Civil War Q&A

[cyberia]

Outstanding replies!!

[Airchallenged]

Okay I have a Union Manual printed after the war by Gen Emory Upton which changed Hardee's Manual (which was being used by the north but with out his name since he was a southern general) to fit Union standards for the war. Here is what it says about the color guard for a Union Regiment:

It is placed in the same location as a Confederate Guard but is made of seven Cpl and One Sergeant. the Sgt and three senior Cpl in the front rank and rest in the rear. One Cpl to the Sergeant's Right and two to his left. The Sergeant would carry the National Flag and when the Regimental Flag was present it would be carried by a sergeant (I would assume the senior color Cpl promoted) who would take the place of the "center" Cpl. All of the Color Guard was to be selected for "Bravery, and for precision under arms and marching."

[Airchallenged]

Originally Posted by Holly6

AC has done a nice job of explaining, what to us, must seem a military oxymoron.

Originally Posted by Holly6

As a military device, the emblem of a regiment was used for communication and motivation. The former said "where are they" to command amid the confusion and smoke/dust that was a CW battlefield. The latter was bloody, but simple. Who could show the "white feather" when the silk they swore fealty towards, was going forward?

It also make it easier for the Regiment to follow the Colonels Commands in the heat of Battle. He was at the center of the Regiment, either behind or in front depending on his sanity/courage, and could give the commands for the color guard to follow. For the men at the ends of Regiment, a hundred yards or more away, who had no way of hearing the colonel of the sounds of battle could follow the flags.

This also could cause problems. If I am not mistaken Manasass was lost in the way I am thinking. In the heat of battle one regiment may fall back under heavy fire, for various reasons, even when they are about to gain the enemy position. The men on the flanks of the adjoining Regiments, who were no more than a few yards away at most, would see this and either think that it was a command for the entire Brigade or forget which flank they were on (since the flags would be about equidistant from them) and begin to fall back as well. This reaction could snowball and cause entire attacks to crumble in seconds when they were at the point of almost certain victory.

Originally Posted by Holly6

But how many of them had the time to ponder their decision?

Probably not many. It was one of those split second decisions. They see the flag go down and lunge to carry it aloft before it could hit the ground. Ironically one of the men killed as a Color Bearer in the 26th charge volunteered to take the flag from Colonel Burgwyn but was almost immediately killed. Burgwyn grabbed it back but was shot through the lungs as he turned and held the flag aloft to urge the men on.

[Holly6]

Originally Posted by cyberia

Good info fellows. Now, follow up questions. Was the position that important to put so many lives at risk, and I can see where a rifle would not be possible but were these color bearers at least armed with a pistol or sword?

Good question. "Short Arms" were available for them, but in the course of the war, they would have been of little help. If they had come upon close quarters with the enemy, they had individuals provided for their protection.
From diary accounts, the staffs and flags were enough to occupy both hands, particularly in the wind. If the advance was successful, the color bearers would "plant the flag", and allow the troops to go forward.

Side light: "Colors" occupied such an important mind frame of the times, that the Union automatically issued a "Medal of Honor" to any soldier that recovered a Confederate Flag. Tom Custer won 2 MOH, Douglas MacArthur's Father won one in the same situation. There were so many issued that it began to diminish the award.

[Holly6]

[quote=Airchallenged;44118]

Originally Posted by Holly6

AC has done a nice job of explaining, what to us, must seem a military oxymoron.

Originally Posted by Holly6

Probably not many. It was one of those split second decisions. They see the flag go down and lunge to carry it aloft before it could hit the ground. Ironically one of the men killed as a Color Bearer in the 26th charge volunteered to take the flag from Colonel Burgwyn but was almost immediately killed. Burgwyn grabbed it back but was shot through the lungs as he turned and held the flag aloft to urge the men on.

Nice job AC. But I was referring to the poor soul that was designated "Color Bearer" prior to any action. That guy had the time to ponder.

[Jason G]

Just FYI on the color bearer (of both sides), the position was considered one of the highest honors that could be bestowed on an enlisted man, from several hundred years until darn near the Span Am war, when the advent of true 'automatic' weapons made the color bearer obsolete. Competition was fierce for the position, and offtimes both a man and his 'pards' or messmates, would be chosen, so as to keep the espirt de corps together.

The men well knew the danger involved, but vied for the job anyway. Much like men today volunteer to be SEALS, Marines, Pararescue, etc., to put it in a modern context that might make more sense.

[Holly6]

Originally Posted by Jason G

Just FYI on the color bearer (of both sides), the position was considered one of the highest honors that could be bestowed on an enlisted man, from several hundred years until darn near the Span Am war, when the advent of true 'automatic' weapons made the color bearer obsolete. Competition was fierce for the position, and offtimes both a man and his 'pards' or messmates, would be chosen, so as to keep the espirt de corps together.

The men well knew the danger involved, but vied for the job anyway. Much like men today volunteer to be SEALS, Marines, Pararescue, etc., to put it in a modern context that might make more sense.

Welcome Jason. Good post.

Nice point about the SEALS et.al. Perhaps a bit closer if one of the team volunteered to be lit up like a Christmas Tree during insertion.

Hope you enjoy the site.

[Jason G]

Thanks!

Rather than lit up like a Christmas tree, how about Machine Gunner...or Radio Operator....both of whom typically have a lower life expectancy than the 'average' grunt, or the average color bearer, unless you are in the Cornfield at Antietam.

[Airchallenged]

Originally Posted by Jason G

Thanks!

Rather than lit up like a Christmas tree, how about Machine Gunner...or Radio Operator....both of whom typically have a lower life expectancy than the 'average' grunt, or the average color bearer, unless you are in the Cornfield at Antietam.

Thats for sure. In all the movies you see the first man to get hit is........the radio man. The antenna is like a beacon that just screams "shoot me! I'm important!"

[Jason G]

LOL. Being a former Marine radio operator...I know exactly what the life expectancy is! Glad I got outta that gig, that's for sure.