The Mississippi in the Civil War Message Board

Re: PFD
In Response To: Re: PFD ()

The Inspection Reports you mentioned can be found in the O.R. This seems to be random and performed on units not on campaign. Goal of the inspection was to grade units under question on Confederate Regulation compliance, the spirit of the unit, and the mental ability of the unit's officers. It seems they were used when ever a commander had suspicions of defects in units under his command, or whenever the commanding officer required status on the abilities of the officers under him. It also seems this inspection was a surprise and unannounced to the unit under inspection. I found an Inspection Report on General Hood in 1862 and the Adjutant-General on reporting duty gave General Hood failing report (not good for the career). The O.R. has examples of failing units reporting the reasons for failure. This type of Inspection would not have occurred on a regular basis.

I also looked up personal arms in the O.R.

1. The Confederacy offered civilians money for any private arms they would sell to the Confederate Government, those arms would then be Confederate property and sent to arsenals for modification for military service.

2. The Confederacy offered to pay for the private arms of enlisting soldiers, upon enlistment, making those arms Confederate property. If the enlisting soldier decides to retain ownership of the private arm, he was paid $1.00 a month for the use of the weapon. (Public Laws of the Confederate States)

3. The Confederate Government and State Governments offered to issue ammunition to soldiers who would serve with privately owned arms. Also Confederate Cavalrymen enlisted with their private horses. The Confederate Government shoed and fed their privately owned horses, but the troopers retained ownership, and were compensated in full for the loss of the horse.

In the Confederate Army Regulations...Ordnance

4. The Confederate Ordnance Department would issue arms to...

a. Confederate units that had requested arms, ammunition and equipment to the Confederate Ordnance Dept.

b. State and militia units that were under Confederate service for less than 12 months and needed additional arms, and equipment to supplement their state issue arms and equipment. After their release from Confederate service all Confederate issued equipment would be returned to the Confederate Ordnance Department. Any lost or damaged Confederate equipment would be paid for by the soldier issued to.

5. All Confederate arms, equipment and ammunition were issued to a special officer in each company who was responsible for that equipment. Each arm issued to a regiment would be marked with the number of that regiment.

6. The issuing officer of arms, equipment and ammunition in each company would have each soldier sign for any issued and it noted in their pay records.

a. All issued equipment, arms and ammunition would be returned to the company issuing officer to be placed back into the pool of ordnance when a soldier...

- was transferred to a different unit.

- went to hospital

- went on furlough

- was relieved from duty within that company

b. If any issued Confederate arms, equipment or ammunition were lost or destroyed, a report must be made as to why. If the soldier was found at fault, the soldier's pay would be deducted by the value amount of the loss.

c. All privately owned items of a deceased soldier was collected and sent to his home or money for the value of each item sent to his home or family. (this means any private arm would have to be sent home or cash value for that arm was sent home.)

In the O.R...

7. Private arms, belonging to enlisted men, were found in many surrendering Confederate units. Those private arms were usually required to be surrendered with all public (Confederate or State) arms. I did find at least one surrender term stating Confederate enlisted men could keep their private arms but had to surrender all public arms.

8. The State of N.C. had an issue with its soldiers being transferred into Confederate Service and their state arms and equipment being put into Confederate Ordnance inventory. N.C. wanted the arms and equipment issued by that state returned to that state.

Other sources

9. Confederate cavalrymen in the west did have chances to buy private arms.

Louisiana cavalryman Edwin Fay wrote home in April 1862, "I bought me a large sized Colt's revolver which I paid $55 as I was determined to be as well armed as any of the company and if I could buy another I would do it to carry in my holsters." In November 1863 he wrote home:

"Did I tell you about some body stealing my pistol, belt, cap box and all? I had $1.50 waterproof caps that I was going to send. The pistol was worth $125.00. So you see I had some bad luck. If I come over I shall buy me another, if not don't want any. Shall send a Smith's patent [carbine] by Lt. Watkins if I cannot exchange it for a Maynard." This Infernal War: the Confederate Letters of Sgt. Edwin H. Fay. [1st Sergeant, Capt. Webb's Company, Louisiana Cavalry]

__________________________
David Upton

Messages In This Thread

Forrest at Brice's Crossroads
Re: Forrest at Brice's Crossroads
Re: Forrest at Brice's Crossroads
Re: Forrest at Brice's Crossroads
Re: Forrest at Brice's Crossroads
Swords and Pistols.
Re: Swords and Pistols.
Re: Swords and Pistols.
Re: Swords and Pistols.
Re: Swords and Pistols.
Re: Swords and Pistols.
Private Weapons
Re: Private Weapons
Re: Private Weapons
Re: PFD
Re: PFD
Re: PFD
Re: PFD
Re: PFD
Re: PFD
Military Records
Re: Military Records
Re: Military Records
Re: Military Records
Re: Military Records
News & Views?
Re: News & Views?
Re: News & Views?
Re: Inspection Reports of Mississippi Brigades?
Re: Inspection Report, Harris' Mississippi Brigade
Re: News & Views?
Re: News & Views?
Re: News & Views?