FORMATION OF AN ARMY

Infantry and Cavalry

Company

- basic unit in an army

- supposed to have approx. 100 men at full strength

- normally commanded by a captain

- by the middle of the war, companies in veteran units usually had 50 or less men

Regiment

- contains 10 companies

- at full strength would have around 1,000 soldiers

- by war's end, few regiments would have more than 300-400 men

- normally commanded by a colonel

Brigade

- usually had 3 to 5 regiments (Union) or 4 regiments (Confederate)

- at full strength would have approximately 2,500-5,000 men

- normally commanded by a brigadier (one-star) general--although many Union brigades commanded by colonels

Division

- normally consists of 2 to 4 brigades

- a major (two-star) general usually commanded

Corps

- usually has 3 or 4 divisions

- commanded by a major general or lieutenant (three-star) general

Army

- anywhere from 1 to 7 corps--by 1864, most armies had shifted to a three corps formation

- commanded by a lieutenant general in Union armies or a general (four-star) in the Confederate

Artillery

Battery

- equal to a company in number of men

- normally had 4 or 6 guns

- commanded by a captain

Battalion

- consisted of 2 to 4 batteries

- commanded by a major

Brigade

- usually 3 to 6 battalions

- commanded by a colonel