Vermont in the Civil War Glossary
100 men = 1 company (led by a captain)
10 companies = 1 regiment (led by a colonel)
4 regiments = 1 brigade (led by a brigadier general)
3 brigades = 1 division (led by a major general)
3 divisions (sometimes 4) = 1 corps (led by a major general)
Corps were combined to make "field armies." In the Union Army, there were 16 field armies, often named after rivers (such as the Army of the Potomac). The Confederacy had 23 field armies, usually named after states or parts of the states (such as the Army of Northern Virginia).
Other helpful terms:
Bounty: A monetary reward given to soldiers for enlisting for military service. As the war went on and towns struggled to meet their quotas, the bounties increased.
Draft: Required enlistment into the armed forces
Enlist: To enter the military
Hard tack: A hard biscuit or bread made with only flour and water.
Militia: A military force that is not part of a regular army and is subject to call for service in an emergency.
Muster in: To enlist or be enlisted in military service
Muster out: To discharge or be discharged from military service
Quota: A required number to be met. Each Vermont town was required to provide an assigned number of men to the Union Army.
Secession: The act of withdrawing formally from membership in an organization, association, or alliance. In the context of the Civil War, it was the withdrawal of 11 Southern States from the Union, precipitating the start of the war.
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