The Alabama in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Number of wagons in a regiment

Tom --

Lee's two directives concerning transportation are dated July 16, 1863, and Apr 5, 1864. The later notes that wagons for general supplies and blacksmith's tools are unaffected by the order. Lack of mention of forage wagons for the men indicates that they are unaffected by the order as well

For artillery, four-horse (or mule) teams were assigned to all wagons except as noted.

1 for General Pendleton and his staff
1 two-horse wagon for artillery HQ of each army corps.
1 for field and staff of each artillery battalion
1 for battery officers of each artillery battalion
2 for forage and commissary of each artillery battalion
1 for cooking utensils of each artillery battalion up to 300 officers and men

The directive of Apr 5, 1864, removed the two-horse wagon for army corps HQ, adding a two-horse wagon for medical staff and supplies for each artillery battalion. Also, the limit for a battalion cooking utensils was raised to 500 officers and men.

For the main army,
2 for General Lee and his staff
2 for each army corps commander and his staff
2 for each division commander and his staff
1 for each brigade commander and his staff
1 for each army corps quartermaster and corps commissary
1 for each division quartermaster and division commissary
1 for each brigade quartermaster and brigade commissary
1 for each brigade senior medical officer and supplies

Ordnance train, army of Northern Virginia
1 for each 375 men
Ordnance train, each army corps
1 for each 375 men
Ordnance train, each division
1 for each 375 men
Ordnance train, each brigade
1 for each 375 men

1 for field and staff of each regiment
1 for company officers of each regiment
1 for cooking utensils of each regiment

The directive of April 5th corrects many of the obvious ommissions made during the retreat from Gettysburg.

Regimental transportation is the same, except for a limitation of 500 officers and men per wagon for cooking utensils. Larger regiments could have two wagons.
Ordnance trains for the army and army corps were removed.

General Lee reduced his personal transportation to one wagon. Other 4-horse wagons were added for the following staff -

1 for the army's adjutant and inspector general staff
1 for the army's chief quartermaster and chief commissary
1 for the army's chief ordnance officer
1 for the army's chief engineer
1 for the army's chief medical officer
1 for the army's military court

2 for each army corps forage for animals
2 for each division forage for animals
3 for each brigade forage for animals
1 for provost guard of each army corps
1 for provost guard and pioneers of each division
1 for the chief medical officer of each division and medical supplies

Addtional 6-horse wagons were assigned as follows --
1 for each army corps headquarters
1 for each division headquarters

If I recall, other Confederate directives limited weight to be carried in standard wagons to 1,800 lbs. That's quite a lot, and heavier loads on rough roads would damage the wagons.

Messages In This Thread

Number of wagons in a regiment
Re: Number of wagons in a regiment
Re: Number of wagons in a regiment
Re: Number of wagons in a regiment
Re: Number of wagons in a regiment
Re: Number of wagons in a regiment
Re: Number of wagons in a regiment
Re: Number of wagons in a regiment