When to call in engineers

[52ndFandS]

Assignment to the engineers was desirable because it usually meant postings to more favorable locations. In contrast to the infantry, which were heavily concentrated in remote, lonely, and primitive garrisons in the west, engineering officers would likely be found along the eastern seaboard constructing forts and lighthouses or in the midwest's riverine network, which involved infrastructure improvements. Lee for example, spent his engineering career in places like St. Louis and New York City, certainly more attractive postings than some fly blown post in the desert southwest.

I would imagine things changed during the war. Both ng like some poor confederate engineer wandering around setting up fortifications in rural Missouri in 1861.

 

[DixieRifles]

I was looking at a thread a few weeks ago about the troops present as Meridian, MS surrender. I noticed there was an engineer unit.

When was this surrender? Was that Sherman's expedition in 1864?

I read info on Locket, who was the Engineer at Vicksburg from Tim Smith's book and Paul Beuske's book on Spanish Fort. I was surprised how he was everywhere. Some of that was surveying a new site and planning the layout. By 1865, he was still at the Confederate defenses of Spanish Fort at Mobile Bay.
That says they needed engineers at many places and for every type of job.

 

[52ndFandS]

When was this surrender? Was that Sherman's expedition in 1864?

I read info on Locket, who was the Engineer at Vicksburg from Tim Smith's book and Paul Beuske's book on Spanish Fort. I was surprised how he was everywhere. Some of that was surveying a new site and planning the layout. By 1865, he was still at the Confederate defenses of Spanish Fort at Mobile Bay.
That says they needed engineers at many places and for every type of job.

I believe it was with the surrender of the Trans-Mississippi. Or part of what was left of the army.

 

[Stryker65]

When was this surrender? Was that Sherman's expedition in 1864?

I read info on Locket, who was the Engineer at Vicksburg from Tim Smith's book and Paul Beuske's book on Spanish Fort. I was surprised how he was everywhere. Some of that was surveying a new site and planning the layout. By 1865, he was still at the Confederate defenses of Spanish Fort at Mobile Bay.
That says they needed engineers at many places and for every type of job.

That was the surrender on May 4, 1865, of the Confederate Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana. The forces surrendered consisted mainly of the former Mobile garrison. I have acquired a large portion of the parole lists -- here is that of the officers: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fqI-lTg3ERXNp0KOF7zDVi7QPGeneqIHCU4Hadje76o/edit

In that list, there are twenty-five engineer officers: Col. Samuel H. Lockett, Lt. Col. Minor Meriwether, 8 captains, 6 first lieutenants, 7 second lieutenants, and 2 assistant-surgeons.

 

[52ndFandS]

That was the surrender on May 4, 1865, of the Confederate Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana. The forces surrendered consisted mainly of the former Mobile garrison. I have acquired a large portion of the parole lists -- here is that of the officers: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fqI-lTg3ERXNp0KOF7zDVi7QPGeneqIHCU4Hadje76o/edit

In that list, there are twenty-five engineer officers: Col. Samuel H. Lockett, Lt. Col. Minor Meriwether, 8 captains, 6 first lieutenants, 7 second lieutenants, and 2 assistant-surgeons.

Ah ha! You posted the link! Glad you're here for this.

 

[Dan Kohli]

Academy graduates were assigned according to their class standing. Those at the top of their class became military engineers. Next below them were assigned to artillery, then cavalry, and last of all, infantry. At least that's the way I remember it. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

You are mostly correct. The top two go to the Engineer corps, the next two end up in the topographical engineers, the two below them are assigned to the Ordnance corps. No. Seven through twenty are assigned to the artillery regiments. The rest of the cadets are distributed among the Infantry or cavalry regiments, without favoritism to the cadets standing within their class. This is why Custer ended up being in a cavalry regiment, while graduating last of his class.

 

[DixieRifles]

I believe it was with the surrender of the Trans-Mississippi. Or part of what was left of the army.

Oh. I forgot. Some of the defenders of Mobil escaped to Meridian. A surrender was signed in Mobil—the only surrender to end the war that took place outdoors— so those in Meridian followed suit.

 

[52ndFandS]

Oh. I forgot. Some of the defenders of Mobil escaped to Meridian. A surrender was signed in Mobil—the only surrender to end the war that took place outdoors— so those in Meridian followed suit.

Were there emplacements when they surrendered or too soon to get done?

 

[Stryker65]

Oh. I forgot. Some of the defenders of Mobil escaped to Meridian. A surrender was signed in Mobil—the only surrender to end the war that took place outdoors— so those in Meridian followed suit.

I'd say it was the opposite, actually -- "Some" of the defenders of the Mobile were captured there, most escaped to Meridian. The only forces captured were Cockrell's and Sears' brigades and the Army of Tennessee artillerymen; no officers of Cockrell's brigade (except for some staff officers) and only eleven officers of Sears' brigade (ten from the 46th Mississippi) appear on the parole lists.

 

[Stryker65]

Were there emplacements when they surrendered or too soon to get done?

Spanish Fort, Fort Blakely, and Batteries Huger, Tracy, Buchanan, Gladden, McIntosh, Missouri, and Tilghman were the main Confederate emplacements. There was also a battery some miles north of Mobile, at Choctaw Bluffs.

 

[DixieRifles]

Spanish Fort, Fort Blakely, and Batteries Huger, Tracy, Buchanan, Gladden, McIntosh, Missouri, and Tilghman were the main Confederate emplacements. There was also a battery some miles north of Mobile, at Choctaw Bluffs.

I still have not read my book on Spanish Fort. But Spanish Fort was overrun first about March 27. They escaped to the banks of river to get picked up. Fort Blakely was the next battle and the final attack was a few hours after General Lee surrendered.
I guess those other fortifications were still garrisoned when a surrender was finalized. I forgot the exact details.

 

[Stryker65]

I still have not read my book on Spanish Fort. But Spanish Fort was overrun first about March 27. They escaped to the banks of river to get picked up. Fort Blakely was the next battle and the final attack was a few hours after General Lee surrendered.
I guess those other fortifications were still garrisoned when a surrender was finalized. I forgot the exact details.

Strictly speaking, there was no "surrender" at Mobile. Mobile was turned over to the Union forces since there were no longer any Confederate troops holding it -- they had all evacuated. The mayor of Mobile gave up the city to Canby's army. By this time, Maury and the three remaining divisions of his army had already left for Meridian.

The surrender at Citronelle, Alabama, with commands being paroled at Meridian, Mississippi, occurred in the first week of May -- over three weeks after the surrender of Mobile. The nail in the coffin for Taylor's department was really Johnston's surrender, on April 26.

 

[jackt62]

I would imagine things changed during the war. Both ng like some poor confederate engineer wandering around setting up fortifications in rural Missouri in 1861.

Of course, engineering officers were in great demand on both sides during the CW. The ability to layout defensive lines and fortifications became particularly valued during campaigns such as those at Vicksburg, Atlanta, and Petersburg.

 

[SpanishFort]

When was this surrender? Was that Sherman's expedition in 1864?

I read info on Locket, who was the Engineer at Vicksburg from Tim Smith's book and Paul Beuske's book on Spanish Fort. I was surprised how he was everywhere. Some of that was surveying a new site and planning the layout. By 1865, he was still at the Confederate defenses of Spanish Fort at Mobile Bay.
That says they needed engineers at many places and for every type of job.

Lockett was a talented one. Although I have heard unsubstantiated claims that someone did this painting, this story is nonetheless intriguing: interesting https://www.318central.com/lsuandtheinfamousshermanportrait/

 

[6thMichCav]

When you want something brilliant built with astonishing speed…

OR…

…you want to witness an argument of astonishing length…

 

[SpanishFort]

Strictly speaking, there was no "surrender" at Mobile. Mobile was turned over to the Union forces since there were no longer any Confederate troops holding it -- they had all evacuated. The mayor of Mobile gave up the city to Canby's army. By this time, Maury and the three remaining divisions of his army had already left for Meridian.

The surrender at Citronelle, Alabama, with commands being paroled at Meridian, Mississippi, occurred in the first week of May -- over three weeks after the surrender of Mobile. The nail in the coffin for Taylor's department was really Johnston's surrender, on April 26.

The investment of Spanish Fort began on March 26. The fort's northern flank was assaulted on April 8, but most of the garrison managed to escape soon after that evening.

 

[SpanishFort]

I'd say it was the opposite, actually -- "Some" of the defenders of the Mobile were captured there, most escaped to Meridian. The only forces captured were Cockrell's and Sears' brigades and the Army of Tennessee artillerymen; no officers of Cockrell's brigade (except for some staff officers) and only eleven officers of Sears' brigade (ten from the 46th Mississippi) appear on the parole lists.

Ector's Brigade was a part of Cockrell's Division. They were sent to Spanish Fort. Cockrell and staff were sent to Dauphin Island, unlike most of the men who endured much worse conditions at Ship Island.