Confederate Militia during the war.

[ContinentalMorganGuard]

Fellas not quite sure how to craft this question, so it won't run in many directions, but here goes. After the initial rush to the colors in 1861, by volunteer militia units, there were still militia units in the south. I'm primarilly looking at Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley but other references and states would be welcomed. So, my question (s) are thus.
1. Do we know if these later militia were uniformed and if so by whom?
2. What types of service did they do, just short term, local defense, etc.
3. This is kind of a loaded question here, but what types of equipment did they have? I figure they would have a lot of civilian stuff but they could also be issued.
I have searched high and low and not come up with much so any help is welcomed! Thanks!

[Coatsy]

Re: Confederate Militia during the war.

Robert,

My Virginia reference comes after reading Peter Cozzen’s “Shenandoah 1862: Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign” Stonewall had quasi reliable Virginia Militia under his command at the outset of the campaign. I haven’t delved into this state’s militia too much.

While not a Virginia reference the state of Georgia organized different "waves" of militia or state troops. Governor Joe Brown created the Georgia State Troops mid war, then the Georgia State Line, which was a two regiment "state army", then the 1st Division of Georgian Militia that he called out during the Atlanta Campaign and the March to the Sea.

Good secondary sources for these units are : Joe Brown's Pets: The Georgia Militia, 1862-1865 by Scaife and Bragg and Joe Brown's Army by William Bragg.

The men by and large from the accounts in the books and personal letters show that the men were clothed with home made uniforms or civilian clothing. They were issued weapons from the state arsenal in Milledgeville. Here is an example that we used for Bummers last year: http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/...ilitia-Weapons
Or they would bring their own guns from home. Equipment was home made or sometimes issued. It is really hit or miss and researching your specific militia niche is probably the best thing to do.

Again sticking with the Georgia Militia they helped man the work around Atlanta during the Siege, the participated at the Battle of Atlanta in the late afternoon. The Georgia State Line originally was guarding railroad bridges in north Georgia and they were attached to Johnston’s army during the Atlanta Campaign. The Combined Georgia State Line, 1st Militia Division, and the Augusta and Athens Armory Battalions attacked Walcutt's Federal XV Corps brigade at Griswoldsville not to much success during the March to the Sea, but later held Sherman's men along the swamps near Savannah and helped beat a Federal combined arms recon force at Honey Hill South Carolina. So these men did a lot marching, riding the rails, protecting the rails, digging trenches, and actual fighting.

I know this barely scratches the surface for militia forces, but it is a great array of forces to read up on. Good luck!

[VA-Patriot'61]

Re: Confederate Militia during the war.

Robert,
The Virginia Regimental Histories Series has a book called "A Guide to Virginia Military Organizations 1861-1865" that may be of some use to you if you are able to procure a copy or find one in a local library. We as Virginians are extremely lucky to have this series published. I cannot recall whether there was a volume done specifically on militia in the state though.

[ContinentalMorganGuard]

Re: Confederate Militia during the war.

Thanks guys. Yes I know the VA regimental series well; unfortunatley I don't have the organization volume. I know there is one or more volumes on the Militia and I have looked at it before. Guess a trip to the old fashioned library is in order. I figured it would be a mix of stuff but I also have seen images of militia guys in like 62 or later in "regular" uniforms as well (Several in the MOC's cased Image Collection). I also know that when Jackson took over the Valley District his whole force comprised of militia until the "Stonewall" Brigade was sent to him.

[ContinentalMorganGuard]

Re: Confederate Militia during the war.

Just to give this thread a nudge.....In the lower Valley when Jackson takes command (November 1861), based on some primary documentation, they were just pulling guys out of thier houses to fill the quotas. So, I would assume those guys would be in civilian garb and possiblly outfitted with state issue weapons, I know VA Gov. Letcher sent Jackson a bunch of percussion rifles, what type I'm not sure. However there are other units in the field already under General Carson and Meems, wonder if they would have been uniformed. Also found references to mounted militia, and militia cavalry which after early 61 I was not aware exsited.

[Fencible]

Re: Confederate Militia during the war.

Robbie

I have been through some of the documents at the Ohio Co Wv (VA) Library. Seems like in Wheeling there were the "Va state funded" militia, the Wheeling Fencibles, who answered to the city and the state government, but also various district fire companies which also had "militias. Im not sure their role in the formation of troops at the start of the war, or who they answered to. I can only speculate they were a source of men for the both armies recruitment. I do have documentation that describes the Firehouse Miliitas as participating in parades, "adorned in there fire shirts, carrying axes and rifles"

Shawn Stern

https://www.wheelingfencibles.com

[teufelhund]

Re: Confederate Militia during the war.

I've seen images of southern militiamen wearing overshirts of a light color and plaids that have trim work of 3 stripes across the chest and sleeve. There are two images that come to mind. Both are shown in the Confederate Calendar Works. I've never found out what the significance of the three stripes is and have always wondered. Any one with info?

[ContinentalMorganGuard]

Re: Confederate Militia during the war.

Shawn,

I'm really looking for militia units that are around after the initial recruitment into the CS army. I know Jackson used the Valley militia from Nov 61 to April 62 when it seems they are disbanded to fill the ranks of volunteer units? But, I also know that their are militia units in the valley as late as 64.

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Re: Confederate Militia during the war.

Robert,

I'll chime in with Kirb...I HIGHLY recommend the book, A Guide to VA Military Organizations 1861-1865. Wallace. I picked my copy up off of Amazon for a reasonable price. This book list the various organized groups during the period, and will provide good insight into who existed and when. It may not however contain all the details about what various organizations were wearing, or may have been armed with. For those, you may need to reference the individual books on the groups, or dive into local papers/courthouse records.

Paul B.

[rmassella]

Re: Confederate Militia during the war.

On June 5, 1864, at the Battle of The Piedmont, the home guard was called out. The Battle of the Piedmont took place in Augusta County, Va which is located in the upper valley. What they were dressed or equipped with, would be difficult to ascertain. I would think that the home guard would be heavily attired in civilian clothing.

[BobDenton37thVA]

Re: Confederate Militia during the war.

Robert,

Unfortunately, there is veritably no information regarding the manner in which the post-secession Virginia militia were dressed or accoutered. The "regular" militia companies were almost invariably absorbed into the Virginia Regiments by the end of April, 1861. Thus, any troops that were equipped with the Virginia Regulation Uniform (i.e. a single-breasted blue frock coat with blue forage cap) were gone by then. Did the remaining militia wear the "official" uniform? That's a good question; but anything I could say would be wildly conjectural, and going way beyond the available evidence.

What complicates the picture even more is the rather flexible period use of the terms "militia", "partisans", "irregulars" and "guerrillas". Porte Crayon illustrated Confederate partisan militia as being dressed in civilian clothing, but equipped with both hunting rifles and military guns. We do know that many of the "militia" that showed up for muster in the rush to arms upon Virginia's secession were dressed in all manner of clothing. In Wood's "The War", he mentions that men showed up with "hunting shirts" (i.e. "battle" shirts), but also civilian clothing. They also brought their hunting rifles, "bowie" knives, tomahawks, and other "impressive but useless items...".

To put this all in perspective, it's veritably impossible to determine what the "typical" Confederate enlisted man was wearing, other than speaking in broad generalities. When it comes to the clothing and equipage of the wartime militia? (scratches head)...I'm not aware of any definitive source for that information, even if simply anecdotal.

Regards,
Bob D.

[ContinentalMorganGuard]

Re: Confederate Militia during the war.

Bob,

Thanks! I pretty much figured as much but was hoping there was something out there. I know from reading a diary of a civilian from the Hedgesville area that when they needed the militia after Jackson takes command of the Valley in 61 they are literally taking them from their homes, in most cases. So I figured civilian clothes with some miltiary items would make the most sense.

PS: to those who recommended bought a copy of the Virginia Military Organizations book, just waiting for it to arrive.

[ContinentalMorganGuard]

Re: Confederate Militia during the war.

Guys, so I got the book pretty much read it cover to cover and did not find much in it of use. Now an aside: it was a good book and I learned a lot just not about the questiosn I had. It appears from what I could glean; uniforms were not provided to "militia of the line" units, and volunteer militia units provided their own. Seems like based on references to other VA military organizations on similar footing to militias, that they were paid and armed by the commonwealth or the CSA when on active duty. Lower Shenandoah and South Branch Valley miltia units appear to have been disbanded in April of 1862, in most cases. However some Frederick and Shenandoah militia's survived until 1864.

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Re: Confederate Militia during the war.

Robert,

Good observations...I'd go further to add that volunteer and militia units in virginia equiped themselves only for a period before the reorganization. BY mid-1862, units are well into receiving stuff direct from the various QMD facilities.

Interesting Notes on VA Militia: Indeed some companies did survive the first couple years - and actually on occassion were given uniforms/equipment direct from the government. Greg Starbuck did a cap a few years ago based on the Kite kepi in a collection in Elkton, Virginia. I cannot recall the name of the local militia group, but the record is that while in Richmond Kite was issued the cap/jacket.

Paul B.

[ContinentalMorganGuard]

Re: Confederate Militia during the war.

Found a great letter from the War Dept to General Meems of the VA Militia. This line to me was most interesting, "The four regiments under you command, having been called into the Confederate service by proper authority and retained at Winchester, are entitled to the usual pay allowed by law to volunteers and militia for the time they have served and shall continue to serve. Nor is there any difficulty in regard to your third and last inquiry. The militia called into the Confederate service are clothed, subsisted, and paid as other troops." the entire letter can be found here: http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/sources/...ntent=005/0810
It tells a lot about the relationship between the militia and the central government as well as some information on militia law. A few pages previous is the letter sent by Meems to the War Dept.