Re: Question re: Regiments/Counties/Battles
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In reply to:
Question re: Regiments/Counties/Battles
Patsy Kennedy 10/21/10
Patsy,
Another reason for the county discrepancy has to do with the Confederate Conscription Act.Until this act was passed in April 1862, all units furnished by the states were volunteer in nature.In fact, most of them would proudly state that; for example, the 19th Alabama Volunteer Infantry.In most of these units, mostly formed in 1861 and 1862, the majority of men would join locally recruited companies that would then travel to a central point to be mustered in with other companies to form regiments or, in a few cases, battalions.As the war progressed, it became evident that the "all volunteer" army was not going to be sufficient for this war.After the conscription act was passed, if a man was drafted, he would likely then be sent to a "camp of instruction."In Alabama there were two such camps.After a period of training, these men would be sent to any unit needing manpower, regardless of where he was from or where the unit originated.Thus, many of these men ended up serving in units that were originally recruited far from their home.
Another thing that happened with some regularity was a man going back to where he used to live to enlist, particularly if he just recently relocated or had kin still living near his previous place of residence.Serving alongside old friends or uncles or cousins often would seem a better option than going off to war with folks he didn't know as well.
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Re: Question re: Regiments/Counties/Battles
Patsy Kennedy 10/22/10