Placement of Companies in a Regimental Front

[Silas]

Re: Placement of Companies in a Regimental Front

The 44th Tennessee Consolidated in early '63 had the classic two rifle/skirmish companies and eight smoothbore companies. I don't recall which companies were the ones armed with rifles and rifle muskets - there were both - in the rifle/skirmish companies. In these companies, there were a few Mississippi rifles and some Austrians, but the bulk were Enfields.

After Chickamauga, that certainly changed. Bushrod Johnson's Brigade - there commanded by Fulton - hit the jackpot in weapons captured from Rosecran's army during the breakthrough. Several hundred were netted. The exact number is in Fulton's official report.

[Dignann]

Re: Placement of Companies in a Regimental Front

Wondering if there might be similar instances of arms apportioned in this manner.

From the Digest of General Orders and Letters from the Official Order and Letter Book of General T.J. Jackson:

"July 19th [1862]. [Capt. Alexander "Sandie"] Pendleton sends a circular that Commanders of Regiments whose flank Companies are not armed with long range guns will report the fact to Head Quarters and make requisitions for them."

Pendleton was Jackson's O.O. at the time. The above notes were made in the winter of 1864-1865 by Jedediah Hotchkiss. In March 1865, General Jubal Early's headquarters wagons were captured and contained Jackson's books. The books have never surfaced. Hotchkiss' notes are found on microfilm reel #49 of The Papers of Jedediah Hotchkiss, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

Eric

[RJSamp]

Re: Placement of Companies in a Regimental Front

I was just reading......hmmm, Shock Troops of the Confederacy, in the back of the book where it talks about Western Sharpshooters and Federal Sharpshooters.....they mentioned a bunch of units where the flank companies had 'special' weapons, including a Federal Regiment where A and B companies had Sharps Rifles......

[Kevin O'Beirne]

Re: Placement of Companies in a Regimental Front

they mentioned a bunch of units where the flank companies had 'special' weapons, including a Federal Regiment where A and B companies had Sharps Rifles......

For what it's worth, the Army of the Potomac's 151st New York (the unit portrayed at "Winter 1864" and by the blue team at Payne's Farm 2005) had a company armed with Sharps rifles while the rest of the regment was armed with rifle-muskets. This company--Company A--was one of the companies portrayed at Payne's Farm 2005, with much of that re-created company comprised of guys who do Federal sharpshooter impressions--including folks ike Dan Wambaugh, Brian White, and others from their mess.

[Dignann]

Re: Placement of Companies in a Regimental Front

Companies E and I of the 5th New York Infantry were armed with Sharps rifles and were posted on the regiment's flanks.

Eric

[markj]

Re: Placement of Companies in a Regimental Front

Something to add to the mix regarding the original question about placement of companies by seniority of company commanders:

United States Army & Navy Journal, 12 November 1864, "Answers to Correspondents":

*****
COMPANIES should take position in line according to the rank of their captains, but changes are rarely made on account of a temporary change of company commanders. If a captain were permanently absent his company should take position in line according to the rank of its actual commander.

******

Yours, &c.,

Mark Jaeger