Invalid Corps

[tmh10]

A great number of Civil War soldiers were disabled by weapons, disease, and accidents. Initially, the permanently disabled received medical discharges from the army, but later they remained in the service and performed noncombat duties, relieving other soldiers to fight.

In 1862 the Union army allowed chief medical officers to employ "convalescent wounded and feeble men" as nurses, cooks, and hospital attendants and subsequently to organize them into detachments. Unfortunately, these methods were inefficient, and many convalescents did not return to their combat units when well.

Therefore, in Apr. 1863 the U.S. War Department created an Invalid Corps of worthy disabled officers and men who were or had been in the army. Ridicule influenced the corps to exchange its sky blue uniform for one similar to those worn by the other soldiers. The corps formed 2 "battalions," the first for those who could bear arms and perform garrison duty and the second for the severely handicapped fit only for hospital service. Late in the war the surgeon general took command of the second battalion. Like the combat units, the Invalid Corps organized officers and men into companies and regiments.

Renamed the "Veteran Reserve Corps" 18 Mar.1864, it was abolished during summer 1866. Between 1863 and 1866 more than 60,000 individuals served in the organization and performed valuable services, including garrisoning fortifications and quelling an 1863 "Draft Riot" in New York City.

The Confederacy established an Invalid Corps in 1864, in which officers and men disabled in the line of duty had to serve if they wished to receive pay. Also, if their physical condition improved sufficiently, they had to return to their combat unit. Unlike its Union counterpart, the Confederate Invalid Corps never organized companies and regiments, but a high percentage of its officers and men did perform worthwhile duties based on their disabilities and army requirements.
(Source: Historical Times Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Civil War)

 

[Red Harvest]

At the second battle of Springfield, Missouri the ambulatory ill and wounded Federals formed the "Quinine brigade" (about a full battalion's worth) of vets. in defense of the city vs. Marmaduke and Shelby.

 

[reading48]

Good info,....

 

[rhp6033]

I think it was in Catton's trilogy that I read about an attempt to get a unit of the Invalid Corps (by whatever name) to report for service (I forget where, or for what service). At some point they departed from a train or ship and lined up to march for a distance. The officer in charge was dismayed to see that the men recently put under his charge were completely incapable of marking more than a few hundred yards, much less several miles. He had to send for wagons to tranport them back to their previous location, explaining in a telegram that they were incapable of performing the slightest physical exertion.

I'm sure they found some use for them elsewhere, but clearly here Grant's attempts to scour every last cubbyhole for a Union soldier in blue to man his Overland/Petersburg campaign had tried to grasp too far.

 

[Pvt.A.Wells]

I am aware one of my Ancestors (6th Ky. his brother died at the same battle where he was wounded at Dallas) stayed with his Company, even after a bad leg wound that left him crippled. He stood picket duty and cooked for his pards till the end of the war.

 

[Robert Gray]

Veteran Reserve Corps troops (light uniforms, foreground) escort Lincoln's catafalque during the New York funeral on April 24-25, 1865.

 

[major bill]

The 2nd Veteran Reserve Corps was formed 1863 to protect Detroit from possible British intervention via Canada. Prior to this The State Active Guard protected Detroit from Canadian invasion. The Active Guard was not truly active, more like minute men. The State Active Guard consisted of The Detroit Light Guard (blue and grey semi Zouave uniforms and all grey semi Zouave fatigue uniforms), The Scott Guard (blue uniforms), an artillery section (probably Company B of the Scott Guard in blue uniforms), and the newly formed Lyon Guards (bright blue uniforms). The only other military forces available to defend Detroit were militia companies, the Shield Guards (blue uniforms), Yager Guards (green coats blue pants), U.S. Zouave Cadets (of Detroit in Zoauve uniforms, join the Detroit Light Guards in late 1861), Jackson Guard Reserve Corps, The Detroit Liberty Guards (pre-war militia company of black Detroiters), Escorse Light Guard, and Brother Jonathon Zouaves (young men who wore Zouave uniforms). To this could be added several poorly trained, poorly armed, home guard companies. The total forces available was less than a regiment. I don't think the British would have had too much to be worried about if they choice to invade Detroit in 1861 or 1862.

Major Bill