Hays confusion

[infomanpa]

I know that some of you can help me out with this one. Recently, I discovered that there were 2 brigadier generals with the name of Hays at Gettysburg. I was thinking all along that they were one and the same. Alexander Hays was a division commander under corps commander, Winfield Hancock. Confusingly, after Hancock was wounded on the last day of battle, William Hays became corps commander. Normally, a division commander moves up when the corps commander goes down. Where did William Hays come from and what was he doing at Gettysburg? Did he have seniority over the other Hays? Were they related?

 

[Andy Cardinal]

William Hays I believe was an artillery officer who was promoted to command a division at Chancellorsville, where he was captured. Je was exchanged and took command of the corps.

 

[infomanpa]

William Hays I believe was an artillery officer who was promoted to command a division at Chancellorsville, where he was captured. Je was exchanged and took command of the corps.

Yes, so what was William Hays doing at Gettysburg without a command?

 

[Andy Cardinal]

I'm not sure his exchange date, but as an analogy, Isaac Trimble accompanied Lee's army north without a command.

 

[rpkennedy]

@Andy Cardinal has the right of it. After Hays' exchange in May 1863, he was eventually sent to the Second Corps without a command, very much like Isaac Trimble's situation. When it became clear that John Gibbon was not going to be able to return, Meade appointed William Hays commander of the corps. John Caldwell was not well regarded and, like Abner Doubleday, Meade used the authority given him to make command changes as he saw fit, regardless of seniority. William Hays would keep command of the Second Corps until Gouverneur Warren took over in autumn 1863.

Interestingly, he was appointed to West Point by Andrew Jackson.

Ryan

 

[luinrina]

According to Wikipedia, Wm. Hays was exchanged on May 15, 1863 and sent to Fort Monroe.

 

[thomas aagaard]

Thanks for bringing this topic up. I was not aware that the armies did have extra officers tagging along.

Having extra officers is a good thing at both the lower and upper levels.
The Lts and captains have a number of duties other than actually leading their units. and at the company level the regulations even allow for a extra Lt that got no real job.*

And it is the same at the upper ranks.
Loosing brigade commanders is common and loosing division commanders was not that rare.

So it make sense to have a few even higher ranking officers following the army even when they don't have a command...


*In 1864 the prussian infantry force send against Denmark had had 25% extra officers.
Each infantry regiment only deployed 2 of the 3 battalions, but half the officers from the 3rd battalion followed the regiment in the field.
So jobs like officer of the day, officer of the guard and so on was spread on more men, lowering their work load. It gave more officers actual field experience. And when men was lost to combat or just got sick, new officers where there to take over right away... with no need for travel and getting up to speed.

 

[infomanpa]

So when William Hays took over the Second Corps, one of his division commanders was Alexander Hays.

 

[rpkennedy]

So when William Hays took over the Second Corps, one of his division commanders was Alexander Hays.

Correct.

Ryan

 

[Northern Light]

William Hays

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hays_(general)

William Hays
Born May 9, 1819
Richmond, VirginiaDied February 7, 1875 (aged 55)
Boston, MassachusettsPlace of burial
West Point Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
UnionService/branch United States Army
Union ArmyYears of service 1840–1875Rank

Brigadier GeneralCommands held Horse Artillery Brigade
II CorpsBattles/wars Mexican–American War
American Civil War
William Hays (May 9, 1819 – February 7, 1875) was a career officer in the United States Army, serving as a Union Army general during the American Civil War.