Union Army Strength

[Jace Beleren]

I would like to know how many people were in the Union Army in all theaters. I am unsure if there is a exact number but an estimate will suffice.

 

[NedBaldwin]

I would like to know how many people were in the Union Army in all theaters. I am unsure if there is a exact number but an estimate will suffice.

In the entire war or at a specific time?

 

[Drew]

There were about 2.6 million men in the Union Army during the war. You can look here to support the number.

 

[Jace Beleren]

In the entire war or at a specific time?

Ah I forgot to add that I meant as its peak strength.

 

[NedBaldwin]

Ah I forgot to add that I meant as its peak strength.

At its peak it was about 975,000

 

[johnnydef47]

in kens burns the civil war Shelby foote says he believed the north fought with one hand tied behind its back. with a number like 975,000 and maybe that not being full force is really a lot of people. how does that compare with what the u.s. fielded in ww1 or ww2

 

[Pat Answer]

At its peak it was about 975,000

Was this "on paper" or actual "effectives"?

 

[NedBaldwin]

Was this "on paper" or actual "effectives"?

Paper.

But I found a higher peak -- April 1865 the number peaked at 1.05 Million. I had previously thought the peak was May 1864, which was about 975,000

As Drew pointed out there were around 2.6 M total enlistments, but with staggered enlistment/service dates and losses, the total at any one time was less.

 

[Pat Answer]

I remember stumbling somewhere across an estimate of 535,000 or so in the field armies when Grant took over in March 1864. Which probably means quite a few more in reserve, in training camps, &c.

Of course, the whole question of 'how many really served' is tremendously complicated as you note...

 

[NedBaldwin]

I remember stumbling somewhere across an estimate of 535,000 or so in the field armies when Grant took over in March 1864. Which probably means quite a few more in reserve, in training camps, &c.

Of course, the whole question of 'how many really served' is tremendously complicated as you note...

There is a table from the War Dept for May 1, 1864 showing about 662K present and about 310K in hospitals or for some other reason absent.

Edit: Also, the number marked as 'present' weren;t all in field armies as it included trops on the west coast, new mexico, northern states, washington garrisons, etc. So the estimate of field armies may be what you said.

 

[Pat Answer]

I forgot about the hospitals. Which is inexcusable as I was just reading an article on Walt Whitman the other day...

 

[leftyhunter]

I would like to know how many people were in the Union Army in all theaters. I am unsure if there is a exact number but an estimate will suffice.

Just to muddy up the waters both sides had quite a few guerrillas operating behind the lines. Both sides in particular the Union in Mo had to send quite a few cavalry units to Mo but other states as well. The CSA had to do the same in Jones County, Ms and a few other places. The US Navy supported guerrillas in Fl and Ga. I have not read of conventional CSA units doing the same maybe they did? Then lets muddy up the waters more because both sides used a lot of local militia which from time to time fought conventional armies i.e. the Ga State Militia fought Sherman with less then optimal results and the same go's for the Pa militia vs the AnV during Gettysburg.

 

[leftyhunter]

I would like to know how many people were in the Union Army in all theaters. I am unsure if there is a exact number but an estimate will suffice.

I forgot to make it even more complex because President Lincoln in an agreement with Gov.Gamble to create the Mo State Militia which numbered about 10k and was federally funded and fought mostly CSA guerrillas but did fight conventional CSA units in the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark and fought Gen. Price in his Sept 1864 invasion of Mo. Plus there was short term militia that fought against Price has well in September of 1864. In addition the Gov of Ky had a special state unit led by an arguable psychopathic killer named Edwin Terril that filled Quantrill among others with lead. So it gets kind of complicated. It is a great question though.
Leftyhunter

 

[thomas aagaard]

Basically we do not know. When looking at total numbers the number you get is the total number of signed contracts. But since some where 90 days, some 9 month, some 2 years and some 3 years. it don't tell you the actual strength.
Then add the fact that a man could sign up, desert and then sign up in another regiment.

And some signed up served their term and signed up again.

 

[leftyhunter]

Basically we do not know. When looking at total numbers the number you get is the total number of signed contracts. But since some where 90 days, some 9 month, some 2 years and some 3 years. it don't tell you the actual strength.
Then add the fact that a man could sign up, desert and then sign up in another regiment.

And some signed up served their term and signed up again.

Per a biography of Elvis Presley Elvis's grandfather did so to join two CSA Ms cavalry units and then stole their horses and yet lived to tell the tale.
Leftyhunter

 

[TerryB]

Aren't there supposed to be over 5 million names in the CWSS site? I know that represents both sides and who knows how many duplicates, but still that is off the hook.