered as well.

Echols' Division had 3 more brigade under Col Henry L. Giltner of the 4th KY cavalry, Robert C. Trigg leading the 1st Infantry brigade and Col ? Preston had the last brigade. Also, General Wharton was with them on April 12th with his division.

There could be two more brigades under General John S. Williams and Colonel George B. Crittenden.


 
Last edited:
Back
Top