Re: [SG/DS] Unit Size Definitions

On Sat, 6 Jul 2002 21:14:53 -0700 (PDT), John Leary
<john_t_leary@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>     This was standard during the 1800s, the one
>battalion regiment of 600 men in 10 co. (inf.) was
>the normal OOB for the U.S. and G.B..	(Napeleonic 
>and Civil War)

Not true of the US during the American Civil War.

The standard company size, on paper, was 100 men. This was often
achieved when
a new regiment was raised during the war.

Volunteer regiments, both north and south, had a "standard" of 10
companies,
giving a regimental strength of 1000 men, not 600. 

Before the war regular US army regiments were organized about the same
way as
volunteer regiments. During the war, Regular Army regiments were
organized in
2 to 3 battalions of 8 companies, for a paper strength of 1600 to 2400
men.

This structure was pretty loose, though, particularly with volunteer
regiments. The 66th Georgia was raised in 1864 with 1500 men, consisting
of
one battalion of 10 companies and an attached battalion of 3 over sized
companies.

The average regimental size was between 300 and 600 during the war, but
this
was usually due to attrition through disease, combat, and men being
found
unfit for service.

Allan Goodall		       agoodall@hyperbear.com
http://www.hyperbear.com

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