Inspecting the Troops

[redst3]

Typically, when the troops were inspected by politicians or top brass, were these events like our modern day idea of formal uniforms, etc or was it a more dressed down thing? I have been reading about Atlanta, Jefferson Davis and Hood. I cant picture the Confederates putting on much a show that late in the campaign. Happy New Year to all.

 

[M E Wolf]

Typically, when the troops were inspected by politicians or top brass, were these events like our modern day idea of formal uniforms, etc or was it a more dressed down thing? I have been reading about Atlanta, Jefferson Davis and Hood. I cant picture the Confederates putting on much a show that late in the campaign. Happy New Year to all.

It is only my personal opinion yet, the men of that period, would have put out their very best, in their finest and with their dead level best in every movement made.

Again, my opinion -- the "gentlemen" of any level of life in the Confederate military would have pride and saw honor in all they did, regardless of the period of that "civil war." Sadly, a Confederate Soldier's life was hard, terrible support by the Quarter-Masters, as there was so little to support with. Yet, the Confederate soldier, did their best with less. Wasting and wanting for man and beast, officers paying out of pocket to feed their men, the women selling what they could--making what they could in support of the fighting man. Indeed the 'theater' of battle determined yet more, what was received or not from Richmond.

Just my thoughts and opinions,
M. E. Wolf

 

[ole]

ME: In my imagination, the formal inspection was just a form of discipline. You are soldiers and let's see if you can act like soldiers.

I'm reasonably certain that such regimentation was considered, for the most part, as a joke -- something that the men an boys did to humor their officers and avoid punishment for laughble infractions.

We have, as a people, accepted that, in the military, we all have to act as a unit. I believe that it wasn't the same way then. "Say what?"