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Re: [Gen'l Info] On the Right, Into Line!

Posted By: Raymond C. Hillyer (cache-dtc-ah06.proxy.aol.com)
Date: Friday, 14 March 2008 1251 hrs. EDT

In Response To: Re: [Gen'l Info] On the Right, Into Line! (jbronanii)

I can't scan the title page.

It has a long subtitle, but the title is "Military Dictionary." It was written by Col. H. L. Scott, who was Winfield Scott's son-in-law. It was originally published in 1861, but I have an 1968 reprint by Greenwood.

Scott defined "wing" as "the right and left divisions of an
army or battalion." and "battalion" as 2 to 10 companies.

Until sometime early in the last century the term "battalion" was pretty fluid. Any collection of companies under one commander and without a regimental HQ was a battalion. In general battalions should not be thought of as formal subdivisions of regiments.

The 1st - 10th Regular Infantry Regiments had 10 companies each and were called one battalion regiments. The battalion had been described as the smallest unit that could manuever independently on the battlefield. So these regiments would conduct battalion drills and would often be referred to as battalions. A regiment in the field might also have less than 10 companies present.

In 1861, and until 1866, 9 new Regular infantry regiments were added. The 11th - 19th Infantry Regiments were supposed to be three battalion regiments. Each battalion was to have 8 companies and was to serve independently of the others. It appears that the regimental HQs were intended to be administrative. Many of these battalions did not complete their organization until after the Civil War was over.

Volunteer heavy artillery regiments apparently did have formal subordinate battalions and took them into the field when they were pulled out of forts to serve as infantry.

Cavalry regiments were sometimes organized into battalions.

There were also independent units mustered in as battalions.

A wing can be thought of as half a regiment or battalion.

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