Army Organization Throughout Most of the Civil War

A COMPANY was made up of 30-50 men, usually commanded by a Captain. The companies were lettered A-J.

A REGIMENT was made up of 10 companies, usually commanded by Colonel. The regiments were numbered in the order their states organized them.

A BRIGADE was made up of 3 to 5 regiments, usually commanded by a Brigadier General. The brigades were named for their commanders (CSA) or numbered (USA).

A DIVISION was made up of 3 to five brigades, usually commanded by a Major General. The divisions were named for their commanders (CSA) or numbered (USA).

A CORPS was made up of 3 or 4 divisions, usually commanded by a Lieutenant General (CSA) or a Major General (USA). The corps were usually named for their commanders, but in some instances also had numbers (CSA), or were just numbered (USA).

An ARMY was made up of 2 to 4 corps, usually commanded by a General (CSA), or a Major General (USA). Confederate armies were named for the regions in which they fought. Union armies were usually named for principal rivers in their zones.

CAVALRY was organized as a separate corps of horse soldiers.

ARILLERY was organized as follows:

Return to Civil War Diaries home page