What Unit Would You Serve In?

[RebelHeart]

If you could choose the role you had in serving during the ACW, what would it be?

Artillery? Cavalry? Infantry? Navy? Medicine? Something else?

What and why?

I've always been a pretty good shot (though age has not been so kind to my vision in recent years), so I would see myself in either Infantry or maybe a Sharpshooter Unit.

 

[DanF]

Records clerk back behind the lines. Preferably all the way back at the capitol.
I've been shot at, and been shot. Didn't particularly care for either.

 

[RebelHeart]

Records clerk back behind the lines. Preferably all the way back at the capitol.
I've been shot at, and been shot. Didn't particularly care for either.

I can't imagine either sensation is one you'd care to repeat. Glad to see we still have you here after that.

 

[Booner]

For some reason, all of my ancestors served in the cavalry, (didn't like walking?), and served the Union. One was on Grierson's raid, the others were in the AOP and served at Gettysburg. I would ave like to have ridden with either group.

 

[Horace Porter]

Staff officer.

 

[Legion Para]

This is a very similar thread.

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/if-you-could-join-any-unit-in-the-acw.77719/

 

[TinCan]

piano player in a cat....oh wait, you want a military choice, OK 1st Texas with the ANV, and when I got tied of walkin 8th Texas Cavalry.

Seriously, I'd want to be a gunner on the CSS Virginia, I'm not crazy about walking, and it's been a while since me and a horse seen eye to eye.

 

[LoriAnn]

Okay, the last time I played along in a thread like this, I was cheeky. I'll be good this time...if you guys don't mind a non-military answer.

I would have found the nearest hospital and pestered the nurses to teach me everything they could so I could help them. If they wouldn't have me, I'd find some other way to help area troops...perhaps cooking or laundry.

I would also volunteer to teach people who needed it how to read. (I consider teaching my girls to read one of my greatest accomplishments...it's so simple, yet it opens up the whole world for a person.)

 

[Michael W.]

From the modern standpoint, I am a paramedic and wanting to use the knowledge I have, would choose to serve in the medical field. From the period, being a poor farmer, I would choose the Navy. Specifically, I would have wanted to be on a gunboat in the brown water Navy somewhere in the Western Theatre...

 

[3rdArkGrandson]

Artillery, big loud guns striking fear and chaos, what's not to like? Though if we went with current occupations as it relates to the times I would be a Quatermaster.

 

[Frito]

Infantry.......any unit in JBH Texas Brigade. AAAAAHHHHH Bro you don't know how to play a piano so that career path would be closed to you. And chop-sticks don,t count.

 

[MissREP]

What LoriAnn said!

Though if I were a man--I would guess that I would lean toward the artillery--even if I only made it to powder monkey.

 

[truthckr]

I love horses, so cavalry would be my first choice. I think it would've been great to ride with Forrest.

 

[LoriAnn]

And chop-sticks don,t count.

Now I'm picturing someone playing Chopsticks at a cat house.

From the modern standpoint, I am a paramedic and wanting to use the knowledge I have, would choose to serve in the medical field.

My dad is a retired paramedic/firefighter. In a world that often plays up the sports hero, I grew up knowing who some of the real heroes were (police/fire/military). Cheers, Sir.

 

[TinCan]

Now I'm picturing someone playing Chopsticks at a cat house.


LoriAnn,

It could happen

 

[kepi]

Artillery!

I had the honor of firing a 12-pounder and learning the different crew positions a few years ago.

 

[jackt62]

If I was asked this question in 1861 and I was 18 years old, I'd probably go with my friends and relatives and joined the infantry. Knowing what I now know in 2016, my answer to the question is anywhere that was "as far from the front as possible."

 

[mphstteach]

As a young kid from western Virginia I would have joined my hometown regiment the 5th WV volunteer infantry, but as a student of the war I would have volunteered to do anything but infantry lol

 

[Patrick H]

I'd want to serve somewhere way back away from the fighting. Maybe P.R. director or press secretary to a cabinet member.

 

[AUG]

Count me in with Co. F, Mustang Greys of the 4th Texas Infantry or Co. G of the 8th Texas Cavalry "Terry's Texas Rangers," both out of Bexar.

Though, as some others have said, knowing what I do now I think I'd rather serve in a home guard unit back in Texas! In that case maybe with John "Rip" Ford's cavalry operating in the Rio Grande district.... still exciting but relatively bloodless.