The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-08-14
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What0ur Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns
THE WILDERNESS.
The Comparative Forces and Losses OF the Armi
in that Campaign.

II II L
The Comparative Forces and Losses OF the Armies
in that Campaign.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In making
Eny comparative statement of the strength of
the Union aud Confederate armies some differ
ences in their organizations should be noted.
IN the COnfederacy after 1861, all soldiers were
enrolled for the war" There was scarcely
single new regiment organized after 1862 Re-
cruits and conscripts were assigned 10 old regi-
ments. whose ranks were thus kept full. Promo
tions were promptly made to I'LL all vacancies.
Each infantry and cavalry company had three
Iieutenants Brigades, divisions aud army
corps were commanded by officers Of appropri-
ate rank. Brigades. a rule, retained the
same organization from the beginning OF the
war 20 the end.
In the Union army there was perpetual
change. Men were enlisted for all periods,
from three months TO three years. Under each
call for troops new regiments were organized.
Zach infantry and cavalry company had but
two Lieutenants. Promotions were not per-
mitted in old regiments If the number of officers
on she rolls was propOrtionately greater than
lhe number Of enlisted men. The chances for
promotion were, therefore, in inverse ratio 10
the service performed. Brigades and divisions
were changed with each campaign, and seldom
commanded by officers of proper rank.
Some examples from the records will Illus
trate these differences.
Gen. Joseph T. JohnstOn's army by its return
Of 10th OF June, 1864, numbered for duty"
6,53S officers and g., $40 enlisted men.
Gen. Shermans army by its return of Both of
June. 1864. with l00,S5l enlisted men "for
duty" had but 5,2I9 officers. The Army of
the Potomac, including the Ninth Corps, at the
opening OF the Wilderness campaign contained
q infantry brigades, of which % were COM
manded by Colonels. The Army OF Northern
Virginia, including Longstreet's Corps, con-
So fssFs hrffr pf Vnrn
commanded by BrigadieT- Generals. OF the
brigades in the Army of the Potomac which
took part in the battle Of Gettysburg but six,
in May, 1864. were composed of the same regi-
ments as in July, 1863. All of the advantages
OF organization were clearly with the Confed-
crate army.
The return Of the Army Of Northern Vir-
Rinia for April, 1864, shows present for duty "
in the Corps Of Gen. Ewell and A. Z. Hill, the
cavalry command OF Gen Stuart, the artillery
and the Maryland line:"
Generals and staff Officers S66
RegImental aud Company Officers. BIZ
Anlisted ooi'4
1887
Hoke's Brigade Of Earlys Division and two
regiments Of Rodess Division on detached SER
vice are not included.
The reinforcement was on May 6, Long
streets command, nine brigades Of infantry IN
two divisions commanded by Gems. Field and
kershaw, and Is batteries Of artillery.
Gen. Longstreet's return for March 81. 1864,
showed an aggregate present" In IL brigades
Of infantry and the artillery OF l7.257. Two
OF these brigades, Gracie's and Bushrod John
sons, with an aggregate present" Of 3,l42.
went directly 10 Richmond, and did not report
90 Gen. Lee until after he crossed the James
River. The return OF March 81 shows in the
IL brigsdes, 1871 absent on detached service,
3Ib3 absent with leave, and $3.50 absent sick
IA ~LFn
the return Of Lees army shows absent from
the brigades with Field and Kershaw, on de-
tached service, l,26S; with leave, I,261, and
after four months Of incessant battle but $3.50
sick and wounded. The conclusion is plain
that prior 10 the opening Of the Wilderness
campaign there was a large increase 10 the
strength Of LoDgstTeets command from return
Of fUrlOughed men, from conscrpts, recruits
and oonyalesceats. A careful study Of these
figures indicates that the increase was about
1000. This would make the aggregate pres
eut" Of LongstTeets Corps, when il joined the
Army Of Northern Virginia, over IS GEO. and
the present for duty" at the average Of the
army SO per cent. OF its aggregate presentl,
1850 Confirmation is found ia the official
report or Gen. BrattOn for 1864, published in
Vol. VIII, Southern Historical Society papers,.
the aggregate present in whose brigade Of FIVE
regiments 81 the opening Of the campaign
was 20l6. There were Al regiments aud two
al aggregate present Of infantry, II Bratton's
Brigade was Of average strength, Of 1900.
The artillery, by the return Of March q, num-
bered 1873. The 20th s. c. spoken Of IL the
Official diary Of the corps as a. "Keiit's big
Regiment was added 70 kershaR's old Bri-
gade Increasing its strength by probably coo.
EOEes old Brigade commanded By Col.
Lewis rej0lned its division al Hanover juno
ton May 20 il numbered for battle by its
return 81 10th Feb, 1854, - officers aud men.
951OI Nitk X came one Of kOces's detached
o. regiments numbering by the average Of the
other regiments Ia the division, $50 Tor duty.
Gen. BreckinTid9e also Joined the army at
HauOver Junction with the brigades Of Echols
and Wharton r. 200 for duty, one battery OF
artillery, aud the CID Va. the largest regi-
Eeut - IN Imbodeng command, making the
total reinforcement 300 estimating the cd
Va. and the artillery al go
PIcketts Division Of four bTigades, under
Gen. Corse, Terry, Barton and Hunton, came
while The army was IN position on the North
Anna. Il numbered for battle 6s07 81 officers
and men. Hoke's Division Of four brigadeg
6,105 " for duty" "a also came at Cold Harbor.
Two battSlions Of artillery reporting 762 " for
duty" came with Pickett aud Hoke Gen.
Iinncgan with three large regiments from Flor
ida also came 10 the army on the Cold Harbor
line
The Cavalry Corps was increased BIZ the adj
cltion OF tie brigade Of Gen NJ G. Butler. three
b0uth Iarollna regiments and the 20th Ga
battalion. This brigade had never been in
action, its ranks were lnll and $500 is a fair
estimate Of It's strength. The 10th Ga battalion.
numbering "a for duty, the 9Th Ga and
hiilers Legion were also added 10 the cavalry.
Es well Is the 42d Va. battalion, Holcombc's
Legion aud Gary's Brigade from the Depart
mcnt Of Richmond.
Between the Rapidan and the James. Gen.
Lees line Of battle strength was:
Return u fril o.. ... ..... "a gF-
4S1ugsirett com fsifiid 40
2Jth south Carolina ESTIMATED J.-.....- .... 90
EDdeEs Regiment .-...... ...... 4sg
Bo1e' Old Brigade ........ .. m
hrscklnFioges DIVISION. 8 100
1tchetls ~ O. 80
1okeh DlFlsloi. G. 7O3
Artillery with Pickett aud Hoke ........... zGl
5.eiiiDTesineBts 70 cavalry ESTIMATED so
fiHheEan brigade lestlL1aled 800
V,I5f
The return q tho Dcnarfrncnf Of Richr,,,,a