Help:

[lashea28]

Hi, I am writing a novel set during the Civil War. I have been researching but dont understand the different ways men joined the war in the south. I read it was either by the army, by an enrolled militia or a volunteer militia. What is the difference? My two characters are two brothers form Georgia. One joins the war soon after it starts, the other about a year later. They are farmers. Would they have been more likely to fight in a militia. The problem is i need both regiments or whatever to end up at Gettysburg. Please help me. I am a roadblock until I understand. Thanks so much and God Bless.

 

[johan_steele]

Suggested Reading & Bibliography These all should be available through your local library. For Georgia units that made it as far as Gettysburg I would say look to Longstreet's Corps. McLaws Division as both Woffords & Semmes Brigade were largely if not all Georgia troops. Hood's Division in the same Corps had Benning's & Anderson's Brigades which was all Georgia troops. That's just from Longstreet's Corps. Ewell & Hill's Corps each had at least one Brigade each of Georgia troops. You may want to decide if they will be infantry, cav or arty, tat can make a major diference in character development.

If you haven't read Wiley's book, you need to. It will give you a feel for the common soldier. Archambault's boks are a quick gloss that will give you a general idea.

Archambault, Alan H., <u>Billy Yank The Union Soldier in the Civil War</u>, Bellerophon Books, 1995.

Archambault, Alan H., <u>Johnny Reb The Confederate Soldier in the Civil War</u>, Bellerphon Books, 1994.

Griffith, Paddy, <u>Battle In the Civil War Generalship and Tactics in America 1861-65</u>, Fieldbooks, 1986.

Wert, Jeffry D., <u>A Brotherhood of Valor: the Common Soldiers of the Stonewall Brigade, C.S.A., and the Iron Brigade, U.S.A.</u>, Simon &amp; Schuster, 1999.

Wiley, Bell Irvin, <u>The Life of Billy Yank</u>, Louisiana State University Press, 1978.

Wiley, Bell Irvin, <u>The Life of Johnny Reb</u>, Louisiana State University Press, 1978.

Zimmermann, Richard J., <u>Unit Organizations of the American Civil War</u>, RAFM Co. Inc., 1982.

 

[lashea28]

thanks for your help. I will check on those books

 

[gary]

In antebellum America, many small towns had militias. They would have names like (insert town here) riflemen/guards/sharpshooters When the call went out, they were organized by their states into state raised regiments. Their officers were often drawn (by vote) from existing officers of those militias. The term of service for many of these state raised regiments (that were accepted into Confederate service) was only one year.

Then in 1862 the Confederacy adopted the draft (before the Union) of all men up to 35 (have to check on this) - unless said white male had 20 or more slaves (this was a cause of resentment among many southern soldiers who felt they were now fighting a rich man's war). The men per se were finished and some units dissolved to be reraised from discharged (and in most cases they were'nt allowed to leave) men and new drafts from the home. Like in the North, officers could be sent home on leave to recruit and that's how your brothers could be reunited.

Those ineligible for the draft or those exempt from the draft could still serve by joining some special reserve or militia unit that was charged with a special duty (Provost Marshal or guarding certain bridges, railroad lines). Draft evasion became so bad that these stay-at-home provost were busy chasing deserters and draft dodgers. The deserters and draft dodgers resented these Provosts for their privileged status (The P.M. got to wear uniforms and court the ladies and didn't have to fight in combat).

 

[blue_zouave]

Hi Lashea, I'm writing a Civil War novel, too. It's great that you're here doing research and asking questions! When I started my novel, I didn't even know what a regiment was. Now THAT was a long time ago...

If you have any questions about writing in general, mechanics of writing, that sort of thing, Email me at [email protected].

Zou

 

[caller]

I'm writing a Civil War era novel too, Zou. Mines going to be based somewhere in the "western" theater along the Mississippi. Maybe do something that somewhat mirrors my Great (times 3) Grandfather and his Carondelet experience. I have the text of his journal, so I could take actions from it. (The original is on file down in the Library of Congress Archives.)

 

[johan_steele]

Take a look at the diary of Cyrus Boyd, a good diary from the western soldier view of things. Good luck.