Un-Assigned Recruit

[riverratmess]

This might seem like a stupid question with an obvious answer, but what exactly does it mean to be an un-assigned recruit?
I was looking at the Pension index and saw that this soldier's unit was "Un-assigned, 7th US Inf." What does this mean?

[Johan Steele]

Re: Un-Assigned Recruit

It references that he had not yet been assigned to a specific Battalion in the Regiment. A Regiment of Regular Infantry had 3 Battalions of 8 Companies instead of the Vlunteer w/ 10 Companies. And those 3 Battlions were not always assigned together.

If you can find a copy pick up Organization and Administration of the Union Army by Shannon

[ajroscoe]

Re: Un-Assigned Recruit

As this was the 7th US infantry, it would apply that he was not assigned a company. The "Old Army" regiments, 1st-10th US Infantry, were 10 company single-battalion regiments, whereas the "New Army" regiments, 11th-19th US Infantry, were titular 3 8-company battalions, though in most cases only one or two battalions were actually raised during the war. I would find it odd that he was unassigned, as enlistments during the war in the Regular Army were for 5 years, regardless of the war ending. Was he discharged for illness or injury?