MILITARY TERMS

A soldier’s kit

Army: A military formation composed of at least two corps and other attached units. Northern armies were named after rivers while Confederate armies were named for geographic areas.

Battalion: A tactical military unit typically consisting of a headquarters company and four infantry companies or a headquarters battery and four artillery batteries.

Battery: The basic tactical artillery unit, corresponding to the company in the infantry.

Brigade: A former unit of the U.S. Army existing during the Civil War that was composed of two or more regiments commanded by a brigadier general. During the Civil War the average brigade was four to eight regiments.

Company: A subdivision of a regiment or battalion, the lowest administrative unit, usually under the command of a captain. Usually consists of approximately one hundred officers and men.

Corps: A tactical unit of ground combat forces (infantry) between a division and an army commanded by a lieutenant general and composed of two or more divisions and auxiliary service troops (cavalry and artillery).

Division: An administrative and tactical military unit that is smaller than a corps but is self-contained and equipped for prolonged combat activity. Federal divisions usually contained three brigades, while Confederate divisions numbered up to six brigades. Major generals or brigadier-generals commanded divisions.

Muster In/Out: The formal procedure of swearing recruits into or out of government service.

Regiment: A military unit of ground troops consisting of at least two battalions. Ten companies comprised an infantry regiment. A colonel was the field commander of a regiment.

Bayonet Scabbord: The bayonet was kept in a leather scabbard attached to the belt when not in use.

Brogan’s: all-leather shoes. The sole of the brogans was attached by wooden pegs, or sewn on. They tended to wear out very quickly.

Canteen: used for carrying water. It was made from two tinned-iron halves, with a pewter or tin spout, loops for a sling and a woolen cover.

Cap Box: small leather box attached to belt holding caps which fire musket

Cartridge Box: held forty rounds of .58/70 ammunition used in the Springfield Rifle.

Forage Cap: the cap was made of dark-blue wool with a thin leather visor. A circular piece of pasteboard covered with woolen cloth formed the top. On top was a brass insignia.

Haversack: designed to carry rations and eating utensils. It was made of cotton drill and painted black. Some had compartments to divide rations.

Knapsack: Used to carry personal belongings and extra clothinig. They were sometimes made like haversacks, but sometimes covered with India rubber.

Leather Belt: used not to hold up his trousers, but as a place to hang his equipment. Attached to the belt is the cartridge box and bayonet scabbard.

Rifled Musket: Most common were the Springfield or Enfield. They used a .58/70 cartridge (58 caliber 450 grain bullet with 70 grains of powder).

Sack Coat: The dark-blue wool, four-button coat was comfortable and practical. It was an all season uniform used both in the winter and summer.