"ACW Legions" Topic

I have several Union and a few Confederate Legions I can field – for example Hamptons Legion

What Civil War Legions can you field?

Not sure what you consider a "Legion"?

The CSA had maybe 10 units designated as Legions organized at the beginning of the war with regiments of infantry, maybe a regiment of cavalry and sometimes a battery of artillery. These where quickly broken up and their components sent to other higher echelon organizations.

The US had only a couple, again broken up almost as soon as the war started. Some units had a designations as "Legion", but only consisted as infantry.

No units retained this level of organization as an actual command unit, so I'm not sure when you think this type of organization would be used for in a game.

As far as what units I could actually field on a game table, I can field the entire armies of Union and Confederate armies at Gettysburg at the regimental/battery level in 15mm to fight the entire 3 day battle. That work?

Kim

In Alabama the the Legion is Hilliards Legion. It consisted of all three branches. Each battalion was dedicated to a specific type. One artillery battalion, one cavalry battalion, two infantry battalions. One battalion was reportedly mixed with two cavalry or mounted rifles Troops plus three companies of infantry sharpshooters. Raised in Montgomery in 1861. By the time they got to the front, they were needed to replace losses.
The cavalry became the 10th Alabama Cavalry. The infantry formed the core of two regiments. The sharpshooters were split between the regiments. Mounted gunmen joined the cavalry, I think.

Infantry regiments we're 59th and 60th. The sharpshooters and selected volunteers became the 23rdSharpshooters.
The artillery Baurbors Light battery.
3,000 men

Some other examples
link

Not sure of full accuracy but a list of Union and Confederate Legions (most of their individual units were reassigned early in the war) – but there were some exceptions

Thomas' Legion – claimed to fight as one unit – some good info here – thinking of fielding this unit for the later Shenandoah Valley battles
link

"Thomas' Legion, also known as Thomas' Legion of Indians and Highlanders, was the largest single military unit raised in North Carolina during the American Civil War (1861-1865). The legion consisted of infantry, cavalry, artillery, an Indian battalion, and it fired the Last Shot of the Civil War east of the Mississippi. Commanding Colonel William Holland Thomas was the only white man to have served as a Cherokee chief and his cousins included President Zachary Taylor and President Jefferson Davis. The Thomas Legion recruited Cherokee Indians, one of its soldiers was awarded the rare Confederate Medal of Honor, it served with General John C. Breckinridge (14th Vice President of the United States and cousin to Mary Todd Lincoln), was assigned to the same division as General George S. Patton's grandfather, and was the last Rebel unit to surrender east of the Mississippi."

If you have cavalry, artillery, and infantry figures then you could field a legion. The concept of a multiple-branch unit was never practical for Civil War armies and, early in the war, the individual elements were often split up. This includes Hampton's Legion. With the reorganization of the Army of Northern Virginia in mid-1862, Hampton's Legion was broken up and reassigned.

I think Legions were a recruiting tool, a locality could produce so much infantry, so much cavalry and artillery, so would form a legion. Useful for local defense but once they got to the army, not so useful.

I think the problem in the ACW wasn't that legions were impractical. Rather it was that legions were not used for their intended purpose. For example Wise's Legion made sense when it was operating as an independent force charged with defending south western Virginia. When it was brought east the horse component wasn't needed and the unit became just another infantry brigade.

Further to Old Contemptible I have lots of infantry and artillery and plenty of cavalry so could a few, but I tend to game mid-war or late war when the legions were a thing of history

Unless you need an early war odd-ball uniform, anyone with a mixed arms ACW collection can field a legion.

Effectiveness nay have depend on Commanders and assignments. The Hilliard Legion had over 3,000 larger than some brigades.
For the commander and staff along with the financier, it was ego.
For the men it was also pride and the extra bonus upon recruiting. Checking the 140 cemetery records plus pension records in my area, men who served in the Legion had it proudly on their grave marker.
Another comment was that several guys from the counties near Georgia joined the Georgia State Legion.

It would also be a sure way for the patron to get a colonel's commission.

Waul's Texas Legion. Defenders of Vicksburg…

link

My Ancestor fought in Thomas Legion of Cherokee Indians and Tennessee Mountain Men. Referenced above under slightly different name.