- Joined
- Jan 16, 2015
The following comments from soldiers shed a little light on the process of internal and external elections around the time of the Gettysburg campaign:
(CSA) (Diary of Jacob H. Lemley, Musician, 48th Virginia) May 28, Election Day [in Virginia], I voted for Governor [William] Smith, for Lieutenant Governor [John D.] Imboden, also voted for Tucker, Holliday, Carson, Kaufman and Ward. [Comment: It bears mentioning that Smith led his brigade into action at Gettysburg as the governor-elect of Virginia, a fact that his military superiors could not overlook. It was not a consideration in Imboden's case since he was not elected as lieutenant governor.]
(CSA) On the 18th of June [1863] the men were assembled to cast their votes, which stood 24 for myself, three for Thomas Kennedy and one scattering. Having been duly announced an officer … I entered upon my new and responsible duties. (Letters of Charles J. Batchelor, 2nd Lieutenant, Company E, 2nd Louisiana, dated August 6 and October 18, 1863) [Comment: An election was necessary to fill a vacancy created when Captain L. G. Picou, commanding Company E, 2nd Louisiana, was killed at Winchester on June 15, 1863. At the same time John C. Kennerly was promoted to 1st Lieutenant. The vote count also establishes the number of enlisted men in the company as of June 18.]
(CSA) Second Lieutenant Alfred H. H. "Alf" Tolar of Company G, 18th North Carolina was severely wounded at Gettysburg while serving with the sharpshooters. After the battle he was promoted to the captaincy of his company as a reward of merit, the general knowing he would not be available for field service again. However, because his appointment was made over the first lieutenant (the ranking officer), Tolar requested the company vote on who should have the command … and the colonel ordered the election. The result was that Tolar received 61 votes and his opponent three. He then went before the medical board and was relieved [from active field service]. (Houston Post, May 28, 1911, cited in Lone Star Valor, by Joe Owen, 2019) [Comment: The "61 votes" sounds ridiculously high considering the much reduced strength of the company and regiment after Gettysburg – I might believe 21.]
(CSA) (Diary of Captain Robert Emory Park, 12th Alabama, Southern Historical Society Papers, vol. 24 (1898), p. 12)
June 23 [in camp near Greencastle, Pennsylvania]. Lieutenant J. [John] W. Wright's resignation was accepted [for health reasons], and Sergeant G. [George] W. Wright was elected in his stead. I appointed Tom [Thomas H.] Clower first sergeant, and Corporal Bob [Robert H.] Stafford a sergeant. [Comment: Here we see an election among the ranks to choose a junior officer, while the captain made appointments of non-commissioned officers within his company.]
(USA) (Letter of Charles Crockett, Company K, 65th New York to his father, dated July 1, 1863) Father, I see by the paper that Ohio has passed a law allowing soldiers to vote. I am afraid that this company will be overlooked as we are in a New York regiment. I don't think [Clement] Vallandigham would get a single vote in the company – certainly not more than one. [Comment: Company K had recruited largely from Seneca, Ohio, although it had some New York men. The regiment had also recruited heavily in Connecticut and Rhode Island and had a few men from Maine.]
(CSA) (Diary of Jacob H. Lemley, Musician, 48th Virginia) May 28, Election Day [in Virginia], I voted for Governor [William] Smith, for Lieutenant Governor [John D.] Imboden, also voted for Tucker, Holliday, Carson, Kaufman and Ward. [Comment: It bears mentioning that Smith led his brigade into action at Gettysburg as the governor-elect of Virginia, a fact that his military superiors could not overlook. It was not a consideration in Imboden's case since he was not elected as lieutenant governor.]
(CSA) On the 18th of June [1863] the men were assembled to cast their votes, which stood 24 for myself, three for Thomas Kennedy and one scattering. Having been duly announced an officer … I entered upon my new and responsible duties. (Letters of Charles J. Batchelor, 2nd Lieutenant, Company E, 2nd Louisiana, dated August 6 and October 18, 1863) [Comment: An election was necessary to fill a vacancy created when Captain L. G. Picou, commanding Company E, 2nd Louisiana, was killed at Winchester on June 15, 1863. At the same time John C. Kennerly was promoted to 1st Lieutenant. The vote count also establishes the number of enlisted men in the company as of June 18.]
(CSA) Second Lieutenant Alfred H. H. "Alf" Tolar of Company G, 18th North Carolina was severely wounded at Gettysburg while serving with the sharpshooters. After the battle he was promoted to the captaincy of his company as a reward of merit, the general knowing he would not be available for field service again. However, because his appointment was made over the first lieutenant (the ranking officer), Tolar requested the company vote on who should have the command … and the colonel ordered the election. The result was that Tolar received 61 votes and his opponent three. He then went before the medical board and was relieved [from active field service]. (Houston Post, May 28, 1911, cited in Lone Star Valor, by Joe Owen, 2019) [Comment: The "61 votes" sounds ridiculously high considering the much reduced strength of the company and regiment after Gettysburg – I might believe 21.]
(CSA) (Diary of Captain Robert Emory Park, 12th Alabama, Southern Historical Society Papers, vol. 24 (1898), p. 12)
June 23 [in camp near Greencastle, Pennsylvania]. Lieutenant J. [John] W. Wright's resignation was accepted [for health reasons], and Sergeant G. [George] W. Wright was elected in his stead. I appointed Tom [Thomas H.] Clower first sergeant, and Corporal Bob [Robert H.] Stafford a sergeant. [Comment: Here we see an election among the ranks to choose a junior officer, while the captain made appointments of non-commissioned officers within his company.]
(USA) (Letter of Charles Crockett, Company K, 65th New York to his father, dated July 1, 1863) Father, I see by the paper that Ohio has passed a law allowing soldiers to vote. I am afraid that this company will be overlooked as we are in a New York regiment. I don't think [Clement] Vallandigham would get a single vote in the company – certainly not more than one. [Comment: Company K had recruited largely from Seneca, Ohio, although it had some New York men. The regiment had also recruited heavily in Connecticut and Rhode Island and had a few men from Maine.]
Bringing the