I actually feel dumb asking this.

[ColonelBuckwalter]

I've been fascinated with the war since I was eight years old. But I never thought to find out just how numbers were assigned to regiments.

So... how?

(don't laugh too hard at my ignorance)

 

[RedRover]

I've been fascinated with the war since I was eight years old. But I never thought to find out just how numbers were assigned to regiments.

So... how?

(don't laugh too hard at my ignorance)

It was customary to enumerate them by branch of service. In other words, a separate enumeration between regiments of infantry, artillery, cavalry, engineers, etc.

For example the United States Army, which existed at the time of the war's commencement, included ten regiments of infantry, numbered 1 to 10, four of artillery, numbered 1-4, two of cavalry (1st and 2nd), two of dragoons (1st and 2nd), and one of mounted rifles. During 1861 more regiments were added to the regular Army and numbers were assigned upon organization in continuation of their number among their branch.

In April, 1861, President Lincoln called forth 75,000 Militia from the States for three months active service. These regiments where newly assembled from their militia were by some States designated with new numbers, like the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Connecticut regiments (3 mos.); while New Jersey designated them 1st-4th Regiments of "New Jersey Foot Militia." Meanwhile other States employed existing volunteer Militia regiments entire for this service, like the existing 7th New York National Guard.

The US soon called for 3 year volunteer troops, and most Union soldiers served in such units. The volunteer force followed the regular army mode, in generally numbering the regiments by State and by branch of service. In Connecticut, they continued enumeration beyond the 3 mo. regiments from the 4th Volunteer Infantry (3 yrs.) up. In others, they went from 1st up... For example New Jersey, which raised besides its 1st Regiment of Foot Militia (3 mo.) raised volunteer units designated from 1st Regiment of New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, up. But very generally somewhat like the regular army's mode.

The Southern Confederacy generally followed the same general mode.

 

[ColonelBuckwalter]

Thanks much. Cleared it up for me. It makes sense.

I had a relative who raised a regiment. He'd been in the militia in Tennessee,was the family had been since the 1840s.

Do you know if there was political sway in the south on that? He was a politician. It's almost half politicians and half preachers in family before, during, and after the war. I think one half muet have been trying to make up for the other.

 

[RedRover]

Thanks much. Cleared it up for me. It makes sense.

I had a relative who raised a regiment. He'd been in the militia in Tennessee,was the family had been since the 1840s.

Do you know if there was political sway in the south on that? He was a politician. It's almost half politicians and half preachers in family before, during, and after the war. I think one half muet have been trying to make up for the other.

Various States had various laws relative to the organization of militia or State troops; and in the raising of these regiments for national or confederate service, the US/CS governments relied on the States' modes of appointing officers generally; though the units' organization otherwise conformed to an army standard. Generally, with the raising of volunteer units, it was customary for the companies composing a regiment (generally 10) to elect their own captains and lieutenants. Field officers might be elected too, like the colonels to command the regiment; or in some cases appointed by the Governors, etc. Since there was a tremendous effort to avoid militia drafts where unnecessary, popular men capable of raising a suitable number often were elected captains, and/or elected/appointed colonels, etc. So not uncommon to find publicly well known men at the head of companies, regiments, etc. among the volunteers.

Where volunteer units were being raised in certain districts, if not enough men volunteered to complete them, a militia draft would generally fill the balance.

When volunteering dried up, the Confederacy in April, 1862 commenced a general system of "conscription," by declaring all men soldiers without either an enlistment or muster; the CS Army itself enforcing it. Many men volunteered rather than be conscripted.

The US continued to employ the militia system, employing militia units in US service for brief periods throughout the war, in aid of the army, etc., to fill volunteer units lagging in recruiting, and finally in the "National draft" of 1863-65, employed a federal law to aid the States in drafting the requisite numbers of recruits for the army volunteer units. Many preferring to volunteer than be drafted, as in the latter case, no enlistment bounties, and could not elect one's officers.

 

[Stryker65]

It was customary to enumerate them by branch of service. In other words, a separate enumeration between regiments of infantry, artillery, cavalry, engineers, etc.

Exactly. Rhode Island really sucks in their numbering system because their artillery regiments were numbered 1, 3, 5, and 14; their cavalry regiments were numbered 1, 2, 3, and 7; and their infantry regiments were numbered 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12.

Other examples of messed-up numbering systems:
Arkansas had three 15ths, two 18ths, two 19ths, and two 39th Infantries and three 1st Cavalries; and during the war the 18th, 20th, 22nd, 23rd, 28th, 29th, 30th, and 31st Infantries became, respectively, the 3rd, 22nd (and then the 41st), 35th, 42nd, 36th, 37th, 39th, and 4th Infantries.
Pennsylvania redesignated the 1st-13th Pennsylvania Reserves as the 30th-42nd Pennsylvania, the 1st-6th Pennsylvania Artilleries as the 43rd, 112th, 152nd, 189th, 204th, and 212th Pennsylvania, and the 1st-22nd Cavalries as the 44th, 59th, 60th, 64th, 65th, 70th, 80th, 89th, 92nd, x, 108th, 113th, 117th, 159th, 160th, 161st, 162nd, 163rd, 180th, 181st, 182nd, and 185th Pennsylvania.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

I've been fascinated with the war since I was eight years old. But I never thought to find out just how numbers were assigned to regiments.

So... how?

(don't laugh too hard at my ignorance)

No such question is dumb.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

I've been fascinated with the war since I was eight years old. But I never thought to find out just how numbers were assigned to regiments.

So... how?

(don't laugh too hard at my ignorance)

I have a question that is potentially "dumb" on my part. Did any states, Union or Confederate, skip numbers of regiments, for example transitioning from the 10th infantry regiment to the 40th infantry regiment just to give the opposing side an impression that their side's army was much larger than it actually was.?

 

[Stryker65]

I have a question that is potentially "dumb" on my part. Did any states, Union or Confederate, skip numbers of regiments, for example transitioning from the 10th infantry regiment to the 40th infantry regiment just to give the opposing side an impression that their side's army was much larger than it actually was.?

The Confederates did it, accidentally. Tennessee's system went 1-62, then jumped to 84, and then to 154. The Union had a full investigation into whether Tennessee actually raised 154 regiments.

EDIT: The 154th was a prewar militia unit, actually. @ColonelBuckwalter any overlap with your ancestor?

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

The Confederates did it, accidentally. Tennessee's system went 1-62, then jumped to 84, and then to 154. The Union had a full investigation into whether Tennessee actually raised 154 regiments.

EDIT: The 154th was a prewar militia unit, actually. @ColonelBuckwalter any overlap with your ancestor?

The Confederates did it, accidentally. Tennessee's system went 1-62, then jumped to 84, and then to 154. The Union had a full investigation into whether Tennessee actually raised 154 regiments.

EDIT: The 154th was a prewar militia unit, actually. @ColonelBuckwalter any overlap with your ancestor?

Thank you, @Stryker65.

 

[ColonelBuckwalter]

The Confederates did it, accidentally. Tennessee's system went 1-62, then jumped to 84, and then to 154. The Union had a full investigation into whether Tennessee actually raised 154 regiments.

EDIT: The 154th was a prewar militia unit, actually. @ColonelBuckwalter any overlap with your ancestor?

Yeah, kinda, maybe. I have yet to buy the book on the unit. And my wife will be upset when I do I don't buy paperback if I don't have to.

After Nashville the 52nd, already combined with 51st, twice no less and there is southern secessionist law for you, was combined again with the 13th, and the 54th, which might be the 154th with new designation or a mistake made in order of battle list. I can't find any evidence, as of yet.

But upon the conglom of the regiments my relative was out of a job. The 52nd had taken a lot of casualties by that point and upon reorganizing got a new F&S. He might have been wounded too. Either way he was in Meridian, MS when it was all over. But as a drillmaster might well have had a part in the reorganizing.

The units at the end of the war can be confusing.

 

[RedRover]

The Confederates did it, accidentally. Tennessee's system went 1-62, then jumped to 84, and then to 154. The Union had a full investigation into whether Tennessee actually raised 154 regiments.

EDIT: The 154th was a prewar militia unit, actually. @ColonelBuckwalter any overlap with your ancestor?

It certainly was. And it was incorporated by the State legislature too, in March, 1860 as an association/regiment of volunteer militia...

The 154th Tennessee Militia Regiment, volunteered as a unit into active service with the Provisional Army of Tennessee, May 14, 1861 for twelve months. It was tendered to the service of the CSA from August 13, 1861 as Confederate States troops, though retaining the name of their militia regiment until 1865.

The regiment was consolidated with the 13th Tennessee Volunteers in in 1863, forming thereafter the 13th & 154th Tennessee Volunteers (consolidated):

These and other units were consolidated more fully in North Carolina in April, 1865 into the 2nd Tennessee Infantry (Consolidated)...

Ultimately, it appears the name (numeral included) of any given regiment was immaterial to the armies. The Laws under which they were organized had perhaps more importance.

For example, some of the Militia Regiments that volunteered to serve as US troops. I recall the case of the 14th New York State Militia Regiment, which was designated the 84th New York Volunteer Infantry on mustering as three year troops, though they kept their State title so far as they could. I think the same with the 20th New York State Militia, which the USA recognized as the 80th New York Volunteers... I've seen where the Army didn't like them still employing their Militia regimental name, but the Governor approved, so the Army relented.

Some of the nine months militia regiments in US service in 1862-63, though technically militia, did not employ the term in their regimental name. For example the 12th-16th Regiments of "Vermont Volunteers." These regiments enumerated in continuation of the existing Volunteer Army regiments of their States... but as (volunteer) militia in US Service.

Reading about these regiments, apparently they didn't want to be called militia, but "volunteers," as they were volunteer militia, rather than derived from drafts. The name meant little, as they served under the provisions of the July, 1862 militia act, and President Lincoln's calling forth of 300,000 militia in August, 1862 for nine months service, etc.

 

[Mike Serpa]

I've been fascinated with the war since I was eight years old. But I never thought to find out just how numbers were assigned to regiments.

So... how?

(don't laugh too hard at my ignorance)

You question isn't any dumber than my answer (would be if I chose to answer).

 

[ColonelBuckwalter]

It certainly was. And it was incorporated by the State legislature too, in March, 1860 as an association/regiment of volunteer militia...

View attachment 542064
View attachment 542066
View attachment 542065


The 154th Tennessee Militia Regiment, volunteered as a unit into active service with the Provisional Army of Tennessee, May 14, 1861 for twelve months. It was tendered to the service of the CSA from August 13, 1861 as Confederate States troops, though retaining the name of their militia regiment until 1865.

The regiment was consolidated with the 13th Tennessee Volunteers in in 1863, forming thereafter the 13th & 154th Tennessee Volunteers (consolidated):

View attachment 542072


These and other units were consolidated more fully in North Carolina in April, 1865 into the 2nd Tennessee Infantry (Consolidated)...

View attachment 542067


Ultimately, it appears the name (numeral included) of any given regiment was immaterial to the armies. The Laws under which they were organized had perhaps more importance.

For example, some of the Militia Regiments that volunteered to serve as US troops. I recall the case of the 14th New York State Militia Regiment, which was designated the 84th New York Volunteer Infantry on mustering as three year troops, though they kept their State title so far as they could. I think the same with the 20th New York State Militia, which the USA recognized as the 80th New York Volunteers... I've seen where the Army didn't like them still employing their Militia regimental name, but the Governor approved, so the Army relented.

Some of the nine months militia regiments in US service in 1862-63, though technically militia, did not employ the term in their regimental name. For example the 12th-16th Regiments of "Vermont Volunteers." These regiments enumerated in continuation of the existing Volunteer Army regiments of their States... but as (volunteer) militia in US Service.

View attachment 542071

Reading about these regiments, apparently they didn't want to be called militia, but "volunteers," as they were volunteer militia, rather than derived from drafts. The name meant little, as they served under the provisions of the July, 1862 militia act, and President Lincoln's calling forth of 300,000 militia in August, 1862 for nine months service, etc.

Tennessee is the Volunteer State.

 

[ColonelBuckwalter]

You question isn't any dumber than my answer (would be if I chose to answer).

To be fair I still never have been able to grasp the numbers on jerseys in sports. And played football too.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

It was customary to enumerate them by branch of service. In other words, a separate enumeration between regiments of infantry, artillery, cavalry, engineers, etc.

To make it more confusing, volunteer regiments and battalions were often numbered separately. So Florida had 1st Florida Infantry Regiment and an unrelated 1st Florida Infantry Battalion (and likewise for cavalry).

This despite volunteer battalions during the Civil War being undersize regiments (usually 6 Infantry companies instead of 10). Thus a volunteer regiment on paper was often reduced to a defacto battalion. Meanwhile, a battalion that consolidated with another battalion or some independent companies had to get an entirely new number as a regiment.

 

[ColonelBuckwalter]

To make it more confusing, volunteer regiments and battalions were often numbered separately. So Florida had 1st Florida Infantry Regiment and an unrelated 1st Florida Infantry Battalion (and likewise for cavalry).

This despite volunteer battalions during the Civil War being undersize regiments (usually 6 Infantry companies instead of 10). Thus a volunteer regiment on paper was often reduced to a defacto battalion. Meanwhile, a battalion that consolidated with another battalion or some independent companies had to get an entirely new number as a regiment.

Amf with Florida troops, there were Federal and Confederate units with the same numbered designation. Add in state troops with the same designations... It'd drive me to distraction.

 

[BCS1973]

Pennsylvania redesignated the 1st-13th Pennsylvania Reserves as the 30th-42nd Pennsylvania, the 1st-6th Pennsylvania Artilleries as the 43rd, 112th, 152nd, 189th, 204th, and 212th Pennsylvania, and the 1st-22nd Cavalries as the 44th, 59th, 60th, 64th, 65th, 70th, 80th, 89th, 92nd, x, 108th, 113th, 117th, 159th, 160th, 161st, 162nd, 163rd, 180th, 181st, 182nd, and 185th Pennsylvania.

Yeah, like @Stryker65 said, PA was a mess. So, Young's Kentucky Light Cavalry, was really the 3rd PA Cavalry and AKA the 60th regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. Then there's the 1st regiment of California Volunteers that was raised in Philadelphia, PA and which was ultimately the 71st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Add into that that many of the early 90 day regiments had namesakes in the three year regiments. On the Confederate side I can remember the "Fluvanna Light Artillery" but I can't currently remember if they got a number in the ANV.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

Are any regiments on either side known to have gotten an out of sequence numerical designation deliberately and by request? Because the number had some symbolic value, it was the lucky number of the Colonel who raised the regiment, etc.

 

[ColonelBuckwalter]

Are any regiments on either side known to have gotten an out of sequence numerical designation deliberately and by request? Because the number had some symbolic value, it was the lucky number of the Colonel who raised the regiment, etc.

I asked that question about the south.

 

[Stryker65]

I've been fascinated with the war since I was eight years old. But I never thought to find out just how numbers were assigned to regiments.

So... how?

I've realized that we've been giving examples, not answering the "how" question.

When federal authority had to be given to the state to raise regiments, the state gave individual authority to recruiting officers to raise the regiments themselves. Upon completion of a regiment, it was assigned the next number in line. (Example: After the organization of Pennsylvania 3-month units 1-25, the new three-year regiments began at 26.) After the state mustered the unit in, the US Army mustering officer placed the unit in federal service, always under the same number.

Confederate army worked a bit differently. At the beginning of the war, many states were convinced that every unit raised would be part of a "state army" in the same line as the "Connecticut Line" of the Revolution. They organized state mustering boards that assigned each unit a number, based chronologically on when the regiment had finished formation. The Confederate Congress/Executive Branch said no. They took the state units and reassigned them a new number, based on when the muster rolls arrived in Richmond. (Example: Arkansas had the most active mustering board. Colonel Patrick R. Cleburne's regiment received the designation of 1st when it was accepted by the Military Board. However, Confederate authorities had already ordered the recruitment of a "1st", and Cleburne's was hastily redesignated as the 15th. Unfortunately, there was already a 15th Arkansas in service, but its muster rolls had not yet arrived in Richmond.)

Hope this helps!