1st Veteran Army Corps |
Invalid / Veteran Reserve Corps (Regimental Colors) |
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Piedmont Flag Company
Hancock's 1st Veteran Corps
In 1864 an order was issued from the Adjutant's General Office, Washington, DC, for the organization of a new Army Corps to be designated as the 1st Army Veteran Corps, to be commanded by Major General Winfield Scott Hancock. The Corps was to consist of not less than 20,000 Veterans who had served 2 years in the military service of the United States and had been honorably discharged therefrom. The officers were to be commissioned from those who had honorably served not less than 2 years. A recruiting office was established at Jackson, Mi, the 3rd Congressional District, under the charge of Captain R.J. Barry. As fast as the men enlisted they were furnished transportation to Washington, mustered into the service of the United States and credited to the sub-districts in which they or their families resided at the time of the enlistment.
The Invalid Corps
The corps was organized under authority of General Order No. 105, U.S. War Department, dated April 28, 1863. A similar corps had existed in Revolutionary times. The Invalid Corps of the Civil War period was created to make suitable use in a military or semi-military capacity of soldiers who had been rendered unfit for active field service on account of wounds or disease contracted in line of duty, but who were still fit for garrison or other light duty, and were, in the opinion of their commanding officers, meritorious and deserving
The Veteran Reserve Corps
The title "Veteran Reserve Corps" was substituted for that of "Invalid Corps" by General Order No. 111, dated March 18, 1864. The men serving in the Veteran Reserve Corps were organized into two battalions; the First Battalion including those whose disabilities were comparatively slight and who were still able to handle a musket and do some marching, also to perform guard or provost duty. The Second Battalion was made up of men whose disabilities were more serious, who had perhaps lost limbs or suffered some other grave injury. These latter were commonly employed as cooks, orderlies, nurses, or guards in public buildings.