Support Services - Pioneers

Tom Elmore

Captain
Member of the Year
Joined
Jan 16, 2015
The Pioneer "Corps" was a large company-sized unit generally consisting of from 50-75 men, commanded by one or two junior officers, which was typically (in the eastern theater) attached to the staff of each division (CSA) or brigade (USA). Subordinate regiments would be called upon to contribute one or more men to the Pioneer detail. Unarmed but equipped with axes, picks, shovels, spades and saws, which were carried in a wagon dedicated for their use, they performed a variety of duties in support of the combatants, including:

- removal of fences and other obstructions in the path of advancing troops.
- construction or repair of bridges and entrenchments.
- cutting of roads through woods for the passage of artillery.
- building of pontoon boats.
- collection of abandoned small arms and accouterments (on behalf of the ordnance department).
- assisting the wounded off the battlefield.
- burial of the dead on the field or near the hospitals.

Usually posted safely toward the rear, the Pioneers were called to the very front when approaching the enemy, to level fences to enable the rapid deployment of troops and artillery. At Gettysburg, a group of Union Pioneers was sent out to a farmhouse and outbuildings between the lines with orders to burn it at a given signal, but the Confederates advanced too quickly and they were all taken captive, although a prompt counterattack soon freed them. If the Pioneers were not otherwise gainfully employed, they might be sent back to their respective units to provide extra manpower. Or, they might be overlooked and remain idle, as was the case with Major General Ed Johnson's Pioneers at Gettysburg. While his comrades were being shot down on Culp's Hill, Private John O. Casler of the 33rd Virginia reports that he and his fellow Pioneers had a "good time" feasting on food confiscated from an abandoned house behind the lines, which they managed to accidentally burn down.

With regard to the dead, the Pioneers separated friend from foe and placed the bodies in rows to be buried in long trenches, ideally 7 feet wide and 4-5 feet deep. One squad of a dozen Pioneers managed to bury 29 dead within a day. If the dead were especially plentiful, they might be assisted in this task by the Provost Guard or additional details from the regiments.
 
In most cases pioneer corps were formed by drawing a certain number of men from the available infantry units. These men were to be returned to the units if not actively being used for pioneer tasks. Rosecrans modified this concept by permanently assigning men to his Pioneer Brigade to make up for a shortfall in engineer troops.
 
In most cases pioneer corps were formed by drawing a certain number of men from the available infantry units. These men were to be returned to the units if not actively being used for pioneer tasks. Rosecrans modified this concept by permanently assigning men to his Pioneer Brigade to make up for a shortfall in engineer troops.

This was the case for one of my ancestors who was in Rosecrans' army during the Corinth campaign. He was assigned to the Pioneer Corps from his regiment and I assume he spent the time building corduroy roads in Mississippi for the Union troops.
 
Great thread. Two questions: I've seen the Pioneers sleeve insignia of the two crossed axes, but I was wondering did they retain their normal infantry hunting horn cap badge and sky blue infantry chevrons with the axes badge above them (and pioneers in cavalry units with the yellow chevrons or did cavalry not have pioneers)? And why weren't they armed when they were performing their engineer tasks? Regular engineers were armed when going about their business right?
 
pioneer.jpg


fatigue.jpg
 
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1456881450/?tag=civilwartalkc-20

The Soul of a Soldier:The True Story of a Mounted Pioneer in the Civil WarWar

"The Soul of a Soldier: the True Story of a Mounted Pioneer in the Civil War." At age 42, Samuel K. Miller volunteered for the 211th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in September 1864 and served until June 1865. During his nine months in the service, he wrote 46 letters to his wife and, through her, to their one and five year old sons at their home in the little town of Hartstown, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, population less than 200.

This book contains the 46 letters that Samuel wrote during his time in the service of the Union Army, first as an infantryman, then in the Mounted Pioneer Corps attached to the Headquarters of the Union Ninth Corps.

Samuel's letters provide a penetrating look into his soul, because of the highly personal nature of his letters. His letters reveal his character, values, his aspirations. Demetrius, an ancient Greek orator, literary critic, rhetorician and governor of Athens for ten years, once wrote: "Everyone reveals his own soul in his letters. In every other form of composition it is possible to determine the writer's character, but in none so clearly as the epistolary [the letters]." Demetrius' words apply to Samuel Miller, for Samuel revealed his soul in his letters.

41j1fNNpe0L._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg


 

Attachments

  • 41j1fNNpe0L._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
    41j1fNNpe0L._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
    19.4 KB · Views: 56
For those interested in learning more about Civil War Pioneers.

http://www.libertyrifles.org/research/pioneerbrigade.html


Expired Image Removed
Pvt. William Perkins of the Pioneer Brigade’s 3rd Battalion sports pioneer chevrons. Note his chevrons are applied directly to the jacket.

Expired Image Removed
Garret Larew – 1st Battalion, Pioneer Brigade. Taken 1863.

Expired Image Removed
Unidentified Pioneer. Notice his variation chevrons – the triangular axe head is less widely represented in original examples.
 
When I was in the military the shovel, axe and pick bracketed to each M151 Jeep and some other tracked and wheeled vehicles was referred to as the "Pioneer Tool Set". Makes sense.
I was in the Engineers and we still carried large tool boxes filled with picks, axes and shovels- lovingly referred to as the Pioneer boxes.
 
Great thread. Two questions: I've seen the Pioneers sleeve insignia of the two crossed axes, but I was wondering did they retain their normal infantry hunting horn cap badge and sky blue infantry chevrons with the axes badge above them (and pioneers in cavalry units with the yellow chevrons or did cavalry not have pioneers)? And why weren't they armed when they were performing their engineer tasks? Regular engineers were armed when going about their business right?
The general order and regulations stipulated that the Pioneers be drawn from existing units and returned to them when not employed as Pioneers. They are not a separate branch but rather a designation still on the roll of their respected units. The axes should therefore be of the color of their branch. An infantryman designated as a Pioneer is still an infantryman.
Regular Engineers were armed but typically grounded their weapons- not stacked, when on fatigue. They dropped their leathers as well and put a few rounds and caps in their pockets because the belts and pouches were in the way during work details. Depending on the location, they may not have brought them at all. I believe in Westerveldt's book, Diary of a Yankee Engineer, he spoke of turning his rifle in because he never shot it and it was a hindrance. He was with the 1st NYVE.
 
Back
Top