The “New” ArmyThe Post-1812 Reorganization

Henry Dearborn1812 – 1815

Jacob Brown1815 – 1828

Alexander Mccomb1828 - 1841

Organization and

Military Policy

Army Organization

President

Secretary of War Commanding General

Staff Line

The Staff• Adjutant and Inspector General

qqqq(IG separate as of 1816)• Quartermaster General• Chief of Ordnance

qqqq(abolished 1821, reestablished 1832)• Paymaster General• Commissary General of Purchases• Surgeon General• Apothecary General

The Line1815

• 8 Infantry Regiments• Rifle Regiment• Corps of Artillery• Light Artillery Regiment

The Line

• 8 Infantry Regiments• Rifle Regiment 1818• Corps of Artillery• Light Artillery Regiment

The Line

• 8 Infantry Regiments• Rifle Regiment 1818• Corps of Artillery • Light Artillery Regiment

4 Artillery Regts. 1821

The Line

• 8 Infantry Regiments• 4 Artillery Regiments• 1835, 1st Dragoons• 1836, 2nd Dragoons• 1846, Regiment of Mounted Rifles• 1855, 9th and 10th Infantry,

1st and 2nd Cavalry

Heavy Cavalry

Light Cavalry

Dragoons

The Line1860

• 10 Infantry Regiments• 4 Artillery Regiments• 5 Mounted Regiments

– 1st and 2nd Dragoons– Mounted Rifles– 1st and 2nd Cavalry

How can the Army be economical and ready?

• Maintain a trained cadre of leaders.• Reduce the number of soldiers.• Regulars form the core of the Army in war.• Regular regiments can be expanded

The “Expansible Army”

c. 40 --------------------- 100

United States Military Academy

• Founded 1803– National Academy– Method of eliminating Federalist influence

• Ineffectual until c. 1817• Sylvanis Thayer becomes Superintendent• Scientific and technical education

United States Military Academy

• Order of Merit– Grades in every class, every day– Class standing determined each year

• Branch choice by class standing.• Emphasis on math• Only basic drill

– No tactics or operational training

Weight given academic subjects at USMA

1833 1854• Engineering, math, 53% 54%

and science• French, rhetoric,

drawing, moral and 17% 20% political philosophy

• Tactics 14% 13%• Conduct 14% 13%

Branches of the Officer Corps

• Corps of Engineers• Topographic Engineers• Ordnance• Artillery• Mounted units• Infantry

A Typical Infantry Regiment

ColonelLieutenant ColonelMajor(Adjutant)(Quartermaster)

Regimental Staff

Captain1st Lieutenant2nd Lieutenant

Strength and Desertion Rates, 1823-1831

Strength Desertions Rate1823 4,053 668 16%

1824 5,441 811 15%

1825 5,341 803 15%

1826 5,449 636 12%

1827 5,339 848 16%

1828 5,162 820 16%

1829 5,724 1,115 20%

1830 5,495 1,251 23%

1831 5,442 1,225 23%

Reasons for desertion . . .

• “Intemperate and injudicious” conduct by officers.

• “Irregular payments.”• “Bad provisions.”• “Constant and excessive use of spirituous

liquors.”

BG Edmund Gaines, 1818

Army Ration

• 18 oz. flour• 20 oz. beef, or 12 oz. pork• 1 gill whiskey (4 oz. or ¼ of a pint.)

2,900 - 3,800 calories27% protein58% carbohydrates15% fat

British Army Ration

• 24 oz. flour• 16 oz. beef, or 8 oz. pork• 1 gill (1/4 pint) peas• 1 oz. cheese or butter• 1 oz. rice

French Army Ration

• 24 oz. bread (18 oz. of biscuit)• 8 oz. fresh meat or salt beef, or

qqq6.5 oz. salt pork.• 1 oz. rice• 2 oz. dried peas or beans• 2 gills of wine (8 oz.)• 2 oz. brandy

Security Policy

United States, 1820

Border Treaties

• Convention of 1818• Adams-Onis Treaty, 1819• Rush-Bagot Agreement• Webster-Ashburton, 1842

Major Operations / Wars, 1817-1846• 1817-1818, Jackson’s invasion of Florida

(1st Seminole War)• 1828, Nullification Crisis• 1832, Black Hawk War• 1835-1842, 2nd Seminole War• 1835-1836, Texas Revolution• 1837-1838, Canadian border troubles• 1838, Indian Removal• 1839, Aroostock War

United States, 1846

Mexican War, 1846-1848

• Texas wanted to be annexed.• U.S. government wanted New Mexico and

California.• Mexico does not want to:

– Recognize Texas independence or annexation,– Sell New Mexico and California

James K. Polk’sPlatform, 1844

• Annexation of Oregon• Annexation of Texas• Acquisition of New Mexico and California

“American blood has been shed on

American soil !