My Yankee ancestor, James Wesley Gray, enlisted as a Sergeant, then made 2nd then 1st Lieutenant in the 15th Kentucky Infantry. My Rebel ancestors, were brothers and both Colonels in two all Native American Confederate regiments.
Excellent video. I was just promoted to 1st Lieutenant of my Company and this has helped me very much. I knew a fair amount but this clarifies so much for me!
Great video. I wanted to ask everyone in the comments- is the term "civil war" blacklisted by youtube for you guys? I start typing and it brings up recommendations, but as soon as I hit that second space the search suggestions disappear. It's the exact same thing that happens in the search bar if you type a curse word. This means that I have to fully type out "civil war digital digest" every time I want to look them up, and if the term is blacklisted I worry that these great videos are being supressed by youtube. Anyone else experiencing this or is it just me?
Weird, but would not surprise us. We are also putting more of our programming with the history streaming service HistoryFix. Their search functions will show you Civil War the first time you look for it.
Wonderful video! I would love if you did a version of this but for Confederate junior officers. To help me make my 2nd Lt impression and to help teach the public on CS junior officers.
Phenomenal Video! I had no idea about officers having to buy their own food and going hungry on campaign - it is wild that such an antiquated system remained in place at this time!
Usually not Sharp at all. In fact, if someone sharpened a sword or saber, it was a noted exception. Generally, sword blades are straighter and saber are more curved.
Now this was just awesome. Perfectly presented in plain English, easy for any layman to understand and pretty comprehensive. I have one question: Could a Union officer opt out of wearing either a sash or sword and instead carry two revolvers?
Most officers didn't wear sashes (ones who did were worthy of comment in people's letters and memoirs), but I think swords were pretty common in the field. I see no reason why someone wouldn't carry two revolvers if they wanted to. They wouldn't be issued, so they would be private purchase, but if someone wants the trouble of carrying them around even an enlistedman could have them. Even an item as cumbersome as a bowie knife is mentioned in some enlisted soldiers' memoirs, though they were used mostly as can openers.
Usually an officer would need to be focused in command, not defending himself with a revolver, so carrying 2 revolvers would become extra weight. However, to your point, they usually did not wear a sash in battle because it was completely non functional and just got in the way
What I noticed is that the equipment of NCOs is barely mentioned. What was a Sergeant equipped with? I know about the Model 1840 NCO Sword, so I conclude that a Revolver would also be part of their equipment. Maybe you guys would like to be the first who make a detailed video about this topic somewhen cin the future? (And if Im confusing terms or misunderstanding something, please let me know, I have an excuse: Im from Germany ;-D) Thank You for all your great work!
I think your English is quite good! This video is about junior officers, which would be the ranks of 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Lieutenant, and Captain. That's why NCOs aren't mentioned. I know sergeants were entitled to carry a sword, but I don't know about corporals. I believe NCOs typically fought with muskets or rifles.
NCOs during the civil war were seen as senior enlisted men, and would have fought primarily with rifles. Pistols/revolvers were not issued to infantry NCOs during the civil war. The sword was used while wearing the dress uniform and occasionally in the field
Very good! Each of these segments could make a whole video. The individuality of officers is what strikes me, especially as a member of our modern armed forces with all our uniformity. Gen. Custer was described as wearing a suit of black velvet trimmed with gold lace under his cavalry jacket and a bright crimson necktie - hardly the regulation uniform!
On the other end of the spectrum, grant was noted as having dressed almost exactly like a common soldier with his rank insignia stitched on; you can gain a very good understandongnof an officer by their uniform it seems
I believe chaplains weren't officers and didn't have any rank. They were civilians who volunteered to go with their local regiments. They did receive pay from the government, though, and like officers they had to buy everything they needed.
Chaplians at this time were non combatants and did not have a rank. They had the same privileges and pay as a second lieutenant and were treated mostly the same way as officers. To become a chaplain, a man had to already be ordained and then apply with the war department. They had the same carrer path and retirement as officers
