Alan J. Pitts
Re: Alabama color bearers - ensigns
Thu Jun 21 10:56:47 2001


I've seen Ensign employed as a commissioned rank in antebellum military organizations as the equivalent of 3rd /jr. 2nd lieutenant. I've never seen this term used to describe 3rd/jr 2nd lieutenants commissioned in Confederate service. However, I'm not surprised to see this useage survive among commissioned officers of state/militia units.

Ensign was a unique commissioned rank in Confederate regiments, such as adjutant. Pay was the same as 1st Lieutenant, and commissions issued by the War Department along with other field and staff. Each commission includes date of appointment, date of rank and date of acceptance. These usually appear with the regimental microfilm rather than that for general and staff officers. Ensigns were always enlisted men nominated by regimental commanders to receive this commissioned rank. In other words, I'm unaware of any case in which a company officer became an ensign.

Nominating papers are interesting because they routinely provide background information on the nominee, attesting to his good character and birthplace. Sometimes the regimental commander names previous color bearers. In one case (I believe the 55th Alabama), there is an admission that the regiment had never had a regular color bearer.

Finally, I'm unaware that any commission as regimental ensign was ever vacated. Congress vacated commissions of regimental commissaries in 1863 and regimental quartermasters in 1864, but in every case I can recall, men commissioned as ensigns surrendered as ensigns. If you happen to know the session of Congress in which these commissions were voided, please pass that along as I'd like to see the exact language.