Never having served in the military, I know little about its system of organization. This may be "old hat" to veterans, but it fascinated me :
"In 1865, the Kansas legislature enacted a new law to govern its enrolled militia. The legislature established the governor as the commander-in-chief and empowered him to appoint with the consent of the Senate, a military staff comprising a major general, four brigadier generals, four colonels (adjutant general, paymaster general, quartermaster general, and a surgeon general), three lieutenant colonels (all aides de camp) and a major (assistant adjutant). The generals could also appoint other staff officers. The state was organized as a division , divided into four brigade districts, which the major general could alter 'at pleasure.'
"Militia companies were supposed to have not less than sixty nor more than one hundred men, and these citizen-soldiers elected their officers--a captain and two lieutenants. The captain in turn appointed his NCOs--five sergeants and eight corporals--and two musicians. Ten companies comprised a regiment, commanded by a colonel, with a lieutenant colonel and a major as the other field officers. The colonel could nominate four officers--an adjutant , quartermaster, surgeon and assistant surgeon--for his staff, subject to the governor's approval....
"During the 1870s, there was a surge of martial enthusiasm across the United States. This was stimulated in part by Civil War veterans 'who retained a longing for military association.'

Service in the National Guard, as many states began to call their organized militia, became a fashionable way for men to both express their masculinity and demonstrate their patriotism...
"In 1877, massive railroad strikes across the nation convinced many state governments , especially in the East, that rejuvenated militias were necessary to deal with the threat of organized labor disputes....In 1879, concerned militia officers also gathered in St. Louis to found the National Guard Association 'to promote military efficiency throughout the active militia..., and to secure representation before Congress for such legislation as...may [be] necessary for this purpose...Kansas's share of this money came to more than eight thousand dollars."
P. 32-34, "Strong, Healthy, Well-Developed Men," The Black Citizen-Soldiers of Kansas 1864-1902, by Roger D. Cunningham (2008)
Thursday, June 22, 2017
STATE MILITIAS
Never having served in the military, I know little about its system of organization. This may be "old hat" to veterans, but it fascinated me :
"In 1865, the Kansas legislature enacted a new law to govern its enrolled militia. The legislature established the governor as the commander-in-chief and empowered him to appoint with the consent of the Senate, a military staff comprising a major general, four brigadier generals, four colonels (adjutant general, paymaster general, quartermaster general, and a surgeon general), three lieutenant colonels (all aides de camp) and a major (assistant adjutant). The generals could also appoint other staff officers. The state was organized as a division , divided into four brigade districts, which the major general could alter 'at pleasure.'
"Militia companies were supposed to have not less than sixty nor more than one hundred men, and these citizen-soldiers elected their officers--a captain and two lieutenants. The captain in turn appointed his NCOs--five sergeants and eight corporals--and two musicians. Ten companies comprised a regiment, commanded by a colonel, with a lieutenant colonel and a major as the other field officers. The colonel could nominate four officers--an adjutant , quartermaster, surgeon and assistant surgeon--for his staff, subject to the governor's approval....
"During the 1870s, there was a surge of martial enthusiasm across the United States. This was stimulated in part by Civil War veterans 'who retained a longing for military association.'

Service in the National Guard, as many states began to call their organized militia, became a fashionable way for men to both express their masculinity and demonstrate their patriotism...
"In 1877, massive railroad strikes across the nation convinced many state governments , especially in the East, that rejuvenated militias were necessary to deal with the threat of organized labor disputes....In 1879, concerned militia officers also gathered in St. Louis to found the National Guard Association 'to promote military efficiency throughout the active militia..., and to secure representation before Congress for such legislation as...may [be] necessary for this purpose...Kansas's share of this money came to more than eight thousand dollars."
P. 32-34, "Strong, Healthy, Well-Developed Men," The Black Citizen-Soldiers of Kansas 1864-1902, by Roger D. Cunningham (2008)
