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"Art. 147. A well-instructed and disciplined infantry-man is always prepared for duty. His hours of leisure are devoted to preparation. His clothing is prepared and cleaned, his knapsack always packed, his arms and accoutrements are in order, and his ammunition secure." from Kautz' Customs of Service (1865)
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FORGOTTEN in many histories of the Civil War is the role of the Regular Army during the War Between the States. Within 15 years, the Regular Army was called into two major conflicts (the Mexican War in 1846 and the Civil War in 1861) in which Army units were drastically undermanned and poorly equipped at the start of the conflict. At the start of the Mexican War, the Regular Army numbered only around 5,500 men. At the start of the Civil War, the Army had an actual strength of just 14,926 enlisted men and 1,080 officers (of which almost a third would defect to the Confederacy). During the Civil War, the Regular Army sustained 5,538 battle deaths--including 203 officers and 5,333 enlisted men, and a great many more wounded or incapacitated. Regular Army troops were required to bear the brunt of battle, maintaining the center and guarding the flanks and, in many cases, holding the enemy at bay just long enough to allow others to escape.
In general, the Regular soldiers endured a more regimented and spartan existence than their compatriots in the militias or volunteer units. Discipline was harsh, and adherence to regulation was strictly enforced. Because the recruits preferred the larger bonuses, laxer discipline, and easy-going atmosphere of the volunteers, most of the newly-constituted regiments were never able to fill their additional battalions to authorized strength. During the War, enlistment in the Regular Army was encouraged by a variety of means, including reducing the term of enlistment to 3 years in August 1861, down from the traditional 5 years, introducing bonuses, which reached $402 by August 1863, and eventually the introduction of the draft.
(Source: Mark W. Johnson, That Body of Brave Men: The U.S. Regular Infantry and the Civil War in the West. Reproduced with Permission of the author.) The usual load for a Regular soldier in the field weighed about 45 lbs, including a rifle/musket (14 lbs), 60 rounds of ammunition (6 lbs), three to eight days of short rations (4-12 lbs) were carried in the haversack or knapsack. Each soldier generally carried a canteen (4 lbs), a blanket or overcoat (5 lbs), and a shelter half (2 lbs). Add to this a rubberized poncho or ground sheet, mess gear, extra clothing, and personal items. Ammunition basic loads varied widely from campaign to campaign, even battle to battle. Generally, infantrymen were allotted 200 rounds per man; 60 they carried, 40 in the brigade ordnance train and another 100 in the corps ordnance train. "151. An hour's drill, morning and afternoon, when not marching, is a necessary exercise, no matter may be the proficiency of the regiment or company. It keeps the body in condition for service at any moment, and is conducive to health." Kautz' Customs of Service The official 1861 Union ration included: 20 oz of salt or fresh beef or 12 oz. of pork or bacon, 18 oz. of flour or 20 oz. of corn meal, 1.6 oz. of rice or .64 oz. of beans or 1.5 oz of dried potatoes, 1.6 oz. of green coffee or .24 oz of tea, 2.4 oz. of sugar, .54 oz. of salt, and .32 gill of vinegar. Also, 1 gill of whiskey per day was issued in cases of excessive fatigue or severe exposure. The normal short ration consisted of: 1 lb. of hard bread (hardtack), 3/4 lbs. of salt pork or 1/4 lb. of fresh meat, 1 oz. of coffee, 3 oz. of sugar and salt. In addition to the daily individual ration, the following were issued to every 100 men: 15 pounds of beans or peas; 10 pounds of rice or hominy; 10 pounds of green coffee or 1.5 pounds of tea; 15 pounds of sugar; 4 quarts of vinegar; 3.75 pounds of salt; 4 ounces of pepper; 30 pounds of potatoes; and, when practicable, 1 quart of molasses.
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The Old Army Association. - Re-enacting the Regular Army during the Civil War. |
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