My latest unit is a Confederate Signal Station that I saw earlier on the Redoubt Miniature web site and knew I had to have it! I can't say enough how much I like the figures for Redoubt's ACW range!
I thought I would paint it up for the competition and snag a few quick point's ......... but that's not how it happened at all! As usual I completely underestimated how long it would take to do this which in fact turned out to be quite a bit of time indeed!
Last confederate unit I used army painter and so on this I wanted to see how it looked without army painter and I prefer it without and so won't be using it again on my confederates or any ACW for that matter. I did use MIG pigments again to weather the rocks and tower and the signal flags are hand painted. Also need to add if I haven't before the new Foundry ACW paints are superb and well worth buying folks!
The Confederate Signal Corps was unofficially first started under the leadership of Edward P. Alexander for a brief period before officially being made a separate branch on April 19, 1862, under chief signal officer Captain William Norris consisting of one major, 10 captains, 20 lieutenants, 20 sergeants, and 1500 men. In addition a signal officer was given to the staff of each corps and division.
While not as large or as well equipped as the Union Signal Corps it did function in a very similar manner of battlefield observation, intelligence gathering, and artillery fire direction from their elevated signal stations using platforms and aerial balloons. Unlike their union counterparts who had access to electric telegraphy (due to the limited resources) confederate signallers had to rely on flags or messengers to relay information.
Another distinct difference between the two signal corps was that confederate signal corps also included espionage as part of their mission. This included undercover missions behind enemy lines and a network of agents running from Richmond to Canada. Because of this records on their activities and their going ons in the war are quite sketchy as most records were burned or otherwise disposed of to most likely protect information and people.
Thanks for viewing!
Miniature Company-Redoubt Miniatures
