Seniority question

[rpkennedy]

For my own amusement, I'm putting together a list of Union and Confederate generals based on seniority. Now for my question:

My understanding is that a general with a regular commission would be senior to a general with only a volunteer commission, if their date of rank as general is the same. Is this a correct understanding? For example, at Gettysburg, the Fifth Corps division commanders were Brigadier General James Barnes, Brigadier General Romeyn Ayres, and Brigadier General Samuel Crawford. Crawford was the most senior of the three as his general's commission was dated April 25, 1862. Now Barnes and Ayres' commissions were dated as November 29, 1862. Barnes had a previous rank of volunteer colonel dated to July 26, 1861 while Ayres had a regular rank of captain dated May 14, 1861. My understanding is that Ayres is senior to Barnes because he had a regular commission, even if it was for a lesser rank, yes?

Ryan

 

[Patrick H]

I don't know how to even help you get started, but this thread ought to be interesting if you can develop it!

 

[rpkennedy]

I don't know how to even help you get started, but this thread ought to be interesting if you can develop it!

By comparison, the Confederate list was fairly easy. The Union list is a little more complicated even without figuring all the brevets into it.

Ryan

 

[rpkennedy]

Just bumping it back to the front page.

Ryan

 

[GELongstreet]

...My understanding is that a general with a regular commission would be senior to a general with only a volunteer commission, if their date of rank as general is the same. ...

Correct, but even further than that. A regular officer is senior to all volunteer officers of the same rank, no matter the dates of their commissions.