Southern converts

[lhsnj]

In doing some preparation for a living history that our unit is going to be doing. We plan to do the 4th Delaware at Camp Brandywine.

One of our members while doing some reading came across some information that shows that Company C may have been made up of captured Southern soldiers or local seccesionists who took the Oath of Allegiance.

One of the questions we aren't sure how to answer is how would they handle these troops in terms of officers and NCO's. Would they be assigned an officer and then be allowed to elect their NCOs? The regiment was mustered in between June and November of 1862.

In general how were soldiers handled who chose to take the oath and fight for the Union? Were they dumped into existing units or were they gathered and put into companies?

I recall an article in Civil War Times Illus, that talked about some Union troops made up from southern soldiers who had taken the oath. And they were captured by George Pickett's troops in NC and I think 7 of them were hung by his troops as deserters.

Thanks

[lhsnj]

Re: Southern converts

Has anyone seen any account about soldiers who took the oath of allegiance or maybe after being paroled signed up with the Union Army?

Just curious as we would like to represent this unit correctly.

Thanks
Greg

[Michael Comer]

Re: Southern converts

This is probably not of much use for what you are looking for but most Confederates who "galvanized" were sent West to fight Indians, freeing up those troops to come East to fight.

One of the best known books on this would be "Galvanized Yankees" by Dee Brown. It doesn't quite fit with your event but I offer it if you are interested in the whole idea of Confederates serving the North.

I believe Henry Stanley of "Doctor Livingston, I presume" fame was a galvanized Yankee who had been captured at Shiloh.

[TeamsterPhil]

Re: Southern converts

There was an entire battery of heavy artillery at Fort Delaware that consisted of Confederate prisoners that had taken the oath. Do a web search on "Ahl's Battery" and you might get some information on them. All of my specific info stayed in Delaware when I left in '01.

Phil Campbell

[lhsnj]

Re: Southern converts

Thanks for the leads. It seems like a logical thing to send the troops out west where they can do the least damage and be kept out of the way.

I had looked over the Ft Delawares webpage but didn't see anything that might have answered. I will take a look at the Ahl's battery.

[JimKindred]

Re: Southern converts

While not exactly converts there is an excellent book regarding Southerners who fought for the Union. "Lincoln's Loyalists" by Richard Nelson Current. Rather surprising just how many there were.

[TheFenian]

Re: Southern converts

In general how were soldiers handled who chose to take the oath and fight for the Union? Were they dumped into existing units or were they gathered and put into companies?

Thanks

Don't have the references right in front of me, but I believe that there were 6 regiments of troops raised from among Confederate prisoners and used against Indians. I Believe that they were referred to as the 1st thru the 6th United States Volunteers.

Bill Eiff

[Enfilade]

Hangings in Kinston, February 1864

[QUOTE=lhsnj
I recall an article in Civil War Times Illus, that talked about some Union troops made up from southern soldiers who had taken the oath. And they were captured by George Pickett's troops in NC and I think 7 of them were hung by his troops as deserters.

Thanks[/QUOTE

Early 1864 George Pickett captured 300 prisoners near New Bern, NC. Among them were several members of the First and Second North Carolina Volunteers. Since 22 of these men formerly served in the Confederate army, they were hanged for desertion and treason. The executions took place at Kinston, NC in February of 1864. A chaplain of the 54th NCT delivered a sermon before Gen'l Robert F. Hoke's Brigade stating, "upon the death of these men, that the eyes of the living might be opened, to view the horrid and ruiness crime and sin of desertion, which had become so prevalent." One of the condemned, Amos Armyett, made a speech written down and delivered;

"I believe my peace is made with God. I did wrong in volunteering after I got to Newbern. I would rather have laid in jail all my life than have done it. I have rendered prayer unto God to forgive my sin. I trust in him, and in him only. (the prisoners said, we all feel the same way.) Mitchell Busick also stated, "I went to Newbern and they(Yankees) told me if I did not go into service I should be taken through the lines and shot. In this way I was frightened into it. They all declared: We wish a statement made to the North Carolina troops that we have done wrong and regret it; and warn others not to follow our example..."

Consequently Grant reviewed the charges after the war on Hoke and Pickett's hand in these hangings and they were later dropped.

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Here's another tidbit on "galvinizing".

During Stoneman's Raid in April of 1865 near Salisbury, NC, the following account is made from Chris Hartley's "Like An Avalanche": George Stoneman's 1865 Cavalry Raid....

"Daylight of April 12 brought the heaviest fighting of the raid. The main column neared Grant's Creek and chased away some pickets. Accross the creek waited a hodgepodge force of less than 500 Confederates and two batteries of artillery. The defenders included [I]"200 galvanized Irishmen who had been recruited from Federal prisoners"[/I] ,several Junior Reserves, some local citizens, and even a few Confederate government employees. As the Federals reached the bridge, the defenders opened fire; in the distance echoed the sound of trains hurrying from the threatened town."

And even further were some 1000 men including galvanized Confederates used to hold the important railroad bridge that Johnston's Army of Tennessee crossed over the Yadkin River on their way to meet Sherman's troops at Bentonville. BTW, Stoneman was repulsed at that site on the Yadkin River.

Mark Berrier
North State Rifles
combinations@northstate.net