Question About Training For Replacements

[Wawyasto]

How long would it normally take from a replacement recruit to go from enlistment to reporting to his unit in the field? My paternal G-G grandfather enlisted in company B 89th IL Infantry in Sept 8, 1863 which is 11 days before his regiment was engaged in the Battle of Chickamauga.

I'm wondering what the chances are that he fought in either this battle and/or Missionary Ridge? My G-G grandfather had a brother and multiple cousins in the same company. His brother was killed at Chickamauga and a cousin wounded at Missionary Ridge who died the day after Christmas 1863. Dad's side of the family is all but passed with no real family history having been passed down.

 

[Stryker65]

I can't verify this for sure, but IIRC recruits were sent to their units in groups -- it would depend on when he enlisted. But considering training, my theory is that he did not fight at Chickamauga, but upon Union hearing of the disaster, recruits were sent quickly.

 

[Mississippian1861]

In very general terms, for a Northern regiment an officer or officers were sent back to their home areas to recruit and once the quota was hit they would bring the recruits back to the unit where they would be trained in the field with the regiment. But often these old regiments were at a disadvantage to new units that were being formed since the life of a new recruit in a veteran regiment could be difficult. This would lead to veteran regiments being severely under-strength.

In the South, after the summer of 1862 there were relatively few new units being formed and most new men were conscripts being sent to already established units. In theory these men were sent to a camp in their home state, issued uniforms, and given a couple of weeks of basic drill and discipline before being sent to their new units where they would be issued weapons and the rest of their gear. Conscripts did have the right to pick their own units, as long as it wasn't over-strength.

 

[35th MA InfRegt]

It is my understanding as well that replacement recruits from those Union states which actually tried to keep units up to establishment were ordinarily sent to their regiments in groups with little or no training. They may or may not have learned how to march before arriving at their regiments for on the job training. The lucky ones were drilled in camp and learned how to load and fire their muskets before seeing action. Since it was not unheard of for Union soldiers to be sent into battle without ever having fired their weapons, it seems obvious to me the Union Army's training standards were minimal, to say the least.

Now, how long it would be before a a replacement recruit joined his unit, I have no idea. I am guessing a few weeks may have been typical depending on time in transit and the vagaries of the bureaucrats. Who knows, really? I certainly don't!

 

[Mississippian1861]

"Hardtack and Coffee" by Billings goes into this topic a bit. Billings himself tried to join a veteran battery that was recruiting and it was full, he then went and joined a newly formed battery. Looking back he was glad he joined the new unit.

 

[Championhilz]

How long would it normally take from a replacement recruit to go from enlistment to reporting to his unit in the field? My paternal G-G grandfather enlisted in company B 89th IL Infantry in Sept 8, 1863 which is 11 days before his regiment was engaged in the Battle of Chickamauga.

I'm wondering what the chances are that he fought in either this battle and/or Missionary Ridge? My G-G grandfather had a brother and multiple cousins in the same company. His brother was killed at Chickamauga and a cousin wounded at Missionary Ridge who died the day after Christmas 1863. Dad's side of the family is all but passed with no real family history having been passed down.

Some years ago I wrote an article about Charles Capron, a private in Company A, 89th Illinois Infantry. He enlisted in August 1863 and Chickamauga was his first battle. In his letters back home to his parents, Capron went into great detail about how he and the other recruits of the 89th Illinois traveled to reach the regiment in time for the battle of Chickamauga. You can find the article here: https://mississippiconfederates.wordpress.com/2013/01/19/been-front-and-seen-the-elephant/

 

[TerryB]

I've just done some research on Camp Lee outside Richmond. Allegations were made of cruel and abusive treatment of conscripts. An investigation followed but failed to find any fault with the staff. All sorts of excuses were made for them. In February 1864 a cold snap caused a great deal of hardship due to lack of firewood, but again, the newspapers citing the investigation, claimed there was no loss of life, etc., etc.

 

[TerryB]

The commandant of Camp Lee was a Major Peyton, or rather Colonel Shields.