American Civil War Genealogy and Research Tools

Promotion, Transfer, Unit Designations, and Military Records Confusion (Genealogy)

(Research Tools are Located at the Bottom of this Page)

From research it is clear that during the course of the Civil War many soldiers served in two or more regiments. When a soldier was hospitalized or later applied for veteran benefits he would usually state the last regiment he was assigned.

When a soldier was wounded, and later returned to service, he may have transferred to another regiment or returned to service in the nearest regiment. And when a soldier was separated from his company during battle, after the engagement, he may have been assigned to the first regiment he encountered. This also occurred after a prisoner exchange. A soldier was captured and then exchanged, with the enemy, by the release of another "Prisoner of War." Prisoner exchange was common practice and some prisoners were paroled by stating that they would not bear arms and further pledged that they would return to their homes. While some chose to ignore that demand, superiors instructed others to rejoin the nearest regiment until they received official orders. Regardless of the transfer, protocol required a letter sent to the prior regiment stating the reason for transfer, hence, clearing the soldier of desertion or dereliction-of-duty. (This also allowed the former regiment the option to recall the soldier.)

Complicating the research, several units had various designations. Furthermore, by 1864, many regiments were reduced by as much as 70% and then the remnants consolidated (reorganized) with other regiments, disbanded, or remained weakened. This attrition can be attributed to killed-in-action, diseases, wounds, desertion, capture, missing-in-action, and enlistment expiration. A typical regiment consisted of approximately 1100 soldiers or ten companies. Each company consisted of 110 soldiers. Subtract 70% and one will see the horrible cost of conflict. As the Civil War progressed, brigade or division commanders would determine whether or not to strengthen, consolidate, or disband a regiment. Promotion: Robert Gustavus Adolphus Love, or R. G. A. Love, initially served as Captain in the 16th North Carolina Infantry Regiment in the Army of Northern Virginia. When Robert G. A. Love received a promotion to Colonel he transferred to the 62nd North Carolina Regiment.

Examples of Added Confusion

As Civil War companies were rapidly shifted to meet current demands, they often times lacked a "Unit Historian." Also when elements of the 16th and 62nd North Carolina Regiments reorganized into Thomas' Legion, the records became even more confused and complicated. As Knoxville surrendered, it is believed that General Buckner had many records burned. General Alfred E. "Old Mudwall" Jackson and Colonel John Palmer struggled with Colonel W. H. Thomas for control of the "Legion," which complicated the records situation. Fueled by former political rivalries, Gov. Vance and his brother, General Robert Vance, didn't help matters. It was the constant and proverbial power struggle. (Colonel Thomas's court-martials were a direct result of this bitter political infighting.)

(Personal Note: I served in the

U.S.

Air Force and retired with the

U.S.

Coast Guard. The Coast Guard was a component of the

U.S.

Department of Transportation. Subsequently, the Coast Guard reorganized or consolidated with the

United States

Department of Homeland Security. My records reflect my highest rank held and last service assigned. Even in our very high-tech era the service records appear to conflict: they reflect references to the Air Force, Coast Guard, Department of Transportation, and Department of Homeland Security. Until explained, this can be very confusing.)

The First Impression is a Lasting Impression

Most soldiers served in the same regiment with family, friends, and neighbors. Many believed this unity made it unthinkable to coward and display the "white feather" in the presence of the enemy. Overall, many entrusted their loved ones to enlist and serve with relatives and neighbors; with the common belief that they maintained their loved ones' best interest in mind. Their relatives, friends, and neighbors, which did not enlist in the military, basically knew and remembered the original regiment their loved ones enlisted and served in. The first impression is a lasting impression. If a soldier originally enlisted in the 25th North Carolina Regiment, correspondence with his loved ones stated this fact. As the Civil War progressed, communication and correspondence became very difficult. Furthermore, family and relatives of soldiers would likely recall significant battle events and facts mentioned during their correspondence. If a soldier fought in the "Battle of Gettysburg" this would most likely be remembered by loved ones and friends. If a soldier transferred regiments and there was failure to record the transfer or little mentioned about the transfer, this would account for some of the post-war confusion. Also, the gaining regiment may have been overshadowed by more significant events of the prior regiment or vice-versa. In some cases regimental records were very accurate. If the soldier's name was Pleasant M. Parker, his name was recorded as Pleasant M. Parker. Some regiments may have recorded Pleasant M. Parker as P. Parker, or P.M. Parker, thus confusing the researcher. The latter practice also made it more difficult for the soldier or widow to make veteran and pension benefit claims.

Destroyed Confederate Army Records

As the War grinded through 1865, many Confederate commanders embraced the "Lost Cause" and either made no effort to maintain records or destroyed their records.

During the last months of the American Civil War, when the "Lost Cause" was embraced, many soldiers were unofficially promoted by their peers to fill vacancies. This explains why the officially mustered out rank/grade was often times a lesser rank than claimed via soldiers' papers, diaries and memoirs. During the last months of the War, privates were being unofficially appointed to the rank or grade of lieutenant. Concurrently, some Confederate commanders were destroying all, or what remained, of the regimental records. Some Confederates viewed their documents as evidence for the Yankees. They further understood that all Confederate documents were incriminating and paramount to "Treason against the Union." At the time, the Rebels didn't know if they would be hanged, shot or imprisoned for their rebellion.

Overall, many Confederate Service Records were accidentally or intentionally destroyed, lost, poorly recorded or inaccurately recorded. To make matters worse, some regiments never recorded any information. Lt. Col. Walter Clark states that "The majority of troop rosters and official military records had been forcibly confiscated by Lincoln’s hordes or wantonly destroyed.” Walter Clark's Regiments: An Extended Index to the Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-1865: By Charles C. Davis, p. 5.