"Rebels regular troops" Topic

Hello everyone,
The regular troops of the Yankees are well known, on the other hand the rebels also had regular troops, but we never talk about them?

All Confederate regiments were raised by the States. There were no "Confederate Regular" units.
You will find the 4th Virginia, the 7th North Carolina, but no 12th Confederate Regiment.

We don't hear about them because they were very small in numbers. This was due to limited resources, the Confederate government could not afford to raise a large army, relying instead on the states to supply most of the troops. This approach aligned with the Confederacy's commitment to a decentralized government. Ironically, the Confederate government would become one of the most intrusive in American history until the 1950s. In contrast, the Confederate Navy was primarily funded and organized by the central government.

Unlike the Union regular regiments, which were generally brigaded together under regular officers, the Confederate regulars (infantry, cavalry and artillery) were generally deployed in various state brigades/units, and several were moved from brigade to brigade. I believe they all fought in the western theatre with the Army of the Tennessee in battles from Shiloh to Nashville. So you don't get the same visibility in histories and reports, which tend to focus on the Army of Northern Virginia and on brigade and division level operations. The 1st Inf. fought under Bushrod Johnson. The 2d and 3rd in Cleburne's Division. The 4th primarily under Otho Strahl. There were also eight regular cavalry regiments that fought in the west and one artillery regiment. The cavalry units were widely dispersed, fighting with Wheeler, Taylor and in the Trans-Mississippi with Kirby Smith. Most were understrength at formation and included "orphan" cavalry companies raised in Tennessee and Kentucky.

And they were normally titled [1st] Confederate Infantry Regiment rather that having a state name in their title.

Jim

An interesting book if you come across a copy:

link

As well, while the US Regular Army was well known, it did stay pretty small – as I recall in total 19 regular infantry regiments versus 2,000 plus volunteer regiments – and the regulars had a hard time with recruiting, such that by late mid-war some regular regiments had to be withdrawn from combat operations as they were just too small to be combat effective

There was also a Confederate Navy and Marine Corps. Both contributed troops that fought in Lee's retreat from Richmond to Appomattox.

Yep. Another interesting book if you can find a copy.

link

And this:

link

All I can tell you is about irregular troops in Alabama based on Cemetary records, pension requests for CSA veterans paid by individual States.
In out TPP article on Alabama unit nicknames and county of recruitment. A number of irregular units are listed.
Some times it can be confusing since some State regiment had companies that called themselves irregulars.
Assignments varied but many irregulars were assigned to be camp guard companies. Some called themselves militia often named for a Captain or Lt.
I will give more examples after I get through pricing new stuff that came in today. Nashcon is next week. Lol.

My ancestor GGGrandfather (Noah Parker – a Preacher)) was in the 15th Confederate Cavalry (Company E) patroling Florida and Alabama. This unit was made up of Florida and Alabama recruits.

Jim is right. The CSA regiments are thus titled. State regiments are Alabama noted. I saw notations for sixty Five regiments plus a number of independent battalions.
Not counting camp guard companies, there were over 170 that I noted by county and nickname. More militia style companies often referred by county or city.
Such independent militia companies were used to protect rail lines, Blount Union raids and not allowed to leave the state borders.

Huh. Well, I stand corrected.

@Old Contemptible
Ironically, the Confederate government would become one of the most intrusive in American history until the 1950s? 85 years after the end of the war?

This is normal because confederations tend to evolve into federations as the need for a central power becomes necessary, especially in times of war.

@ChrisBrantley
And on the uniformology level?

No special regulations?

How to distinguish them unmistakably from state troops?

@ ColCampbell
CSA (Confederation of South America?) as US for the Yankees?

@79thPA
Thanks.

@Frederick
This is not the regular American army (US) we are talking about here.

@Bill N
Yes, Confederate sailors and marines had to fight on land given the situation in 1865.

@TimePortal
For a Confederate, what advantage does it have to serve in a CSA regiment rather than a volunteer regiment.

@377CSG
I don't know if I had ancestors who emigrated to North America, but you never know…

Volunteer companies but not on regiment level. Regiments and battalion were all financed and supplied by the State, or CSA central government. All units prior to the draft were full of volunteers.
Volunteer independent companies provided their own, clothing, weapons, etc. I would surmise giving a rag tag appearance.
Advantage of a CSA funded regiment and a State funded regiment. A lot has to do with supplies and proximity to them. State regiments operating in their own State boundary would have been better off. But the further away from home bases, the less priority they would have for supplies.

@TimePortal
I guess that most of those who joined a regular regiment didn't do it for the money? What was the point compared to a volunteer regiment?

The giving land or cash to serve was associated with guys being drafted.

@TimePortal
It has often been like this.