"Pender's Brigade numbers (A.P. Hills Light Division)" Topic
5 Posts
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ciaphas | 03 Sep 2015 4:45 p.m. PST |
Hi, looking for the numbers and regiments in this brigade through out the war, so far I can find them for Gettysburg and the brigade is large was this the case through the whole war or was Gettysburg an anomaly? thanks jon P.S. is there a reason for the Division being classed as Light? |
Frederick | 03 Sep 2015 5:00 p.m. PST |
Do you mean Pender's Division at Gettyburg? My records suggest it was about 6700 effectives, while the other two divisions in Hill's Corps (Anderson and Heth) were actually larger (7100 and 7400) The "Light" Division was a nickname given by Hill, presumably to reflect an elite status or to improve morale; it was somewhat ironic given that at the time it was created it was the largest division in the Army of Northern Virginia (six full strength brigades) |
zippyfusenet | 03 Sep 2015 6:04 p.m. PST |
The 'Light Division' of Wellington's army in the Peninsula included most of the light infantry battalions, and was considered an elite force. A P Hill was flattering his men. |
vagamer63 | 03 Sep 2015 7:26 p.m. PST |
Hill's Division was given the moniker "Hill's Light Division", because of their reputation for being able to march farther and faster then any other unit in the ANV! The best example was their march from Harpersferry to Sharpsburg in 1862. They made what was a 12 hour march in little more then 7 hours, and went directly into the fight taking General Burnside's Corps in the flank. An attack which saved the rest of Lee's Army from being over whelmed, and possibly destroyed. |
Bill N | 03 Sep 2015 9:21 p.m. PST |
The Light Division was simply a name. I have been unable to track down exactly when Hill first called his unit the Light Division, but I believe it was before his performance at Antietam. One theory was that he adopted it when his division joined Jackson's "foot cavalry". From the time it was augmented by troops from GW Smith's division after Seven Pines until it was broken up before Gettysburg, Hill's division was usually the largest in the ANV. Hill's ability as a combat commander is subject to debate, but he was regarded as a very good administrator which may in part explain the strength of his unit. IIRC Pender's brigade of North Carolina troops originated as Pettigrew's brigade of GW Smith's command. Pender was given command after Pettigrew was wounded at Seven Pines and the unit was transferred to Hill. I believe the 16,22,34 and 38 NC regts were consistently with the brigade and the 13 NC was added later. Pender at Gettysburg had inherited four of the Light Division's six brigades, including his own former brigade now under Scales, which may explain its relative strength. After Gettysburg Wilcox took over the division. After Gettysburg the units of Hill's corps saw the same decline in numbers as the rest of the ANV. Good administration could not make up for the fact it was losing more men than it was bringing in during 1863-65. |
67thtigers | 09 Sep 2015 9:44 a.m. PST |
Pender's Brigade ca. 26th June '62: 2,622 (assuming 22nd Va Bn with Field as per some sources, not Pender) (2nd Arkansas battalion transferred out 15th July) ca. 2nd September '62: 1,596 December '62: 2,000 (gained 13th NC in November) 30th June '63 (Scales): 1,433 April '64: more than 1,700 I'd point out that in April '64 the ANV had rebuilt itself. Young gives for 5th May (including detachments en route): 1st Corps: 18,250 2nd Corps: 21,570 3rd Corps: 24,585 Cavalry Corps: 9,320 = 73,725 This was of course nowhere near the heady heights of the Seven Days, but still consistent with strength at Gettysburg, Fredericksburg and Antietam |
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