Confederate States Army

The **Confederate States Army** (CSA) was organized in February 1861 to fight for the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. Somewhere between 750,000 and 1.2 million soldiers served the Confederacy in one form or another. The exact numbers are not known because of  and ed records. On April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee surrendered what was left of the Army of Northern Virginia to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia. While his army was only a part of the total Confederate army, his surrender marked the end of the Confederacy. Both armies were mainly infantry, cavalry and artillery units. At the start of the war, a regiment was 1,000 men and was led by a colonel. Regiments were usually recruited from the same area so most soldiers and officers knew each other.  Disease, desertion, and combat reduced the numbers considerably. Usually, instead of adding new recruits to a decimated regiment, a new regiment would be raised in its place.

* The Army of Northern Virginia was one of the main forces of the Confederate Army in the east.
* The Confederate Army of the Shenandoah, after the First Battle of Bull Run it became part of the Confederate Army of the Potomac.
* The Army of the Peninsula was established May 26, 1861.  On April 12, 1862, it was merged into the Army of Northern Virginia.
* The Confederate Army of the Northwest was an army early in the war. It was disbanded February 9, 1862.
* The Army of Central Kentucky. Was created in 1861. In March 1862 it was merged into the Army of Mississippi, which then became the Army of Tennessee
* The Army of New Mexico was a smaller army that operated in the New Mexico Territory in 1861 and 1862. 
* The Army of the West was largely made up of the Missouri State Guard.

## Confederate officers 
Before the Civil War, many Confederate officers were in the United States Army.  When war started, 313 army officers resigned and became officers in the Confederate army. Robert E. Lee was one of those who found it difficult to leave.  Abraham Lincoln had offered to make him commander-in-chief of the Union Army. When these units joined the Confederate army, their officers were ed. But at the start of the war, few Southern officers had any real experience.

Almost all Confederate soldiers where white

The average Confederate soldier was in his early 20s. He was usually gaunt, unkempt and beards were common. It often did not fit, especially if taken off a dead soldier. Most wore a white shirt under their wool jacket. Replacement uniforms were hard to get. They would often stain homespun (clothing made at home) with a dye made from walnuts. This gave their uniforms a yellowish-brown appearance they called "butternut". Many did not have shoes or shoes that fit. Those who did nailed horseshoes to the bottom to keep them from wearing through the sole. At first he carried a musket or flintlock rifle. Later in the war many carried the better Enfield rifles taken from dead Union soldiers. Any boots, uniforms or supplies Union soldiers left behind or were captured were used by the Confederate soldiers. In camp, most of the tents were marked "U.S." Most of the Southern Artillery was also captured Union cannons.

## Notes 
## References