Officers Commission

[Southern Son]

I have a question about the officers commission.
In a commission i can read:
..........do appoint him Second Lieutenant in the Sixteenth Regiment of Infantry.......
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My questions:
1. Is this a commission for an 'regular officer'?
2. What stand in the commission for an 'volunteer officer', e.g. 2nd Lieutenant of the 12th Kentucky Cavalry Regiment?
3.When an officer was promoted e.g. from 1st.Lieutenant to Captain, he get a new commisson.What becomes with his 'old commission'?

Thanks for help.

Expired Image Removed

 

[ole]

My questions:
1. Is this a commission for an 'regular officer'?
2. What stand in the commission for an 'volunteer officer', e.g. 2nd Lieutenant of the 12th Kentucky Cavalry Regiment?
3.When an officer was promoted e.g. from 1st.Lieutenant to Captain, he get a new commisson.What becomes with his 'old commission'?

Many good questions, Southern Son.

Number one does not apply, strictly, to the CSA. On the US side, there were regulars. These were not your basic lump of volunteers. They had chosen to enlist as an army or cavalry or artillery as a profession, however temporary. Before the war, this was all there was.

Number two has to do with the volunteer units, which played major roles in that unpleasantness. Again from the Union side, the volunteer Major General got promoted when he gained a Brigadier General in the regulars.

Number three is that somebody else got moved up.

Prewar, antebellum, if you'd rather, somebody had to die before you had a chance of stepping up a notch in grade and/or pay. When the war broke, Bobby Lee was a Light Colonel after many, many years of service with the regulars.

At the time, the military as a career was a dead end. There were hundreds, if not thousands of Lieutents out there just waiting for enough Colonels to die so they could become Captains.

Many just said ***** this and jumped into civilian life. There was, in that, some expectation of advancement. Lee didn't. Why he didn't, I cannot know. But it might be indicative of something.

I do find it interesting that Lee was still an active regular when the war broke out. As were JE Johnston and AS Johnston, and Bo, and a few others. On the Union side we had Irwin McDowell. Most everyone else was called back from whatever civilian pursuit they were in. The only guy the Union had in command was the aging, corpulent, useless general Scott. His thoughts were still good, and his recommendations worked very well.

Shucks. Rambling again.

Ole

 

[Borderruffian]

I'd say it almost has to be a Volunteer Commission. I can't (although it might me overlooking it) find a 16th United States Infantry that was a Regular Unit. The current 16th Infantry was stood up in 1869 by combining the 11th and 34th Regiments. The 16th today uses the 11th's lineage.

There was however a 16th Regiment of United States Colored Troops raised in Tennesee.

 

[M E Wolf]

Dear Borderruffian;

I found this:
Dyer's Compendium, Pt. 1 (Campaigns etc.)
Organization List (here for abbreviations)--U.S. Regular Army
st Regt. Cav.
2nd Regt. Cav.
3rd Regt. Cav.
4th Regt. Cav.
5th Regt. Cav.
6th Regt. Cav.
Batty. A. 1st Arty.
Batty. B. 1st Arty.
Batty. C. 1st Arty.
Batty. D. 1st Arty.
Batty. E. 1st Arty.
Batty. F. 1st Arty.
Batty. G. 1st Arty.
Batty. H. 1st Arty.
Batty. I. 1st Arty.
Batty. K. 1st Arty.
Batty. L. 1st Arty.
Batty. M. 1st Arty.
Batty. A. 2nd Arty.
Batty. B. 2nd Arty.
Batty. C. 2nd Arty.
Batty. D. 2nd Arty.
Batty. E. 2nd Arty.
Batty. F. 2nd Arty.
Batty. G. 2nd Arty.
Batty. H. 2nd Arty.
Batty. I. 2nd Arty.
Batty. K. 2nd Arty.
Batty. L. 2nd Arty.
Batty. M. 2nd Arty.
Batty. A. 3rd Arty.
Batty. B. 3rd Arty.
Batty. C. 3rd Arty.
Batty. D. 3rd Arty.
Batty. E. 3rd Arty.
Batty. F. 3rd Arty.
Batty. G. 3rd Arty.
Batty. H. 3rd Arty.
Batty. I. 3rd Arty.
Batty. K. 3rd Arty.
Batty. L. 3rd Arty.
Batty. M. 3rd Arty.
Batty. A. 4th Arty.
Batty. B. 4th Arty.
Batty. C. 4th Arty.
Batty. D. 4th Arty.
Batty. E. 4th Arty.
Batty. F. 4th Arty.
Batty. G. 4th Arty.
Batty. H. 4th Arty.
Batty. I. 4th Arty.
Batty. K. 4th Arty.
Batty. L. 4th Arty.
Batty. M. 4th Arty.
Batty. A. 5th Arty.
Batty. B. 5th Arty.
Batty. C. 5th Arty.
Batty. D. 5th Arty.
Batty. E. 5th Arty.
Batty. F. 5th Arty.
Batty. G. 5th Arty.
Batty. H. 5th Arty.
Batty. I. 5th Arty.
Batty. K. 5th Arty.
Batty. L. 5th Arty.
Batty. M. 5th Arty.
1st Batt'n Engineers.

1st Regt. Infy.
2nd Regt. Infy.
3rd Regt. Infy.
4th Regt. Infy.
5th Regt. Infy.
6th Regt. Infy.
7th Regt. Infy.
8th Regt. Infy.
9th Regt. Infy.
10th Regt. Infy.
11th Regt. Infy.
12th Regt. Infy.
13th Regt.. Infy.
14th Regt. Infy.
15th Regt. Infy.
16th Regt. Infy.
17th Regt. Infy.
18th Regt. Infy.
19th Regt. Infy.
Total organizations, 86.
--------------------------
Dyer's Compendium, Pt. 1 (Campaigns etc.)
Union Regimental Index--United States Regular Army
16th REGIMENT INFANTRY.—Org. at Chicago, Ill. Nov., 1861, 3 Brig., Army Ohio. Dec., 1861, 4 Brig., 2 Div., Army Ohio. Sept.. 1862, 4 Brig., 2 Div., 1 Corps, Army Ohio. Nov., 1862, 3 Brig., 2 Div., Right Wing 14 Corps, Dept. Cumb'd. Dec., 1862, 4 Brig., 1 Div., Centre 14 Corps, Cumb'd. Jany., 1863, 4 Brig., 1 Div., 14 Corps, Cumb'd. April, 1863, 3 Brig., 1 Div., 14 Corps, Cumb'd. Oct., 1863, 2 Brig., 1 Div., 14 Corps, Cumb'd. Sept., 1864, Regular Brig., Chattanooga, Tenn., Dept. Cumb'd. Nov., 1864, 1 Brig., 1st Separate Div., Dist. Etowah, Dept. Cumb'd.
----------------------------
In regard to commissions; from the ACW standards; a commission was issued to an officer the lowest rank would be 2nd Lieutenant. From West Point, NY = National Military Academy; all graduates were 2nd Lieutenants. Each junior officer on his promotion up through the senior ranks; into the General ranks--recieve new commissions that reflect the date of promotion, when it went into effect and--at times his assignment.
This is especially true in the Regular/US Army/USA/Union/Federal Army.
One 'should' see: Example: Captain John Smith-USA; He would be addressed as "Captain Smith or Captain Smith-Regulars"

Commissions for officers in the "Volunteer" Army; were issued with a marked difference; with the USA-V, USV or AoV. They recieved commissions as the regular Army officer; but--there would be wording to reflect if it was a Volunteer position. Example: Captain John Smith-USV He would be addressed as "Captain Smith of Volunteers."

There is also the case of "Brevet Commission" rank. This was an honorary rank bestowed and at times given that rank temporarily until a vacancy in that rank came open; then the senior "Brevet" officer would fill the vacancy. Many came as 'battlefield' promotions. The other way of being 'brevet' commissioned was by Congressional action.

In the "Regular Army," a breveted brigadier general might be in the Regular Army a Colonel. Yet, can be a brevet brigadier general at the same time and hold another brevet commission entirely in the 'Volunteer' army.
General G. A. Custer held three commissions as an example. General Custer held a 'brevet' rank of Major General of Volunteers. He also held a 'brevet' commission as a Brigadier General -Regular US Army. But--George A. Custer's permanent rank was merely a Lt. Colonel.

Here is an exchange between Colonel William Gamble who is Brevet Brigadier General.
HEADQUARTERS SEPARATE BRIGADE,
Fairfax Court-House, Va., March 13, 1865.
Lieut. Col. J. H. TAYLOR,
Chief of Staff, Department of Washington:
COLONEL: I have the honor to report that one of the three stockades at this post will be ready in two days to mount guns. I request that the two 20-pounder Parrott guns may be sent here for that purpose with as little delay as possible.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. GAMBLE,
Colonel, Commanding Brigade.[Indorsement.]
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON,
TWENTY-SECOND ARMY CORPS,
March 14, 1865.
Respectfully returned to Brevet Brigadier-General Gamble, commanding Separate Brigade. It is not deemed advisable to send guns of this caliber to Fairfax.
By command of Brigadier-General Augur:
J. H. TAYLOR,
Cider of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General.
-----
FAIRFAX COURT-HOUSE, VA., March 13, 1865--11.30 a.m.
(Received 12.05 p.m.)
Lieut. Col. J. H. TAYLOR,
Chief of Staff, Department of Washington:
COLONEL: Your telegram received. I have now 1,200 cavalry out--800 with Captain Russell to Sperryville, and about 400 with Colonel Sweitzer to Waterford. The balance of the cavalry is barely sufficient to patrol between the posts of the line, to keep up communications, and protect public property. When the cavalry now out returns the guerrillas in front and rear of the line will have a lively time of it. Nothing yet heard from Captain Russell, but I expect him here to-night. Any information received will at once be telegraphed to you.
W. GAMBLE,
Colonel,
Commanding Brigade
------------
HEADQUARTERS SEPARATE BRIGADE,
Fairfax Court-House, Va., March 17, 1865--5.30 p.m.
Colonel WELLS,
Provost. Marshal- General, Alexandria:
COLONEL: Your telegram received. The line notified. We are ready for a free fight.
W. GAMBLE,
Colonel,
Commanding Brigade.
-----
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON,
TWENTY-SECOND ARMY CORPS,
Washington, D.C., March 17, 1865--10.05 a.m.
General GAMBLE,
Commanding, Fairfax Court-House:
How soon can you spare about 800 cavalry, in good condition, to make an expedition to the Northern Neck?
C. C. AUGUR,
Major-General.
-----
FAIRFAX COURT-HOUSE, VA.,
March 17, 1865--10.30 p.m. (Received 11.30 p.m.)
Maj. Gen. C. C. AUGUR:
GENERAL: I can have 800 cavalry ready to start Monday morning for the Northern Neck. The Eighth Illinois Cavalry are now drawing horses and arms. Colonel Clendenin will call on you to-morrow forenoon.
W. GAMBLE,
Colonel, Commanding Brigade.
===============================================
Can you imagine the confusion? LOL - Maj. General addressing his Colonel in his "Brevet" rank of Brig. General; and Colonel Gamble maintaining his full rank in response.

Anyway - many 'brevet' generals remained addressed as 'generals' even though regular full rank they were another rank entirely.

The 'commission' illustrated, as best as I can read it (have a lap top screen); is for the US Regular Army. Nominated by General (can't read it); Signed and filed by the AAG L. Thomas.

The 'officer' keeps their old commissions for their keepsake; the old commission copy, is kept in file of "Military Records/Archives"; to which tracks the service; pension, etc. When they are promoted; they are issued new commissions. At times; the old commissions will be punched with 'void' in the document; not enough to spoil it but just void it.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

NOTICE POST SCRIPT: This certificate of military officer's commission's top and bottom Vignette matches to US Regular Army; in a later document under President Johnson (after Lincoln's death and signed by Lincoln/now Johnson's Secretary of War

The commission seemingly was recommended by a General (to which I can't read who); and not a commission issued by the National Military Academy (West Point). So the promotion was from merit not by academics.

VIGNETTE: Means the 'engraving and printed illustrations and 'German style' headings and footers to the 'certificate.' Top and bottom Vignettes respectively.

 

[Borderruffian]

Thanks M.E. I'm finding it in the Order of Battle for the Army of the Cumberland now. Don't know why it doesn't appear in my Regimental Lists.

 

[Glorybound]

Southern Son, have you deciphered it yet? I magnified it somewhat and can read most of it if you need assistance. It's a second lieutenant's commission. It's an amazing photograph. The commission date for that soldier was 4/11/65. The writing in the upper left is by the Adjutant General. Let me know if I can help f.u.r.ther.




Lee

 

[M E Wolf]

Dear Borderruffian;

I don't know what source you have but; if you have Dyers you have to page all the way past all the States before you get to the US Regulars. And, US Volunteers out numbered the regular Army. And being U.S. Army - they are alphabetically towards the cabboose.

No worries sir--that is why all 'eyes and ears' of the list members are important.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

 

[Southern Son]

Thanks a lot, guys.
Very interesting stuff.
Just read about Col. R.H.G.Minty, who was a Lieutenant Colonel of the 3rd Michigan Cavalry , who resigned in July 1862, to accept the colonelcy of the 4th Michigan Cavalry.

 

[M E Wolf]

Dear Southern_Son;

For what its worth -- an "officer" is an appointed position.

Early in the American Civil War; officers were 'elected'; especially in the junior ranks by the 'men'/group. Once elected then they were commissioned and that commission was authorized by the certificate; like your certificate.

An officer who was 'appointed,' via recommendation, etc.; is still something that is not an absolute secure position. It is a 'position' or 'holding office,' thus -- "Officer" is the term used. It was a position of trust.

An officer could loose their commission entirely (old term 'debraided*); their commission can/could be revoked/resended, they could be demoted. The same can be said for the 'brevet' rank as well.

*Uniforms had braided shoulderboards, braids on sleeves; as part of the officer's uniform. To be debraided was to 'strip' the rank off.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

 

[Southern Son]

E.Tarrant wrote in his book
'The Wild Riders of the First Kentucky Cavalry'

...... Captain John Smith gives the following account of the origin and organization of Company I : " Company I was organized with about fifty men, at Mackville, Washington [FONT=&quot]county, Ky., in July, 1861......[/FONT] After arriving in camp an election was held, result- ing in the election of the following officers : John Smith, Captain ; James Mays, 1st Lieutenant ; Alexander Thomp- son, 2d Lieutenant."

Kautz' Customs of Service for Officers (1864)
August V. Kautz
CAPT.SIXTH U.S. CAVALRY, BRIG AND BREVET MAJ.-GEN.OF VOLUNTEERS
......All officers of the Regular Service are senior to officers of the Volunteer Service, of the same grade, without reference to date of commission (Reg. 9)....

 

[ole]

And the officers quickly learned that the chicken salad all over their sleeves and shoulder boards made them a prime target. A sharpshooters dream.

Ole

 

[M E Wolf]

Dear Ole;

Those 'chickens' on the straps (Colonel Eagles); were probably prime targets for hunters (sharpshooters) because they confused those eagle insignias for chickens and...hungry; they shot at them hopeful for food.

Problem is, the eagles flew..with the bodies of the one who had eagles on their straps. Didn't kill the chicken/eagle--just made a bloody mess of the man.

With the 'scrambled eggs' on the brim of the cover/hat; thats from the eagle gett'n scared to death, drop an egg like a hot potatoe and skeedaddled leav'n scrambled eggs.

Poor Colonels

Just some thoughts with a bit of wit,

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf
[Hides old eagles]

 

[Baggage Handler #2]

And the officers quickly learned that the chicken salad all over their sleeves and shoulder boards made them a prime target. A sharpshooters dream.

Ole

Had a friend I flew sailplanes with. He was a civilian and associated with some flight test stuff, and on his removable name patch, where the rank would normally be, he had the words "Scorable Target."

Commissions evolved over time, and today we have regular and reserve. The differences between the two are subtle, and occasionally kind of funny. It doesn't have anything to do with the guard or reserve, as both types are indistinguishable while on active duty. In general, a regular commission is considered to be a career officer
While they change over time, once upon a time it was like this:

• service academy grads get regular commissions automagically
• top grads from other commissioning sources may or may not, depending on the needs that year
• reserve officers can change to regular commissions by jumping through some hoops. Usually happens at the 4-7 yr point if it's going to happen at all.
• Regular officers cannot be RIF'd. The way around this in a drawdown is to hold two promotion boards 90 days apart. If a regular officer is passed over twice, (s)he is separated from active duty. With less than 90 days between boards, there is no time to update paper work. In the waning days of the cold war, I knew a number of officers terminated this way. An officer with a regular commission could not (IIRC) accept a post in a reserve unit, although a RIF'd officer with a reserve commission, I believe, could.
• need to have a regular to stay in past 20 yrs (this varies, I believe)
• retirement pay (for 20 yrs service) is different than for a reserve commission and I believe starts earlier. I've seen these rules change something like 5 times in 4 years, so the wise candidate learns very quickly not bet the farm on promises.
• if the date of rank for two officers is the same, the commission type can determine who gets to walk on the right. And yes, some people are just that retentive. Funniest thing I ever saw was a new captain showing up and one of our local insecure types immediately started feeling around for date of rank. Pin head.
• the rules for working as a gov't civilian after the end of military service can be different, but this changes over time and I don't recall the particulars

My understanding is that during the USCW, the US Army officers had a slightly higher opinion of themselves than their "state militia mustered into federal service" fellows of comparable rank. I've not seen it spelled out, but think that some of the brevet promotions may have been issued to compensate. I'm not sure how this would translate into the southern army, but would be very surprised if the West Point fraternity didn't keep a pretty sharp eye out for their friends. This has/had both good and bad points.
I realize this isn't precisely on topic, but I hope it's close enough.

 

[Southern Son]

Here is another officers commission.

Expired Image Removed

 

[M E Wolf]

Dear Southern_Son;

Oooooooooooooooooooooh what a lovely certificate of a military officer's commission for an Ohio Infantry Regiment from 1862!

I don't know about you but; I love the art work of these certificates of commissions; and the writing!

Excellent picture of the commission sir! Thank you so very much for sharing!

Respectfully submitted,
M. E. Wolf
[Still admiring the writing and printing on the certificate of commission]

 

[ole]

There is a story behind that commission. It must have been a special case (or I have been mistaken all these years) in that the normal practice was for companies to elect their own officers. Or was that actually changed, as the certificate indicates, by July 1862?

Ole

 

[M E Wolf]

Dear Ole;

Not able to clearly establish when/if 'election' of officers ceased and when commissions were issued in lieu of elected officers.

However, what I am seeing; is that officers are still being elected on a regimental level as well as commissions issued once elected. Further; when their unit/company/regiment is dissolved the officer's commissions are vacated.

I see this in the CSA as well as the USA military so far.

In the case of Governor Tod's commission to 2nd Lieutenant Joseph Miller (if my read is correct); was given by the Governor himself; not a case of an election--if it was an elected commission; I would think it would have been worded in the certificate...'duly elected by the officers and enlisted as..[insert rank elected to]; then acknowledgement and authority of that election with the weight of the governor..in this case Govenor Tod.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf
=================================
Thought this was interesting:

O.R.--SERIES III--VOLUME V [S# 126]
CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, REPORTS, AND RETURNS OF THE UNION AUTHORITIES FROM MAY 1, 1865, TO THE END.(*)--#31
[excerpt]
COLORED VOLUNTEERS.
For all information in relation to colored volunteer troops I beg leave to refer to the annexed report of Bvt. Col. C. W. Foster, assistant adjutant-general of volunteers, who organized and has continued in charge of that branch of the duties of this office.
In addition to the distinctive branches already referred to, there are four others immediately connected with this office, as follows:
1. The subject of commissions, under Bvt. Brig. Gen. J. C. Kelton, assistant adjutant-general. This branch embraces the preparation and issue of all letters of appointment and commissions to officers appointed by the President, and their accurate registry; the regulating of proper succession and promotion of officers; preparation of orders of promotion and army registers; ordnance-sergeants', hospital stewards', and sutlers' warrants; the solution of numerous questions of rank and of pay depending on dates of appointment and acceptance of commission, and of questions of organization of the Army under acts of Congress. Some little idea may be formed of the scope of this class of duties by the fact that over ten thousand commissions, brevets and other, have been issued since November 1, 1865, for regular and volunteer officers.[/COLOR]
2. The preparation and distribution of all special orders, the measures for apprehension and trial of deserters, the miscellaneous correspondence with general and staff officers of the Regular and Volunteer Army, and regimental officers of the Regular Army, relating to leaves of absence, changes of station, &c., and the recruiting service for the Regular Army, details of which have been given above, have been under the immediate direction of Bvt. Brig. Gen. Robert Williams, assistant adjutant-general, who has arranged the detail and assignment of recruiting officers, the drawing of requisitions for funds to supply them, the assignment and forwarding of detachments from depots to regiments, the preparation of instructions to superintendents, and the correspondence with officers concerning accounts, returns, &c.
In addition to these duties, on the transfer of Brevet Brigadier-General Nichols, assistant adjutant-general, to the headquarters Division of the Missouri, General Williams was charged with correspondence on miscellaneous subjects, such as relate to reports of generals, claims, &c., which involves the investigation of all matters of a general nature upon which reports are to be made to the War Department and General-in-Chief, and with the proper filing of letters received.
3. Bvt. Brig. Gen. Samuel Breck, assistant adjutant-general, is charged with the preparation and distribution of all books of military regulation and instruction which are used in the Army, and of all blank forms for muster-rolls, returns, &c.; with the custody and correction of returns, enlistments, and muster-rolls, showing the strength and military history of every soldier, together with the numerous questions requiring patient and laborious examination, and voluminous correspondence touching all that relates to soldiers, such as answering inquiries from the accounting, pension, and pay offices, and from relatives; removing charge of desertion; settling claims for horses lost; discharge of minors, &c.; the arrangement and care of old records collected from commands broken up, and the preparation, under a special act of Congress, of a register of every volunteer organization received into the U.S. service during the rebellion.
4. Bvt. Col. H. C. Wood, assistant adjutant-general, is charged with the preparation of all orders issued on court-martial cases, and of all business relating to them after they are reported upon by the Bureau of Military Justice, and with supervision over military prisoners, wherever confined. Also with the examination and auditing of accounts of regimental, post, and company funds, and also with the proper filing and copying of battle reports.
But a faint idea is conveyed in the foregoing of the vast amount of business daily transacted in this office, which is so made up of details as to be incapable of minute description.
It is only due to the officers, clerks, and employés in every branch to say that in intelligence, patient fidelity, accuracy, and neatness in keeping their records, they cannot, as a body, be surpassed.
E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

 

[Southern Son]

Here is another commission.
Copy of the original commission issued by Wisconsin Governor Lucius Fairchild to James Overson on August 20, 1867. It reads in part as follows.

"To All to Whom these Presents shall Come, Greeting: Know Ye, That I do hereby confer on James Overson late a Corporal in Company C Fifteenth Regiment of Wisconsin Infantry Volunteer the rank of Captain BY BREVET, to rank as such from September 20th 1863 in recognition of distinguished gallantry displayed by him at the battle of Chickamauga Ga. where, his company being hard pressed and his Captain having fallen, he took position in front and encouraged his comrades to maintain their position in the fight. In this engagement Overson was severely wounded."
Expired Image Removed


A special one.Can you read it?
Expired Image Removed


It's the resignation of Robert E. Lee.



​

 

[M E Wolf]

Dear Southern_Son;

You do make me savor so many wonderful documents!

Splendid!!!

Beautiful Brevet Commission for James Overton! Hurrah for Overton and hurrah for the Governor to whom acknowledges the bravery!

I marvel at how you do come across all these precious documents!

Resignation of 'then' Colonel Robert E. Lee is a pleasant surprise too sir!

I can see clearly now how the handwriting between 1861 and 1865 changes now; in regard to Colonel/General Lee. It is so healthy and strong in resigning his commission and shakey towards 1863.
Of course, I am assuming these later signatures as a CSA General; were written at his portable secretarial desk on the march and in camp.

Now, if my computer screen isn't tricking me; isn't it Lee's 'heraldry' embossed on the left top corner sir?

Bravo for all your efforts in sharing these beautiful and historic documents!

Simply amazing!

(Still admiring the handwriting in all these documents)

Respectfully submitted,
M. E. Wolf

 

[larry_cockerham]

Many good questions, Southern Son.

I do find it interesting that Lee was still an active regular when the war broke out. As were JE Johnston and AS Johnston, and Bo, and a few others. On the Union side we had Irwin McDowell. Most everyone else was called back from whatever civilian pursuit they were in. The only guy the Union had in command was the aging, corpulent, useless general Scott. His thoughts were still good, and his recommendations worked very well.

Shucks. Rambling again.

Ole

As for Lee, I suspect his relationship to West Point was a factor. He was superintendent prior to 1855. In looking at his record, I found the following on the 2nd Cavalry US, which at least to me is interesting. There are some familiar names in this:


SECOND UNITED STATES CAVALRY. The Second United States Cavalry, one of four new regiments approved by Congress on March 4, 1855, was organized specifically for service on the Texas frontier. It was an elite organization. The troopers rode the finest horses and were issued the latest equipment and firearms. The officers were handpicked by Jefferson Davis,qv secretary of war for President Franklin Pierce. Thus the regiment was known as "Jeff Davis's Own." Most of the officers, like Davis, were West Point graduates and southerners. The regiment was known for the outstanding quality of the sixteen general officers it produced in the 6½ years of its existence. Eleven of these became Confederate generals, and the Second Cavalry supplied one-half, or four, of the full generals of the Confederate Army-Albert Sidney Johnston, Robert E. Lee, Edmund Kirby Smith, and John Bell Hood.qqv Although Pierce had first promised the command to Benjamin McCulloch,qv Davis named Johnston the first commander of the Second Cavalry, which was commanded at various times by George H. Thomas, Earl Van Dorn,qv and Robert E. Lee. Lee commanded the regiment on three occasions-first during the spring of 1855, when the unit was organizing; second during the fall of 1857, when Colonel Johnston was reassigned to campaign against the Mormons in Utah; and finally in the winter of 1860-61. The Second Cavalry was Robert E. Lee's last command in the United States Army. The regiment left Jefferson Barracks, near St. Louis, Missouri, on October 27, 1855, and after riding through Missouri, a corner of Arkansas, and the Indian Territory, crossed the Red River into Texas near the Preston Supply Depotqv on December 15, 1855. When the unit reached Fort Belknap in Young County the command was divided; Maj. William J. Hardee took a detachment of four companies to establish Camp Cooper on the Clear Fork of the Brazos in what is now Throckmorton County, and the rest of the regiment continued south to establish regimental headquarters at Fort Mason in January 1856.
The Second Cavalry remained in Texas until the Civil War.qv During its stay in the Lone Star State, companies of the regiment were involved in some forty engagements along the western and northern frontiers of Texas and along the Rio Grande, fighting Apaches, Comanches, Kiowas, and Mexican marauders. Various companies of the regiment also conducted scores of scouting expeditions into West and Northwest Texas, some of five and six weeks' duration. Companies of the Second Cavalry were stationed at forts Belknap, Chadbourne, Clark, Inge, Mason, McIntosh, and McKavett, and camps Colorado, Cooper, and Verde. Using Texas as a base of operations, the Second Cavalry staged two major raids against the Comanche villages north of the Red River in Kansas Territory, one in October 1858 and the other in May 1859. The most significant engagement fought by the regiment in Texas was the battle of Devils River, July 20, 1857. On that date Lt. John Bell Hood, with a detachment of twenty-five men from Company G, fought a combined force of Comanches and Lipan Apache warriors. It was estimated that of a party of fifty warriors nine Indians were killed and at least double that number injured. The cavalrymen counted seven casualties. Hood himself suffered a painful wound when an arrow pinned his hand to his saddle. As a result of the secessionqv crisis the regiment was ordered out of Texas in late February 1861 and left the state via Indianola during March and April. Upon its return north the Second Cavalry, now under the command of Maj. George H. Thomas, was assigned to Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. When the mounted units of the United States Army were reorganized in the fall of 1861, the Second Cavalry became the Fifth Cavalry, the designation by which it is known today. The Second Cavalry had five years of distinguished service on the Texas frontier and border. It had driven the Indians far beyond the fringes of settlement and had attacked and defeated the Comanches deep in their heartland. It had also helped the Texas Rangers to combat Juan N. Cortina,qv and to bring peace to the lower Rio Grande valley. Thorough in reconnaissance, persistent in pursuit, and successful in battle, the Second United States Cavalry made a significant contribution to Texas frontier history.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: George F. Price, Across the Continent with the Fifth Cavalry (New York: Van Nostrand, 1883; rpt., New York: Antiquarian, 1959). Harold B. Simpson, Cry Comanche: The Second U.S. Cavalry in Texas (Hillsboro, Texas: Hill Junior College Press, 1979).
Harold B. Simpson