Bryan Howerton
Elected Officers
Tue Apr 17 08:55:06 2001


It was standard practice throughout the Confederate army to elect officers. In some states, even noncommissioned officers were elected, particularly in the 1861 State service regiments.

Somewhere in this rat's nest that I laughingly refer to as my files, I have copies of a series of General Orders issued under signature of the Adjutant and Inspector-General's Office, which promulgated army regulations regarding election, appointment and promotion of officers. If I can find them again, I'll post them. Until then I have to rely on a faulty memory.

As Hayes said earlier, company and regimental officers were elected upon the organization of the unit, and again when the unit reorganized. Those officers who failed to be reelected were allowed to resign. At some point, the Confederate War Department implemented a system of examining boards to determine the qualification of officers. Those newly-elected officers who failed to pass the examining board were returned to the ranks. At yet another point in time, the appointment (instead of election) of officers became the norm, but, as Hayes said, some units continued to elect officers. I can't remember what the circumstances were, however. Anyway, I hope this convoluted response helps a little, and if I can find the documentation in my records I'll post it, or perhaps someone else with a more efficient filing system can fill in the gaps I've left here.