Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-07-31
The Rebel Armies.

/ \ correspondent of the New York Tribune
who has obtained access to the rebel archives
/ furnishes some interesting statistics respect
ing the number of soldiers put in the field by
the rebels. and the strength of their armies
at various periods during the war. From
the figures given it appears that the army of
Northern Virginia, when Lee took command
in June, 1862, numbered 100 900 men pres
ent for duty. In July this number was re-
duced to 90 $50 by the seven DAVIS battle
with Mcclellan before Richmond BY Au-
gust these losses had been so far made good
that Lee had % 900 men tit for active duty.
with whom he began a movement against
Washington, resulting in the defeat Of Pope.
and the turning back of the rebel forces 1t
Antietam by Mcclellan. During this cam
paign Lees force was reduced TO - OO0-a
loss of about IL. 900 men. of whom it is said
quite half were stragglers who never rcioined
their ranks. In June, 1868. Lees army
once more and for the last time, counted
100, 900 men fit for active duty. With this
large force he again attempted an invasion
Of the North, but met with a fatal defeat a I
Gettysburg, and in one short month lost 50
600 men, which reduced his force To II 1875.
The absolute loss in this campaign. in killed
wounded and prisoners, was fully 40, 900. al
most half his army. Never after did the
army of Northern Virginia, which for four
years was the bulwark and pride of the
rebels number 20 600 effective men The
latest return shows that in February, 1865.
there were 50 .094 present for duty. and when
it finally retreated from Richmond it is
doubtful if the entire force exceeded 30 900
men. The above figures represent the num-
her fit for active service. There were pres
ent. all along, from seven to twenty-five
thousand who were not fit for duty
The department Of Richmond which was
organized in the summer of 1862. while Lees
army was away fighting Pope. had in Sep
TENDER Of that year, % .G02 troops. but this
number was atterward greatly reduced. and
after December, 1868, appears to have con
sisted of the local militia. composed mainly
Of government EMPLOYEES and exempts from
the regular service 1t is evident that Rich
mond might easily have been taken bv
small force, several times. had our command
ers been aware Of the condition of things.
= Thus in June 1868. when Lee began his
march to Pennsylvania, demonstration was
actually made by force of some Is 900 from
Yorktown it reached the Chickahominv.
but finding the bridges guarded, it returned
without making any attempt at going fur
Their vt this time. there were but 6uOO
men there present for duty. and but 5000.
counting all present and absent Again i'm
raid in which Dahlgren was killed. havsnc
actually penetrated the lines of fertilization,
there were but $40 of these militia in Rich .
mond, besides about 2Ou0 under Winder
forming what was called 'the Department
Of HenrIco, who formed the guard for the
prisoners Had Fitzpatrick kept his cavalry
force together. he might have rode into the
city ana liberated the prisoners. Or had his
cavalry raid been supported by few thou
sand infantry, Richmond might have been
taken and held"
In July. 1862, the rebel armies. East and
We est, numbered altogether n 900 effective
men, in March 1853, PSI 600 in April.
1864, 204 600; in November. 1854. l76. 900
The rebel armies undoubtedly reached their
highest point, both in numbers and efficiency.
in the early summer of 1868, when the move
nent into Pennsylvania was commenced. At
the close of March. before all preparations
mad been made, the returns show a nominal
force of 4S4 600, of whom 34l 600 were
present for duty. Probably about % 600
we're added during the next six weeks to the
Army of the East so that we NAV safely
'ay that AT the middle Of June there were a
little more than $40 900 on the muster rolls.
IF whom 500, goo were present for duty. In
he first week of July, that year they sus-
aimed losses amounting to full 100 900 men
n the spring of 1854, when Grant opened
MS campaign. Lee had only a little more
han $1,000. From this time the returns
how that descrtion was exceedingly rreva
ent in all the rebel armies In August. out
II a nominal force of $50 600. there were not
100000 present for duty in all the armies
Probably in all 6O0.o00 different men were
n the rebel ranks during the war. of whom
t Is not likely more than one-half are alive
at this day.