tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067579820246795126.post6086036064077190342..comments2023-10-29T00:42:56.138-07:00Comments on Crossed Sabers: Fiddler’s Green: Charles H. TompkinsDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02981364424576706674noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067579820246795126.post-92187945506872945832011-05-22T04:49:53.165-07:002011-05-22T04:49:53.165-07:00Jonas Holliday committed suicide. Tompkins served ...Jonas Holliday committed suicide. Tompkins served with the First Vermont Cavalry from late May 1862 to Sept 1862, when he requested to be transferred. He was replaced by Edward B. Sawyer, from within the FVC, and he by Addison W. Preston. The latter was highly regarded.lilotterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09555044750321642508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067579820246795126.post-52818400061504117092007-05-18T10:47:00.000-07:002007-05-18T10:47:00.000-07:00Chris, I think the reason is because it wasn't ...Chris,<BR/> I think the reason is because it wasn't a "regular" unit. It was still a volunteer unit, it just wasn't a state unit. The only additional regiments that were authorized regular officers were the ones authorized by Congress. The 1st Vermont, and others like it, were not permanent additions to the army, but units raised during the war for the duration. <BR/> As with many things, it comes down to the money. If they'd (Congress) promoted all of these in the regular army, they would have had to keep paying them at those ranks after the war. This would have been expensive, as each of the cavalry regiments had several general officers of volunteers assigned by war's end and few resigned.<BR/> This was a problem throughout the war, as many, many volunteer cavalry regiments had regular officers or sergeants. All of these folks counted against the strength of their regiment even if they were leading a regiment, brigade or army (in George Thomas' case) somewhere else.<BR/> Your point might explain why the 1st Vermont had two regulars in a row for commanders, though. Their first was Jonas Holliday of the 2nd Dragoons, if memory serves correctly, who was killed during the Valley Campaign in 1862 (Strasburg, I'm pretty sure). Tompkins was second, and since this has come up I now want to look to see who was third.... <BR/> Thanks for the comment, Chris. This comment actually inspired the next entry.Donhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02981364424576706674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067579820246795126.post-56884199068399406462007-05-18T05:19:00.000-07:002007-05-18T05:19:00.000-07:00This was a great post. I am wondering though why h...This was a great post. I am wondering though why he would be considered a Volunteer Officer with the First Vermont when it was a federal unit. <BR/><BR/>It was not raised by Vermont but by an order from the Federal Government, unlike state regiments where the order came from the GovernorChris Swifthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04987650573519823075noreply@blogger.com