Clarification of army terms

[historynut1876]

In Godfrey's "Some Reminiscences, Including the Washita Battle" he implied that a squdaron contained two troops. In The Troopers by S.E. Whitman, he stated that a squadron contained 4 troops "nominally" commanded by a major. Is there a definitive answer? And while we're at it, what is the official description of a battalion (during the Indian wars)? Any other teminology you can think of that needs clarification would be helpful, too.

Thanks

[rch]

The term battalion in the U. S. Army, until the 20th Century, had a number of meanings. The term squadron joined the confusion in the 1880's. Prior to that "squadron" meant two cavalry companies operating as a unit led by the senior company commander.

The formal arrangement of battalion sized units within regiments, so that Companies A, B, C, and D were in the 1st Battalion; E, F, G, and H the 2nd and the 3rd (or Milk) battalion with I, K, L, and M, was unknown as late as the Spanish American War.

There was no set size for the command of a major. A twelve company cavalry regiment had three majors, which appears to indicate that each major might command four companies. That implies that all three majors and all twelve companies would be present. That almost never occured. Maj Elliott had three companies at the Washita. There were no majors on the Yellowstone Expedition. Major Tilford had five companies on the Black Hills Expedition. Reno had six companies on the march to the Rosebud, none on the march to the Little Big Horn, and three during for the battle.

"Battalion" could mean the whole ten companies of a ten company infantry regiment, or an eight company battalion of a 24 company infanrty regiment, or any collection of two or more companies of cavalry, infantry, or artillery, or two or more companies of a mixed force of cavalry, infantry, and artillery.

"Squadron'' meant two companies of cavalry as described above. From the early 1880's, it meant the same thing as battalion except that it was a formation exclusively composed of cavalry companies.

At the beginning of the Civil War all infantry, cavalry, and artillery company sized units were officially called companies. The term battery seems to have become official early in the Civil War for artillery. Troop became official for cavalry in the early 1880's.

"Wing" could mean one half of a regiment or command.

"Platoon" was half a company or a similar sized unit for purposes of drill or a detail.

There were apparently four squads per compnay, but they do not seem to have been used as tactical units.

At least during the Civil War the term "Division" was used at the regimental level for sets of two infanrty companies when the regiment was formed in line of battle.

rch

[historynut1876]

rch -
Thanks for your help