The Formation of Military Units During the American Civil War: Federal and State Governance
During the American Civil War of 1861, the military units were primarily raised through two channels: state militias and the federal government. While the North primarily signed up with the U.S. Army, the South relied on their state militias. This article delves into the intricacies of how both sides recruited and organized their forces, focusing on the role of state militias and federal government units.
State Militias and Federal Units
For the state of the Union, most of the military units were raised from state militias. Historians frequently mention units such as the 1st Minnesota, 8th Massachusetts, and the 3rd Mississippi. These units were typically raised by state governors and officers were often elected or appointed rather than required to be of higher social status.
On the other hand, for the Confederates, military units were signed up with their respective states. However, there was a distinction between state units and federal government units. For example, units like Battery G U.S. Artillery were designated as federal units, while others such as the First Michigan Light Artillery Battery G were volunteer units. The volunteer regiments vastly outnumbered the regular regiments, indicating a more diverse and expansive military force.
Federal Regular Army and Local Militias
The Regular Army, while crucial, was often overshadowed by the large number of volunteers. Initially, the U.S. Army consisted of only 16,000 soldiers. At the start of the war, these regular forces were overwhelmingly outnumbered by Southern militias, with 24 officers departing to the South and forming a new regular force.
Northern states were also quick to raise state militias to supplement the Regular Army. However, the Regular Army was kept in the Western territories to manage conflicts with Native Americans, leading to a situation where rich individuals could raise private militias and appoint their own officers, creating a more top-heavy structure as casualties mounted.
Volunteer Regiments and Recruitment
As the war progressed, calls for volunteers were issued, and thousands responded from both the Union and the Confederacy. However, the Union faced competition for recruits from the states, which also had extensive recruiting efforts. This meant that the U.S. Army's Regular Army regiments, though numbering around 16, competed with over 2,100 Volunteer State Regiments.
The challenge of maintaining a strong Regular Army in the face of such competition led to a shift in focus. The Federal Government and State Governments worked together to raise regiments, with federal units being designated as US units to differentiate them from volunteer units. This cooperative arrangement ensured a more robust and structured military force despite the challenges of recruitment.
Therefore, the Union Army was raised through both federal and state governments, reflecting the intricate and collaborative nature of military formation during the American Civil War. The juxtaposition of state militias and federal troops highlights the dual nature of governance and military organization during this tumultuous period.