1850 American Gold Tycoon.

Chapter 452 Southern Army

It is impossible for all the troops assembled in San Antonio to be regular troops of the standing army.

Most of them are more from paramilitary units such as militias, volunteers and volunteers, as well as irregular military organizations.

This was the first time Liang Yao saw such a large number of southern troops.

Poor, at least poorer than the northern army, this is the most intuitive impression of this army on Liang Yao.

The coats, jackets, and trousers of nearly all Confederate soldiers are mainly gray and dark blue, because gray and blue dyes are cheaper, especially gray dyes are the cheapest.

In terms of helmets and hats, it is different from the fact that all soldiers in the Western Brigade are required to wear spiked helmets uniformly.

The Confederate Army does not have a tradition of wearing helmets in any state troops, and the hats they wear are also varied.

Troops in Alabama wore saco hats, troops in Mississippi wore black slouch hats, and troops in Virginia and Louisiana wore flat caps.

As for the troops in other states, they directly wear straw hats and all kinds of weird hats. These hats may be bought from street vendors, made by themselves, or borrowed from fellow villagers. .

These are all quite normal, Liang Yao even saw a few soldiers wearing women's caps and turbans directly.

The uniforms of the Confederate Army were so complicated that at the beginning of the Civil War, misunderstandings and casualties often occurred between friendly troops (the uniforms of the Northern Army in the early days of the war were mainly blue, and Confederate troops wearing blue uniforms often mistaken for the Army of the Union).

Of course, these troops wearing blue uniforms can also obtain some unexpected conveniences at certain times. For example, in the Battle of Bengniu River, a Southern Army wearing blue military uniforms was unaware of the Northern Army artillery. The sneak attack was successful, and the artillery positions of the occupied Northern Army were destroyed without bloodshed.

Then these southern troops used these captured artillery to open fire on the northern army, and by the time the northern army realized that they had been attacked, they were gone.

But when Liang Yao saw the shoes worn by these Southern Army soldiers, he didn't think that the complicated and shabby uniforms of the Southern Army were a big problem.

Although it is winter, these Confederate soldiers still wear worn military boots, leather shoes with holes, and even straw sandals.

The quality of military shoes will affect the marching speed of soldiers, which is very fatal.

In fact, the shortage of military shoes has plagued the Southern Army from beginning to end.

Fortunately, the winter in the south this year is not very cold, so that too many people's feet will not be damaged by freezing.

In terms of equipment, the equipment of the Confederate Army was also very disappointing.

The Springfield M1842 that was eliminated by the Western Brigade is still their mainstream equipment, but the cavalry and Mississippi troops are mainly equipped with M1841 Mississippi rifles.

What hurt the most was the artillery unit of the Southern Army. A dozen or so three-inch rifled guns that Liang Yao despised were regarded as treasures by them.

This was all the artillery the Confederates had prepared for the operation.

"Damn it, the Southern Army is really poor."

Liang Yao rode into San Antonio with his guard company.The sights he saw along the way made him feel so emotional.

The soldiers of the Southern Army were also full of curiosity about this uniform, well-cut and spiked helmet.

Of course, what they envy most is that everyone in this company is wearing a pair of brand new shoes.

In front of this company, they, the Southern Army, were like beggars.

"A Beizi!"

"Bah! Yankees!"

Out of jealousy and long-term hatred of the northerners, some southern soldiers began to talk about this well-uniformed and well-equipped company.

"What did you say? Say it again!"

Liang Yao stopped in front of a foul-mouthed Louisiana volunteer, and shouted with a gloomy face.

Seeing the Brigadier General's epaulets on Liang Yao's shoulders, the Louisiana volunteer, who was wearing fat blue trousers, light yellow boots, and gray short jacket, trembled instantly.

Seeing this, a captain hurried over and slapped the unknowing volunteer several times, and kept apologizing to him.

"I'm very sorry, General, I hope you will be magnanimous, and don't be as knowledgeable as these country bumpkins who don't understand flattery!"

The soldiers of the Southern Army who were still swearing just now fell silent in an instant.

Naturally, Liang Yao didn't bother to argue with these southern leaders. Seeing that their officers had taught these southern leaders a lesson, he continued to march into the city.

After Liang Yao walked away, the officers of the Louisiana Volunteer Army breathed a sigh of relief.

The soldiers didn't know what was going on, but they officers did.

The Ministry of War has appointed Southern famous general Jackson as the commander-in-chief of the Eastern Front, Liang Yao as the commander-in-chief of the Western Front and deputy commander of the Eastern Front.

In other words, Liang Yao is now one of their top military chiefs, and if Liang Yao is annoyed, it will not be good for them.

After entering the city, Jackson, who had already arrived in San Antonio, took a group of officers out to greet Liang Yao.

The famous general of the Confederate Army wore a gray double-breasted woolen tunic, which was the most popular officer uniform among Confederate officers.

A group of young lieutenants followed closely behind Jackson, and the uniforms of the Confederate officers were more uniform than those of the soldiers.

These officers also wore double-breasted gray tunics, but the buttons and uniform material were different.

It is said that these young officers came from the Virginia Military Academy, Setdou Military Academy.

These two military academies trained almost all the officers of the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Jackson brought them to Texas for the purpose of training.

"General Liang, I welcome you on behalf of the South." Jackson warmly shook hands with Liang Yao, welcoming Liang Yao's arrival.

"We all know that you are a very good commander and have achieved very dazzling victories in the Borneo region. I hope you can give me your advice."

"It's overrated." Liang Yao said very modestly, but he was full of criticism in his heart.

He was able to fight smoothly in Borneo because he fought the battle of prosperity.

At present, the federal government has only approved 300 million U.S. dollars in military expenditures for them, of which 100 million U.S. dollars was granted to the Western Brigade, and 200 million U.S. dollars was granted to the Southern Army.

Liang Yao has never fought such a poor battle.

Compared with the US$1000 million military expenditure approved when the US-Mexico War was declared last time, the total military expenditure for the entire war was US$9700 million.

The military expenditure approved by the federal government this time can be said to be extremely stingy.

"The army has been assembled, but many of our supplies are not yet in place."

After the pleasantries, Jackson began to complain.

"The three-inch rifled guns and related ammunition we urgently need, the artillery promised to us by the Ministry of War, have not yet been put in place, and there are currently only 15 rifled guns in the entire army."

Jackson had just finished complaining, and a heavyweight colonel beside Jackson who weighed 190 pounds and was 6 feet tall hurriedly added.

"When we attack Mexico, we need not only three-inch rifled guns, but also larger-caliber cannons. I heard that California can produce artillery with very good performance. I wonder if General Liang can help us. Let's solve the current situation first. Urgent?"

(End of this chapter)