Induction procedures

[DBowers]

Well, this may be a overly simple question, however I have not been successful in finding the answer.

What was the 1861 induction procedures, especially in the Confederacy and the swearing of an Oath of allegiance to the State of origin. Something akin to the US Army standard is presumed, but without confirmation I'd be hesitant to use this at a living history.

Thanks

[Secesh]

Re: Induction procedures

I would think it had more to do with men of the Southern regiments swearing allegiance to their respective States, as opposed to the Confederate nation or Central government....

[DBowers]

Re: Induction procedures

You are correct about '61, and I believe that in late '62 and definitely by '63 there existed an overall Confederacy oath.

I am more interested in the minutia of how mass inductions were conducted. Is the use of the US Army procedure correct or did some states make major departures?

[WpnsMan]

Re: Induction procedures

While I haven’t found any specific’s as far as Oaths to ones State goes, perhaps the following will be of assistance once an individual or unit was subscribed into Confederate service.

I compiled the following from an original copy of the revised Regulations for the Army of Confederate States, printed in Richmond, Va. By West & Johnston in 1863 in conjunction with the various Conscription Acts passed by the Confederate Congress and recorded in the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion. (Hopfully the footnotes will copy over.)

Men were recruited into the Army either by enlisting or through conscription. Officially the recruiting officer was to ensure that they had not been deceived into service by false representations. His duty was to explain to them the nature of the service, the length of the term, and the pay, clothing, rations, and allowances that were due them by law. He was also to determine if they were within the age limits in force at the time. If under the age of 21, they were only enlisted after obtaining written consent from their parent, guardian, or “master” (this is in reference to an indentured servant). The official requirements to be eligible for service other than the age limits in force at various times, were to be a free white male being at least five feet four and a half inches tall, effective, able-bodied, sober, free from disease, of good character and habits, and to speak and understand well the English language. The height and age limits did not apply to musicians, who were often boys, or to soldiers who were re-enlisting. The recruit would then sign and have witnessed the following declaration:

I, _____, desiring to enlist in the Army of the Confederate States for the period of ___years, do declare that I am _____years and ___ months of age; that I have neither wife nor child; that I have never been discharged from the Confederate States service on account of disability, or by a sentence of a court-martial, or by order before the expiration of a term of enlistment; and I know of no impediment to my serving honestly and faithfully as a soldier for ___years.

A medical officer would then inspect the new recruit (stripped), to see that he had use of all limbs, an ample chest, that hearing, vision, and speech were “perfect”, and that there were no tumors, ulcers, ruptures, chronic affections or infectious disorders that might exempt him from military service. The medical officer would also ascertain if the recruit were a drunkard, or had received any wound to the head that may have impaired his faculties (the possible result of being Shanghai’d into service). The recruit was then read the following articles of war:

Article 20: All officers and soldiers who have received pay, or have been duly enlisted in the service of the Confederate States, and shall be convicted of having deserted the same, shall suffer death, or such other punishment as, by the sentence of a court-martial, shall be inflicted.

Article 87: No person shall be sentenced to suffer death but by the concurrence of two-thirds of the members of a general court-martial, nor except in the cases herein expressly mentioned; and no officer, non-commissioned officer, soldier, or follower of the army, shall be tried a second time for the same offence.

Within six days after enlisting the recruit was taken before a local justice of the peace, chief magistrate, notary public, or when none could be found, a judge advocate or a commissioned officer of the army and be administered the following oath:

I, ________, do solemnly swear that I will bear true allegiance to the Confederate States of America, and that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies or opposers whatsoever, and observe and obey the orders of the President of the Confederate States, and the orders of officers appointed over me, according to the rules and articles for the government of the armies of the Confederate States.

The recruit was now considered a soldier by law and would either be sent along with his comrades to a training depot or “Camp of Instruction” as part of a preexisting or newly formed company, prior to being regimented into Confederate service; or if a later replacement assigned to a veteran regiment. Copies of enlistment papers were sent to the Adjutant General’s Office, Recruiting Superintendent and to the soldier’s Regimental Headquarters or Recruit Depot. The date and location of enlistment and usually the name of the enlisting officer are present on extant Muster Rolls for that organization. This was done to establish the time to which pay, possible “Bounty” (bonus for enlisting), or other allowances would start.

The following Confederate Conscription Acts or Resolutions are listed chronologically to determine which would have applied dependant on the time frame of the war;

Feb 20th to 21st, 1861: Confederate Congress authorizes President Davis to make contracts to buy or manufacture materiel for war, and establishes the War Department.
Mar 6th 1861: Confederate Congress establishes the Provisional Army, composed of State Militia units that were initially enlisted for twelve months.
Mar 11th, 1861: Confederate Congress adopts the Constitution of the Confederate States.
May 11th, 1861: President Davis is authorized by congress to accept into service, volunteer forces for the duration of the war.
Oct 20th, 1861: Confederate Congress passes regulations for the use of “Substitutes” (The policy of substitution allowed a person called for service to hire a Substitute to serve in their place, or pay a fee to the government in lieu of service.)
Dec 11th, 1861: Confederate Congress approves act granting bounties and furloughs as incentive to those enlisting or to troops re-enlisting (whose initial one-year terms were about to expire) for three years or the duration of the war. It also allowed for the election of officers and the reorganization of Companies, Battalions and Regiments of said troops.
Apr 16th, 1862: President Davis approves 1st Conscription Act. This was the first draft act in the history of this country. It also indirectly caused men whose enlistments were about to expire to re-enlist into their regiments. The Act stated that every white male between the ages of 18 to 35 was considered eligible for military service for a period of three years. It provided for states to administer their own enrollment and draft, and for soldiers to be assigned to units from within the regions of the state where they lived.
Apr 21st, 1862: Confederate Congress passes exemptions to the Conscription Act. It exempted the following occupations from military service; Government officials, Ferrymen, Pilots, Iron, Mine, and Foundry workers, Telegraph operators, Ministers, Printers, Teachers, Hospital workers and Druggist.
Sept 27th, 1862: Confederate Congress passes 2nd Conscription Act. Males between the ages of 35 to 45 considered eligible for military service.
Oct 11th, 1862: Congress passes and President Davis approves the Draft Exemption Act. It enlarged the number of occupations exempt from military service. Most controversial was an owner or overseer of 20 or more slaves. This lead to criticism in the ranks of, “a rich mans’ war, and a poor mans’ fight”.
Oct 20th, 1862: President Davis approves plan wherein only men between 18 to 40 years old will be conscripted to fill vacancies in the Army.
May 1st, 1863: Confederate Congress reacts by tightening some exemptions to draft law.
May 13th, 1863: Governor Vance of North Carolina expressed his concerns over desertion in the army and steps he had taken to reduce it in N.C. units. Among the causes were homesickness, fatigue, lack of furloughs, and the inability of soldiers to enter regiments of their choice when drafted.
Jul 15th 1863: President Davis calls for the enrollment into the army of those under the jurisdiction of the Conscription Act.
Dec 28th, 1863: Confederate Congress passes act abolishing the use of substitution for military service.
Jan 5th, 1864: Confederate Congress passes act ending exemptions for those who had previously been exempt by providing substitutes, stating they were now liable to conscription.
Feb 17th, 1864: Confederate Congress authorizes men between the ages of 17 to 18, and 45 to 50 as eligible for military service in the reserves, and ends large numbers of exemptions granted by previous acts.
Feb 10th, 1865: As the Southern manpower shortage becomes desperate, Gen. Lee proposes, and President Davis approves a pardon to deserters who report for duty within thirty days.
Mar 13th, 1865: Confederate Congress passes act allowing slaves to be enlisted as soldiers, and authorizing the President to call-up those subject to military service under existing laws as deemed necessary.

[DBowers]

Re: Induction procedures

This is a 1861 Georgia enlistment Oath I have found and transcribed. Found in some digitized GA Civil war archives, I cannot be more specific at this time.

I, ____________________, Do solemnly Swear and affirm that I will bear allegiance to the State of Georgia and that I will server her honestly and faithfully against all her enemies or opposers whomsoever; and that I will observe and obey the orders of the governor of the State of Georgia and the orders of the Officers appointed over me according to the rules and articles for the government of the armies of Georgia so long as I remain under control of Georgia, and should I be transferred by said State to the Confederacy of States which have seceded or may secede from the United states and may adopt a Confederated Government, I will henceforth, to the end of the term for which I have enlisted, bear like allegiance, and render like services to said Confederacy, by whatsoever name it shall be called.