Civil War Regimental Staffs - Vol. VII, Episode 9

In this episode, historian Andrew Roscoe provides an overview of the many positions comprising a civil war regiments staff. A regiment is usually made up of ten companies and required a wide range of staff roles to operate. Andrew provides the duties of each role using multiple period army manuals and books. Thank you to the Historic Fort Wayne Coalition for providing space for this episode in the Civil War era barracks building.
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[@richardbuxton2435]

This was excellent and changed some of my assumptions. I wondered if there was one for brigade level?

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Glad you enjoyed! We will put brigade level on the list!

[@siraleks79]

@@CivilWarDigitalDigest I requested company staff, of a independent company (eg militia).

[@vanvalkenburgfd]

Also of interesting note regarding chaplains: the first Geneva Convention wasn't held until 1864. Prior to this, there was no international code that specified chaplains as non-combatants... hence the ranging martial presence and participation of chaplains in the Civil War.

[@AdelaideRegiment]

So good to hear someone say what has always been an annoyance to me which is former modern servicemen projecting their modern military experiences onto the past through living history, rather than actually researching how it was done in the period they're portraying.

[@Mis-AdventureCH]

Excellent piece on a very overlooked aspect of the organizations.

[@lackingaround]

Writing master's thesis on staff performances at the Battle of the Wilderness right now, and I agree...there is not much written about the regimental staff (or staff in general). Usually you just see people described as "staff officers" with no more context. Thanks for the quick reference video. I might make one in the future as I get more research going.

[@garrett9769]

This was an incredible video!!!! Terrific presentation, wonderful content and awesome theme/subject. I find Civil War regimental organization a lot easier to grasp than modern military unit structure, which made this video twice as fun to watch. You guys are great!!!!!!!!

[@RakkasanRakkasan]

You all are providing fantastic fact and clear and concise information thank you.

[@robertschultz6922]

Could someone please do a video on what forms the regimental staff would have to fill out? I always thought this was a very under performed aspect with reenactments. When done correctly it can really show the audience what life was like. Not all rifle shooting and bayonet charges, nor was pay call the only thing the staff did

[@Beaguins]

Thanks for the interesting video! You guys have got me reading Elisha Hunt Rhodes' diary, and just yesterday I read about his decision to become an adjutant instead of taking a promotion to captain. He said it was because regimental staff get to have horses, so "good bye sore feet for sometime to come."

[@andrewroscoe4318]

Thanks! I'm glad you are enjoying the videos. Rhodes' diary is great for just that kind of thing. While not universal, many adjutants did ride; it made sense when trying to direct 1,000 men!

[@NextSiliconValley]

I am writing a unit history; this is an extremely valuable resource for this arm chair historian. Thank you.

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Glad it can be of help. Reach out as you wrap up your writing.

[@StegerMatthew]

Good video discussing the various roles of CW regimental staff officers.

[@bobeyk1]

Essential info all in one place!!! Thanks Andy!

[@justinf.3293]

I would love to see a video about the company level positions :D

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

We have discussed just that!

[@clockmonkey]

I am interested in the ongoing debate about whether the ACW was the first modern war, and wonder if analysis of the way Staffs functioned could throw any light on that. Are Civil War staffs more similar to Napoleonic organisations or are they closer to the TOE employed during WW I? My guess is a typical WW I staff would be considerably larger and function completely differently from those in the previous Century. The big differences would likely be at Divisional level and above. Superb video btw, enjoyed the content and presentation and its given me a lot to think about.

[@andrewroscoe4318]

Hello, thank you for you interest. The modern staff (G-1, G-2, etc) used today originated with the French army prior to WWI. The staffs in the Civil War were much smaller than in the modern military. A corps commander may have only had a 20 person staff or less. There is a great book called "The Right Hand of Command" by Steven Jones on Civil War staffs.

[@clockmonkey]

@@andrewroscoe4318 Has got me thinking and talking about the subject to other people. My main interest is Eastern front in WW II where on both sides there are advances in Command structures during the War. Its most noticeable in the Red Army which goes from a well armed mob to a much more effective well led force. Accepted there were advances in equipment but the big force multiplier was in Command improvements. The truly mind blowing stuff for me though is the Naval Campaigns of WW I & WW II. The Naval Campaign in the Pacific in particular strikes me as a complex undertaking with superb staff work. Anyways hope there more to come about staff work in the ACW.

[@stevecooper2541]

A very interesting talk, thankyou.

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Glad you enjoyed!!

[@gawaineross6119]

Thanks so much. This was very useful to this novelist.

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Glad you found it helpful! Reach out if we can be a resource further.

[@Robbie7441]

Very interesting thank you 👍🏻👍🏻

[@jdl9679]

I like this man he doesn’t look like the stereotypical southern im not racist I just like to reanact character that the majority of historians of the civil war look like.

[@RockinL7BuckingBulls]

Question, what did you fly Sir? I crewed on Marine CH-46 D&E model Sea knights. Great brake down on staffing. Rah!

[@erichageman7116]

WOW!!

[@randyallen9822]

First Rate as usual!
Keep it up fellahs

[@robertschultz6922]

Would the confederacy have a different way that the staff would have been used or set up? I always thought that the chaplain was a commissioned officer as when I was a reenactor with the 2nd us infantry we always saluted the chaplains and surgeons. They also did have officer insignia so not sure if that would have been historically correct

[@rileywilliams9385]

Sir could you please list the Books and regulations that you are using

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Links to some are here:

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

civilwardigitaldigest.com/volumes/v7/episodes/9.php

[@siraleks79]

Thank you for a very informative video. We were offered a picture of a quartermaster sergeant, and I do know what the rank of an ordnance sergeant look like. But what does the rank of a commissary sergeant look like? I would however like ta see a similar video made for what a volunteer independent company and its small staff would look like.

[@Beaguins]

I second this. I'm curious about company staff.

[@andrewroscoe4318]

The QM Sgt and Commissary Sgt would have had the same insignia. While many regiments had an "Ordnance Sgt," it was NOT the kind of sergeant from the actual Ordnance Department with the crimson stripes and star. Those were only found at actual army posts. The men at the regimental level would have been regular sergeants with extra collateral duties.