DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/HC1C-2P67
Defense Date
2017
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
History
First Advisor
Dr. Kathryn Shively Meier
Second Advisor
Dr. Carolyn Eastman
Third Advisor
Dr. John Deal
Abstract
Enlisted soldiers preferred to elect company- and regimental-level officers during the first year of the American Civil War. This thesis explores how early Confederate mobilization, class conflict between elites and non-elites, and Confederate military policies affected officer elections from spring 1861 to spring 1862 among Virginia Confederates. Chapter 1 explores how the chaotic nature of mobilization and common soldiers' initial expectations regarding their military service influenced elections from April 1861 until late July 1861. Chapter 2 details the changing nature of elections as elite officers faced challenges from non-elites and Confederate policies regarding furloughs and conscription forced officers to reconcile their men’s expectations of loose discipline with directives from senior commanders.
Rights
© Ryan C. O'Hallahan
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
5-11-2017