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Watching the AMC show Hell on Wheels started me thinking if there has been any studies or research into the use of mercenaries and guerrill tactics used in the Civil War?
I am thinking outside the standard military. Folks who had no affiliation with either governement--private citizens, but fought against the other side like the French underground of WWII?
The South (not the Confederate Army) had different groups that acted in the same way guerilla soldiers would act in a war from 1862-1865, although not uniformed in any way and not sanctioned by the Confederate Army or administration. One of them was Quantrill's Raiders, although their were many more. There is a really accurate movie (c.1999) called "Ride With the Devil" that explores that side of the civil war, at least in the state of Missouri and towards the end, both main characters join up with Williams Quantrill's Raiders.
Now, as far as "mercenaries" are concerned, and my opinion might not be well accepted. The Union had a monopoly on the use of mercenaries in the sense that it enlisted new immigrants from Europe (most who did not speak English and had been in the US less than a couple of years) to take up arms, and march into battle to kill other Americans. The northern states enlisted non-Americans, trained them (paid them and promised land in the West when the war was over) and sent them south to kill other Americans. They were in every sense of the word: mercenaries. There is not other logical way around that fact. And yes, they were used quite effectively by the north especially in the final year of the war when northern superiority in terms of manpower was so much greater than the south's and Grant the Butcher began fighting a war of attrition by simply throwing more men into battle than the south could practically fight off. And he did so with the use of non-American / immigrant mercenaries.
The Union had a monopoly on the use of mercenaries in the sense that it enlisted new immigrants from Europe (most who did not speak English and had been in the US less than a couple of years) to take up arms, and march into battle to kill other Americans. The northern states enlisted non-Americans, trained them (paid them and promised land in the West when the war was over) and sent them south to kill other Americans. They were in every sense of the word: mercenaries.
Sky-O
A distinction is generally made between soldiers who fight for their country and mercenaries; mercenaries being professionals who fight for nation's other than their own and usually for the competitive going rate (point d'argent, point des Suisses).
The immigrants who fought in the American army against the rebellion were Americans to be and were fighting for their new home exclusively. Unlike say the Swiss mercenary bands or Italian condottieri of the late Middle Ages who followed the money.
As professional soldiers go a distinction is made between "regulars" and mercenaries; a regular being a professional soldier who fights for one nation only, usually his own. Many Irish and German immigrants were regulars in the American army but being as they fought only for The United States (and most intended to become American citizens or already had) they were not mercenaries.
And yes, they were used quite effectively by the north especially in the final year of the war when northern superiority in terms of manpower was so much greater than the south's and Grant the Butcher began fighting a war of attrition by simply throwing more men into battle than the south could practically fight off. And he did so with the use of non-American / immigrant mercenaries.
Grant the Butcher? I thought that myth was debunked.
Back up your assertion that The United States Army used immigrants in vast numbers (so you imply) in the final year of the Rebellion. How many of these immigrants were in the Army of the Cumberland and the Army of the Tennessee? How many in the armies of the Potomac and James?
I am familar with groups like Quantrill's Raiders, but they were more a terror to private citizens than regular militia?
I will need to do some searching and see if stories or documentation exists. I am also thinking about this as parts of western North Carolina resisted participating in the Civil War, did they offer sanctuary to others or did they also fight to protect their mountain culture?
I agree with Irishtom's assessment of what is and isn't a merecenary. The immigrants who served on BOTH sides of the Civil War were not mercenaries, they may have been foreign born, but they were Americans and were drafted or volunteered just like anyone else.
By contrast, roughly 91% of the Confederate Army was composed of native born white Americans and the remaining 9% was composed of foreign immigrants. Skydive Outlaw is basically echoing the same propaganda that the South itself turned out during the war that equated the foreign born troops serving in the Union Army to the mercenary Hessians of the revolution. They of course ignored the fact that they had the same type of men fighting in their own army.
Location: Finally escaped The People's Republic of California
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Both sides used them, Quantrill and Bill Anderson were made famous as terrorists because they fought for the losing side. And the winners write the history.
Both sides used them, Quantrill and Bill Anderson were made famous as terrorists because they fought for the losing side. And the winners write the history.
Quantrill had a continuing effect post war. Many of the outlaws who declared war on the railroads had been a part. They conducted business much the same way as before. My ancestors lived in the midwest, largely in what was considered US territory in the war, and yet a story was passed down in the family how the James brothers had sancuary on the farm if needed, since the railroads were universally hated by the settlers for their land grabbing. The enemy is who takes from you now, not yesterday.
For those interested, the link below is to a site that appears to have a fair amount of information about guerrilla warfare during the Civil War. Be sure to look to the left hand side under "What's Here" for topic sub headings.
. The northern states enlisted non-Americans, trained them (paid them and promised land in the West when the war was over) and sent them south to kill other Americans.
AFAIK immigrants received the same pay and enlistment bonuses (usually cash, not promises of land) as native born americans.
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