Editing Union army (section)

===Enlisted personnel===
[[File:UnionOfficers.jpg|thumb|Non-commissioned officers of the [[93rd New York Infantry Regiment]] in [[Bealeton, Virginia]], in August 1863]]
[[Non-commissioned officers]] (NCOs) were important in the Union army in maintaining the order and alignment of formations during marches, battles, and transitioning between the two. [[Sergeants]] in particular were vital in this role as general guides and their selection ideally reserved for the most distinguished soldiers. NCOs were also charged with training individuals in how to be soldiers. While the captain or other company-level officers were responsible for training the soldiers when assembled into squads, platoons or as a company, experienced NCOs could take over this training as well.<ref name=Fisher119>Fisher (2001), pages 115–119</ref> NCOs were also responsible for the [[regimental colors]], which helped the unit maintain formation and serve as a rally point for the regiment. Typically a sergeant was designated the [[standard-bearer]] and protected by a [[color guard]] of [[corporal]]s who only opened fire in defense of the colors.<ref>Fisher (2001), pages 121–122</ref> There were a number of staff NCO positions including [[quartermaster sergeant]], [[ordnance sergeant]], and commissary sergeant.

NCOs in the volunteer forces were quite different from their regular counterparts as the war began. Appointed to their role as each regiment was created, they were often on a first-name basis with both their superior officers and the enlisted men they were tasked to lead. Discipline among friends and neighbors was not enforced as strictly as in the regular army, and while some NCOs brought with them prior battlefield experience (whether from the [[Mexican–American War]] or foreign military service) many at the start of the war were as equally ignorant as their officers in military matters.<ref name=Fisher119/><ref name=Fisher114>Fisher (2001), 109–114</ref> Training for these NCOs took place during off-duty hours and often involved lessons based on manuals such as [[William J. Hardee|''Hardee's Tactics'']]. One notable exception was [[Michigan in the American Civil War|Michigan]], which designated [[Fort Wayne (Detroit)|Fort Wayne]] as a training center for both officers and NCOs. As the war progressed NCOs gained valuable experience and even drastic disciplinary measures such as [[execution by firing squad]] were carried out when deemed necessary. The promotion of soldiers to NCOs (and NCOs to officers) was also increasingly based on battlefield performance, although each state maintained their own standards for when and where promotions could be granted.<ref name=Fisher119 /><ref name=Fisher114 />

;Enlisted ranks
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="margin:auto; width:100%;"
|-
! colspan=11| '''Enlisted Rank Structure'''
|-
! [[Sergeant Major#United States|Sergeant Major]]
! [[Quartermaster Sergeant#United States|Quartermaster Sergeant]]
! [[Ordnance Sergeant]]
! [[First Sergeant#United States|First Sergeant]]
! [[Sergeant#United States|Sergeant]]
! [[Corporal#United States|Corporal]]
! [[Musician (rank)|Musician]]
! [[Private E-2|Private]]
|-
! [[File:Union Army Infantry Sergeant Major.svg|80px]]
! [[File:Union Army Infantry Quartermaster Sergeant.svg|80px]]
! [[File:Union Army Infantry Ordnance Sergeant.svg|80px]]
! [[File:Union Army Infantry First Sergeant.svg|80px]]
! [[File:Union Army Infantry Sergeant.svg|80px]]
! [[File:Union Army Infantry Corporal.svg|80px]]
! No insignia
! No insignia
|}

*[[Sergeant major (United States)|Sergeant Major]]: The sergeant major was the senior-most enlisted soldier of a regiment and was expected to serve as a model for the other enlisted personnel. Appointed by the regiment's colonel, among his responsibilities was to issue orders to the first sergeants, maintain a roster of the sergeants and corporals detailed to various tasks, and assist the regimental adjutant in his duties. If a regiment didn't have a drum major or chief musician, he also had responsibility for overseeing the musicians.<ref>Kautz, A. V. (1864). Customs of Service for Non-commissioned Officers and Soldiers, as Derived from Law and Regulations, and Practised in the Army of the United States: Being a Handbook for the Rank and File of the Army, Showing what are the Rights and Duties, how to Obtain the Former and Perform the Latter, and Thereby Enabling Them to Seek Promotion and Distinction in the Service of Their Country. United States: J.B. Lippincott & Company. p. 172–174</ref>
*[[Quartermaster sergeant#American Civil War|Quartermaster Sergeant]]: The quartermaster sergeant was appointed by the regimental quartermaster to assist him in carrying out his duties. This included maintaining the store of supplies and serving as foreman for various work parties. Separately, each Union cavalry company was also authorized a quartermaster sergeant who performed similar tasks but was answerable to the company commander and first sergeant.<ref>Kautz (1864), p. 165–172</ref>
*Commissary Sergeant: Appointed by the regimental commissary, the commissary sergeant was responsible for assisting him in requisitioning and issuing rations to the regiment. Union cavalry companies and some artillery companies were also authorized a commissary sergeant to perform similar tasks.<ref>Kautz (1864), p. 152–164</ref>
*[[Hospital Steward]]: Regimental hospital stewards were responsible for the care of sick and wounded soldiers and their transportation to a general hospital, along with overseeing of any hospital property and medicines. Appointed by the colonel on the advice of the regiment's senior surgeon, they could direct any musicians (and later any [[U.S. Ambulance Corps|Ambulance Corps]] assets) to assist in carrying out these duties.<ref>Kautz (1864), p. 149–152</ref> Hospital stewards assigned to general hospitals acted as supervisors to the rest of the hospital staff (except for the doctors). A single steward was considered sufficient for a 150-bed hospital, while a 500-bed hospital would require three stewards: a chief steward charged with administration, one to act as pharmacist and a third overseeing the preparation of meals.<ref>Schroeder-Lein, G. R. (2015). ''The Encyclopedia of Civil War Medicine''. United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis. p. 281</ref>
*[[First Sergeant (United States)|First Sergeant]]: The first sergeant was the senior NCO of a company and appointed by the captain to serve as its immediate supervisor. Among his duties were taking roll call, arresting and confining soldiers for offenses committed, and overseeing the company stores (assisted by the company commissary and/or quartermaster sergeants if present).<ref>Kautz (1864), p. 131–149</ref>
*[[Sergeant (United States)|Sergeant]]: Sergeants were chosen from among a company's corporals and important for supervising the other soldiers. Each sergeant was in command of a squad of soldiers and directed them in carrying out their duties while in camp or garrison. In battle, sergeants kept the soldiers in ranks and prevented them from falling out; if necessary this included shooting them if they attempted to run away.<ref>Kautz (1864), p. 116–118</ref> Sergeants oversaw the changing of guards and pickets, confinement of prisoners (which, if numerous enough, would require one sergeant assigned as provost-sergeant), and led patrols and fatigue parties.<ref>Kautz (1864), p. 118–124</ref> One sergeant in the regiment would be chosen as the [[color sergeant]] and, protected by the [[color guard]], carried the [[regimental colors]] on parade and in battle.<ref name=Kautz64p130>Kautz (1864), p. 130–131</ref> 
:Sergeants in the artillery branch commanded individual cannons as the Chief of Piece and were responsible for keeping it maintained and directing its use in battle.<ref>Kautz (1864), pages 124–125</ref> Sergeants of the Ordnance Department (distinct from the separate rank of [[Ordnance Sergeant]]) were employed at the various arsenals and armories with manufacturing and caring for the various arms and equipment. They were referred to as master armorers, master carriage-makers or master blacksmiths early in the war.<ref name=Kautz64p65>Kautz (1864), pages 64–65</ref> Sergeants of the Corps of Engineers, in addition to the normal duties of a sergeant, also had to be knowledgeable in the construction of bridges, forts and other military engineering projects.<ref name=Kautzp66>Kautz (1864), page 66</ref> In the Signal Corps, a sergeant was assigned to each signal officer, from whom he took instruction in order to assist with the sending and receiving of signals and performing mounted reconnaissance.<ref name=Kautz64p67>Kautz (1864), pages 67–68</ref>
*[[Corporal (United States)|Corporal]]: The lowest grade of NCO, corporals would be chosen from among a company's most competent privates and given charge of various tasks and duties. They might be given charge of small parties carrying out fatigue, police or guard duties, and in the absence of the sergeant they may take on their duties.<ref name=Kautz64p102>Kautz (1864), pages 102–111</ref> The five most distinguished corporals of a regiment would be chosen to act as the color guard and accompany the color sergeant.<ref name=Kautz64p130/>
:Artillery corporals acted as gunners and would assist the Chief of Piece in maintaining and aiming the cannon.<ref name=Kautz64p102/> As with sergeants, corporals of the Ordnance Department were employed at its various facilities. Their formal titles were armorer, carriage-maker or blacksmith until revised later in the war.<ref name=Kautz64p65/> Likewise, corporals in the Corps of Engineers were also required to be knowledgeable in practical military engineering in addition to their soldierly skills.<ref name=Kautzp66/>
*[[Private (United States)|Private]]: Privates carried out the basic functions of being a soldier in the Union army. When in camp or garrison they filled in on the various work details and fatigue parties, stood guard and policed the local area. They might be assigned to extra duties such as the company cook, tailor, clerk or as orderlies.<ref>Kautz (1864), pages 22–44</ref> In the field they were employed in tasks commiserate with their roles as infantry, cavalry or artillery soldiers. This included being deployed as pickets, skirmishers or flankers.<ref>Kautz (1864), pages 44–60</ref> 
:Soldiers could also be employed in special duties that were not strictly military in nature: mechanics and laborers, hospital attendants and cooks, regimental armorers, officers' servants, [[Pioneer (military)|pioneers]], [[courier]]s, [[reconnaissance|scouts]] and [[espionage|spies]].<ref>Kautz (1864), pages 91–96</ref> In the Corps of Engineers, Ordnance Department, and Signal Corps, privates were further differentiated as first class or second class. First class Engineer and Ordnance privates were formerly referred to as [[Armed-forces artificer|artificers]], while second class privates were formerly referred to as laborers.<ref name=Kautz64p65/><ref name=Kautz64p67/><ref>Kautz (1864), page 287</ref>