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What is a galvanized soldier?

Now I know what a "galvanized" soldier is according to the history of the civil war. I went throught he O.R. and I only found the term used in Union correspondance. The term "Galvanized Yankee" was used correctly or incorrectly to discribe both capture Rebels that joined the Union Army and captured Yankees that joined the Rebel Army. I have not found the term "Galvanized Rebel" in any O.R. documents at this time. The term "galvanized" to discribe certain Southerners by Union officers in occupied areas of the South I have found but it is not clear what they mean by it.

Yes, "Galvanized Yankees" were Yankees too. They fought for the South after being captured. The 10th Tennessee was a "Galvanized Yankee" outfit that was made up of captured Union soldiers from the Atlanta campaign. I found these two interesting documents.

[WAR DEPARTMENT, BUREAU OF MILITARY JUSTICE,
May 13, 1865.
The SECRETARY OF WAR:

Corpl. M. J. Adams, Sixty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers and 253
others, belonging to various regiments, were captured by the First
Brigade of General Grierson’s cavalry, at Egypt Station, Miss., Decem-
ber 28, 1864. They were at the time serving in the Tenth Tennessee
rebel regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel Yorke, Second New Jersey Cavalry,
reports that the greater part of these men were on the rebel skirmish
line, and when our forces came within range they opened a heavy tire,
killing 3 officers and 20 men and wounding 74 others; that he then
made a charge, when they threw down their arms and surrendered.
Immediately after their capture they alleged that they had been prison-
ers of war at Andersonville and joined the rebel service to escape
death from starvation and disease. They generally claimed to have
done so with the intention of making their way to our lines as soon as
possible, and state that they had been kept under strict guard and
were not furnished arms and ammunition until the night before the
engagement, and that they surrendered as soon as an opportunity
occurred. Even if this were true, it would not justify their conduct, and
it is believed that the Government cannot consistently recognize the
propriety of prisoners escaping from the enemy by such means, and
cannot place confidence in men who, even for the purpose of escaping
the horrors of Southern prisons, were willing to enter the ranks of the
rebel army. But the circumstances of the action in which they were
captured do not justify the belief that any considerable portion of
these men had any desire or intention to rejoin our forces. Being
placed upon the skirmish line, they could readily have made an oppor-
tunity to pass over without suspicion on the part of the enemy; and,
if prevented from so doing by their position in the line, could have
fired so as to do no damage to our troops. The deadly precision of
their fire shows that they intended to repel our forces, if possible. The
opinion of General Hoffman is concurred in, that they are not entitled
to any clemency. As to their present status, it may be remarked that
they should no longer be regarded as prisoners of war, but should be
held and tried as deserters. It appears by the remarks upon the rolls
that six of these men came into our lines during the niight preceding
the engagement and gave valuable information. It is submitted whether
or not they may not properly be restored to their regiments, with for-
feitnre of all pay due at the time of their capture, in consideration of
the valuable services rendered.

A. A. HOSMER,

Major and Judge-Advocate (in absence of Judge-Advocate- General).

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HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI,
Saint Louis, Mo., March 5, 1865.
Capt. JOSEPH McC. BELL,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Mil. Div. of the Missouri, Saint Louis, Mo.:

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to inform the major-general commanding
the Military Division of the Missouri that there are some 250 men in
confinement at Alton, Ill., known as the “galvanized Yankees,” i. e.,
men who were taken prisoners by the enemy during the last year, and
who, to avoid starvation and death, enlisted in Burke’s battalion, of the
Confederate Army, and who in the recent raid deserted on the approach
of our forces to us. These men have already applied to be sent back
to their regiments, but it is not considercd safe to send them where
they will be in danger of capture by the enemy. There are also 1,000
prisoners of war and conscripts who refuse to be exchanged—claim to
be deserters, unwilling conscripts, &c. These men have applied to
enlist in our army. I respectfully submit if we had not better organize
a regiment of these men and put them on the plains, where they can be
made of use to our Government, relieve our prisons, and I have no
doubt in most cases make better men and good soldiers. They are now
a burden and expense to us. We cannot exchange them, and if I am
authorized I am confident I can form au effective regiment from them
by placing old reliable officers over them. I have 3,000 miles of over-
land mail and telegraph route to guard, and every regiment of infantry
that I can put along it will relieve that number of cavalry to use in
offensive operations against the Indians, who, I am satisfied, are deter-
mined to make aggressive war upon all our overland routes this spring
and summer. Many of the “galvanized Yankees” I know were cap-
tured in the battle of July 22 before Atlanta, Ga., and have been good,
earnest soldiers.

I have the honor to be, captain, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
G. M. DODGE,
Major- General.

___________________________
David Upton

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What is a galvanized soldier?
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British repressive?
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The whole country lost
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Missouri
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