The Invalid Corps

[Old Cremona]

Where's a good place to go for information about the Invalid Corps? Any great memoir's by veterans?

What kind of work did those guys do?

Are their service records in the National Archives?

Thanks,

[CJDaley]

Re: The Invalid Corps

Where's a good place to go for information about the Invalid Corps? Any great memoir's by veterans?

If you want to read a great memoir, please consider picking up a copy of one of my favorite books. Bellard was in the VRC and this book will give you a great idea about what they did.

Donald, David H. Gone for a Soldier: The Civil War memoirs of Private Alfred Bellard, Little Brown and Company, Boston, 1975

[paulcalloway]

Re: The Invalid Corps

The Invalid Corps was recruited for guard and garrison duty from men who were incapacitated for active service by wounds or disease. They wore on their light blue uniforms the insignia I.C., also used by the quartermaster's department to designate property which had been "inspected and condemned." The rebels soon learned the double significance of the lettering and joyously christened the Invalid Corps the "Condemned Yanks." To rescue its gallant veterans from this unholy ridicule, the Government renamed the Corps, Veterans Reserves.

Source:
Thomas Sturgis, in Prisoners of War, 1861-1865. 1912. pp 268-69.

[Becky Morgan]

Re: The Invalid Corps

Oh, goodness, can't believe you asked this when I ran into this today. I was looking up some Wheeling Intelligencers aroung the Battle of Gettysburg and the recruiting notice is in the July 4 paper, page 2, first column, top

--Becky Morgan

MEN WAN TED
for the
INVALID CORPS
Only those faithful soldiers who, from wounds or the hardships of war, are no longer fit for active field duty will be received in the Corps of Honor. Enlistments will be for three years unless sooner discharged. Pay and allowances same as for officers and men of the United States Infantry, except that no premiums or bounty for enlistment will be allowed. This will not invalidate any pensions or bounty which may be due for previous service.
The following uniform has been adopted for officers of the Invalid Corps:
FOR OFFICERS:Frock coat.--of sky-blue cloth, with dark blue velvet collar and cuffs; in all other respects, according to the present pattern for officers of infantry.
Shoulder straps--According to present regulations, but worked on dark blue velvet.
Pantaloons--Of sky blue cloth, with double stripe of dark-blue cloth down the outer seam, each stripe one-half inch wide with space between of three-eighths of an inch.
Forage cap--Present regulation.
FOR ENLISTED MEN--Jacket--Of sky blue kersey, with dark blue trimmings, cut like the cavalry jacket, to come well down on the abdomen.
Trowsers--Present regulation, sky blue.
Forage cap--Present regulation.
Men who are still in service and unable to perform effective field duty may be transferred to this corps.
Medical inspectors, Surgeons-in-charge of Hospitals, MilitaryCommanders and all others having authority to discharge, under existin laws and regulations, are forbidden to grant discharge to any men under their control who may be fit for service in the Invalid Corps.
For the convenience of service, the men will e selected for three grades of duty. Those who are most efficient and able bodied, and capable of performing guard duty, etc., etc., will e armed with muskets, and assigned to companies of the First Battalion. Those of the next degree of efficiency, including those who have lost a hand or an arm; and the least effective, including those who have lost a foot or a leg, to the companies of the Second or Third Battalions; they will be armed with swords.
The duties will be chiefly to act as provost guards and garrisons for cities; guards for hospitals and other public buildings; and as clerks, orderlies, etc. If found necessary they may be assigned to forts, etc.
Acting Assistant Provost Marshal Generals are authorized to appoint officers of the Regular Service, or of the Invalid Corps, to administer the oath of enlistment to those men who have completely fulfilled the prescribed conditions of admission to the Invalid Corps, viz:
1. That the applicant is unfit for service in the field.
2. That he is fit for the duties, or some of them, indicated above.
3. That, if not now in the service, he was honorably discharged.
4. That he is meritorious and deserving.
For enlistment or further information apply to the board of enrollment for the district in which the applicant is a resient, or to the undersigned at Wheeling, West Va.
Joseph Darr Jr.
Lt. Col. 1st Va. Cavalry, Acting Asst. P.M. Gen. State of W. Va

[sharpshooter]

Re: The Invalid Corps

Here another book on the IC: The Civil War Letters of Colonel Charles F. Johnson, Invalid Corps by Charles F. Johnson, Fred Pelka