Jim,

I hope you won't regret asking for additional details on the subject of these exchanged regiments. It is sort of like asking me about my last round of golf, or the last fish I caught, or my Grandkids. I will attempt a brief overview regarding these units.

Before Bragg and his army left for the Kentucky campaign, he left orders for the "separate" commands of Price and Van Dorn to defend Vicksburg, as well as to separately pressure the enemy in West Tenn. in order to provide diversion in his favor, and to convert into something greater if possible.

The "separate" command issue in Mississippi would come to cause major problems normally found in the absence of unity of command. Further, Bragg's movement into Kentucky put him out of ready communication with Van Dorn and Price. Richmond was hesitant to over ride any directions Bragg may have left for the 2 separate Mississippi commanders. Additionally, Price was none too eager to return to Van Dorn's command after their Pea Ridge experience. Predictably, they also squabbled about the assignment of exchanged units.

Regarding the exchanged units, Bragg's plans were based on the return of approximately 15,000 POW's, to be apportioned roughly in 1/3's to his army, Price's command and Van Dorn's command.

There were nearly 40 regiments and battalions [captured primarily at Ft Donelson and Island 10] that were delivered to the designated exchange point of Vicksburg beginning about mid September 1862. I won't attempt to post the various reports regarding the exchange since many can be found on line in the Official Records.

Lloyd Tilghman was assigned to operate the camps for returned prisoners and to reorganize, reequip and rearm them. He was notified on 9/22 that 10,368 enlisted of the first deliveries of prisoners were formally exchanged. Officers having been previously exchanged. Additional numbers were subsequently released for duty as the exchange process continued.

There were the usual causes of attrition that would reduce the final total [including the under and over age men being discharged] as the returning regiments went through their reorganization process. Of course, there were many sick and lame as well, resulting from the ordeal of prison camp.

Their strength was further weakened as many of these regiments detached recruiting details to their home areas to find replacements as well as to gather up those who had escaped capture. It would be weeks before these additions began trickling into the regiments. Since many of the units were considered under strength upon release, they were subjected to a flurry of consolidations.

These multiple consolidations, amidst a dearth of records, are at the core of my particular research objective. I am attempting to reconstruct the identity of the various consolidations during the first 3 months after exchange. Also, as you can imagine, brigade composition was yet another fluid situation, creating even more identity confusion. Also, many of the diaries I have been able to consult provide conflicting details, if at all.

The collective strength represented by these units was diluted by sending away the 4 Virginia regiments of Gen Floyd's brigade. Also, Breckinridge was sent off [in a forlorn attempt to catch up with Bragg] with 3 brigades, including 4 more of the exchanged regiments.

Additionally, of the exchanged regiments, the 4th Miss and 1st Alabama were immediately sent to reinforce the Port Hudson District.

Meanwhile, Tilghman organized for himself a 3 brigade division exclusively of exchanged prisoners, to form a Corps along with Lovell's division. Several other exchanged regiments were individually assigned to Price's separate command.

Sadly, these units arrived in Holly Springs only as Van Dorn and Price's defeated armies arrived there in retreat from the Corinth debacle. The exchanged units were further dismembered as many were then transferred to reinforce Port Hudson, under orders from yet another commander just arriving in Mississippi--the infamous General Pemberton.

In the aftermath of Corinth, Van Dorn asked for a court of inquiry [see Series 1 - Volume 17 (Part I). In that inquiry, there was considerable testimony regarding the issue of delaying any campaign until the exchanged regiments were available for duty.

So you can see that, collectively, the returning regiments represented a potentially significant force addition. Ironically, the large Waul Texas legion was en route via Vicksburg to Van Dorn at basically the same time the exchanged units were preparing to join Van Dorn and Price. The legion would have represented yet another large increase to the Corinth attackers. Or, if you prefer, another large increase in the casualties of that disaster.