thedrifter
02-19-09, 09:27 AM
North Carolina Minute
February 18, 2009 - 11:18 AM
J.C. Knowles
The United States Marine Corp
Note: While looking through some stories of the Civil War on the internet, I found this story about the United States Marine Corp. Brother it's a far cry from our proud marines today.
The United States Marine Corp (USMC) was not utilized to full advantage during the Civil War. Already weakened by the resignations of many of its best officers, the USMC's morale suffered further as a result of feuding between staff and line officers and senior officers who regarded themselves administrators rather than field commanders. Another blow to morale was the practice of appointing new junior officers by patronage.
In 1861 Congress authorized the United States Marine Corp to be enlarged to 93 officers and 3,034 enlisted men, and Abraham Lincoln increased that number by another thousand. However, recruiting was hindered by a lack of funds for bounties and longer terms of enlistment than for men in the volunteer army. By 1863, negative feelings toward the USMC resulted in a congressional resolution that would have transferred the corps to army control. The resolution was defeated, however, and when Marine Commandant-Col. John C. Harris died in1864; Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles retired several other senior officers and appointed Maj. Jacob Zeilin his successor.
Harris had governed the corps by carefully following all naval regulations and by staying clear of army operations, and Zeilin continued this policy. As a consequence, marines did not play a major role in expeditions and amphibious operations during the war. Both Harris and Zeilin failed to recognize the possibilities of amphibious assault, regarding such operations as a responsibility of the army. Some 400 marines did participate in the navy's unsuccessful landing operation against Fort Fisher (North Carolina), January 13 through 15, 1865; the army landing finally won the battle there.
When the war ended, the corps was at full strength. A total of 148 marines were killed in action, while 312 more died from other causes. Seventeen marines received the Medal of Honor for conspicuous bravery.
Ellie
February 18, 2009 - 11:18 AM
J.C. Knowles
The United States Marine Corp
Note: While looking through some stories of the Civil War on the internet, I found this story about the United States Marine Corp. Brother it's a far cry from our proud marines today.
The United States Marine Corp (USMC) was not utilized to full advantage during the Civil War. Already weakened by the resignations of many of its best officers, the USMC's morale suffered further as a result of feuding between staff and line officers and senior officers who regarded themselves administrators rather than field commanders. Another blow to morale was the practice of appointing new junior officers by patronage.
In 1861 Congress authorized the United States Marine Corp to be enlarged to 93 officers and 3,034 enlisted men, and Abraham Lincoln increased that number by another thousand. However, recruiting was hindered by a lack of funds for bounties and longer terms of enlistment than for men in the volunteer army. By 1863, negative feelings toward the USMC resulted in a congressional resolution that would have transferred the corps to army control. The resolution was defeated, however, and when Marine Commandant-Col. John C. Harris died in1864; Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles retired several other senior officers and appointed Maj. Jacob Zeilin his successor.
Harris had governed the corps by carefully following all naval regulations and by staying clear of army operations, and Zeilin continued this policy. As a consequence, marines did not play a major role in expeditions and amphibious operations during the war. Both Harris and Zeilin failed to recognize the possibilities of amphibious assault, regarding such operations as a responsibility of the army. Some 400 marines did participate in the navy's unsuccessful landing operation against Fort Fisher (North Carolina), January 13 through 15, 1865; the army landing finally won the battle there.
When the war ended, the corps was at full strength. A total of 148 marines were killed in action, while 312 more died from other causes. Seventeen marines received the Medal of Honor for conspicuous bravery.
Ellie